Music

Music has no boundaries. It is the aim in St Patrick’s Grammar School to ensure that all pupils within the school are provided with equal opportunities to access a wide range of musical experiences and musical tuition. We aim to foster and develop in each child a love and understanding of playing a musical instrument irrespective of his musical ability, social or financial background, physical or social disability. The music tuition programme within St Patrick’s Grammar School caters for the musically gifted child but also recognises the need to provide opportunities to nurture the complete beginner. Pupils will be provided with opportunities to investigate and appreciate a wide range of different musical styles through appropriate listening programmes and will engage in composition tasks using a variety of  ICT software encouraging pupils to be independent learners.

KEY STAGE 3

Music at Key Stage 3
All pupils at Key Stage 3 have one double period of music each week. During this time pupils will explore music through performing, listening and composing. One period is allocated to performance.

In years 8 and 9 all students learn to play an orchestral instrument under the SELB Music Service’s whole class instrumental tuition scheme entitled Musical Pathways. Instruments are provided by the SELB Music Service. All students will display their performance skills when they perform in one concert a year during the third term.

Pupils in years 8, 9 and 10 will engage in musical activities relating to;

  • Theory of music
  • Listening skills and techniques through a wide range of musical genres.
  • Aural training reinforced using ICT software packages and CD ROMs.
  • History of music
  • Composition using Sibelius and Cubase software on our PC network and Garage Band and Logic Express software on the Apple Mac system. Each pupil has access to his own individual workstation.
  • Composing music to accompany film using Garageband and Logic Express.
  • Editing and mixing sound using Garage Band, Logic Express and Cubase sx
  • Develop a basic understanding of mixing and sampling sounds using recording and mixing desks
  • Microphone techniques
  • Keyboard skills
  • Basic guitar skills
  • Acquire knowledge of music in our society in particular the role of the composer, arranger, and the impact of the music industry to life, work, leisure and recreation.
  • Develop an understanding of the impact of music technology to bring music to a wider audience

In years 8-10 all pupils participate in the Key Stage 3 accreditation scheme independently and in collaboration with other subject areas.

Throughout the school year students also have the opportunity to access a wide range of educational visits to support their learning through visits to concerts at the Waterfront Hall and also participate in a variety of educational workshops with visiting speakers and musicians. The pupils in Year 8 and 9 visit the Ulster Hall and the Waterfront Hall each year to hear the Ulster Orchestra in concert.

GCSE

In year 11 Students have the opportunity to study music at GCSE level under the CCEA examination board. This qualification gives students the opportunity to further develop their knowledge and understanding of music through listening, composing and performing. Students are allocated 5 periods per week to complete their course.

The Listening component of the course has three areas, the core area of study Repeated Patterns in Music and two subsidiary areas, Incidental Music and Vocal Music. The core area of repeated patterns encourages the students to reflect upon and question how repetitive rhythmic and melodic ideas are used in a meaningful way in a composition.

Through studying a wide range of set works which use repeated patterns students will gain an insight into how;

  • The status of the composer has changed throughout the centuries.
  • How composers compose using a wide variety of music technology.
  • How pop and rock musicians bring their music to a wider audience.
  • The impact of the music industry on life, work, leisure and recreation.

As part of controlled assessment in GCSE music, students are required to submit two compositions one of which must be from one of their prescribed areas of study. All composition tasks are carried out within our PC computer suite, Apple Mac suite or recording studio. All students have access to an individual computer workstation.

Students are prepared for a practical examination on both a solo instrument and as part of an ensemble. Students work under the direct supervision of a teacher and a teacher mentor and are heard performing on a weekly basis.

A LEVEL

At A level students will complete the CCEA Advanced Level qualification. This course continues on from GCSE Level and takes as its major focus Listening, Composing and Performing. Students will complete two out of three modules including one compulsory module. Students are allocated 8 periods per week to complete this course which is shared between two teachers.

Students have the option to focus on either a major performance and a minor composition or a minor performance and a major composition.  Students choose whether to complete a solo or an ensemble performance which is monitored weekly by the teacher. In completing all composition tasks students will explore composition through using;

  • Cubase and Sibelius software.
  • Applemac, Logic
  • Sequencing, mastering and  mixing techniques

Students throughout their course of study have access to the use of the school’s recording studio to complete their coursework. In completing this broad-based course, A level music students are prepared for entry into a diverse range of music and music-related courses at degree level.