Members of the Department

Mrs. J Doran (HOD)
Miss O Rice (Acting HOD)

Miss A Lonergan

Music Tutors
Mrs. I Mathers Cello/ Double Bass
Mrs. P. McCourt Woodwind
Mr. B. Murphy Woodwind
Mrs. N. Mathers Brass
Mr. A. Gallagher Percussion
Mr. P. Cartwright Music Theatre
Ms. F. Flynn Vocal Tuition
Mrs. D Finnerty Classical Harp
Ms. S. Carroll Irish Harp
Ms. N Campbell Piano

Mr. F McIlvanna Guitar

The Music Department of Our Lady s Grammar School has a long-standing reputation of excellence and plays a central role in the life of the school, encompassing classroom music from Key Stage 3 to A Level, as well as offering an extensive programme of extra-curricular activities. The department strives to provide the environment to nurture musical talent and to provide a wide-ranging musical education.

Research has proven that Music Education fosters and develops the following:

• Improves reading skills, increases vocabulary and language ability.
• Develops listening skills, aural awareness, abstract thinking and imagination.
• Increases memory skills, builds concentration and attention span.
• Builds social skills, self-discipline, patience and improves behaviour.
• Stimulates and strengthens the same part of the brain needed for Maths and Reasoning.

Aims
The Music Department staff aim to:

• Provide a balanced curriculum and a broad range of interesting, stimulating and enjoyable musical experiences for our students.
• Employ teaching methods and resources which allow all students to have equal access to music and to experience success and enjoyment in their work.
• Stimulate and maintain student curiosity, interest and enjoyment in music.
• Help students develop a positive attitude towards learning many different musical skills including composing and appraising, performing and appraising and listening and appraising and to enable them to be sensitive to, familiar with and confident in a body of musical knowledge, skills and vocabulary.
• Enable students to work independently and as part of a team in varied activities, and to provide them with opportunities to gain an understanding of musical concepts, while engaged in musical activity.
• Provide students with opportunities of contributing musically to the community through the annual music department concerts, school musicals, Masses and performances in the local nursing homes and other venues.
• Encourage students to experience music within the community through involvement with their local musical and choral societies, bands, Church choirs, the Music Service orchestras, bands and ensembles, the Ulster Youth Orchestra and the Ulster Youth, Training, and Junior Choirs.
• Develop in the individual the confidence of musical self-expression, expressing their ideas and feelings through the medium of music, and to value the contributions of others.
• Offer students opportunities to experience the personal satisfaction and self-confidence derived from striving after the highest possible standards of excellence while engaged in musical activity, and to facilitate each student in realising her full musical potential.

Key Stage 3

Music is taught to all students in Years 8, 9 and 10. Each year group studies 6 units of work that are taught and assessed through three main skill areas:

• Listening and Appraising
• Composing and Appraising
• Performing and Appraising

Individual work, group work as well as independent learning are encouraged throughout each unit and extended writing skills, the use of Music terminology, performance and aural skills and the study and analysis of set works are developed extensively.

The Musical skills developed throughout the Key Stage 3 curriculum provide preparation for those students who opt to study GCSE, AS and A2 Music.

YEAR 8

In Year 8, students develop a basic understanding of music through a variety of units, including Elements of Music, Rhythm, Notation and The Instruments of the Orchestra.

YEAR 9

In Year 9, students build on the foundations they made in Year 8. Their units of work include The Blues, Film Music, Music Theory and performance development.

Year 10

In Year 10, students build on the previous two years through a combination of performance and composition opportunities, combining music theory and music technology to develop a deeper understanding of the concepts of music and prepare the students for the GCSE course.

Key Stage 4 (GCSE)

The GCSE Music course aims to provide a rewarding and comprehensive course of study that broadens musical experience and develops knowledge, understanding and skills while covering a wide range of musical styles. Creativity plays a vital role in the course, thus encouraging personal and social development as well as extending imagination. An ability to work independently and as part of a team are important qualities for all musicians and are actively encouraged within the Music Department.

The GCSE Music course focuses on and examines three compulsory areas:

A Performing and Appraising 35%
The candidate will perform at least two pieces of music. One will be a solo, and one will be performed as part of an ensemble.

Candidates will discuss their performances with the external examiner and this viva voce will be assessed.

B Composing 30%
The candidate will compose two pieces of music. One will be a free composition, while the other will be written in response to a pre-release stimulus. The compositions will be recorded in MP3 format and a score and written account of the works will be presented by the candidate.

C Listening and Appraising 35%
This component consists of four compulsory Areas of Study:

1. Western Classical Music 1600-1910.
2. Film Music.
3. Musical Traditions of Ireland.
4. Popular Music 1980 - present day.

These will be assessed through one listening and appraising paper lasting 1 hour 30 minutes.

It is strongly advised that all GCSE Music students would have achieved success in at least Grade 3 Theory by the end of Year 11, and at least Grade 4 Theory and Grade 5 Practical by the end of Year 12.

The GCSE Music students are expected to be enthusiastic, dedicated to the subject, and interested in discovering, listening to, and investigating a wide range of musical styles. A creative approach to and enjoyment of instrumental practice with a view to developing skills to the highest level are essential qualities. It is vital for the student to possess and further develop a sound theoretical background (including harmony).

It is compulsory that all GCSE Music students participate in extra-curricular musical activities including choir and/or orchestra and ensembles. The students are expected to attend all performances.

Key Stage 5 (GCE)

A Level Music builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed in GCSE Music. The students follow the CCEA AS and A2 Music course. They study a wide range of musical styles ranging from Renaissance right through to the present day. Analytical, compositional, performance, written, research, aural and presentation skills are all developed to an exceptionally high standard through teacher-led activities as well as independent study.

Both AS and A2 courses consist of three compulsory areas of study.

• Performing (Solo performance followed by a viva voce)
• Composing ( One composition task accompanied by an analytical and reflective commentary)
• Responding to Music (Two written examinations - a test of aural perception and a written examination)

The A Level Music students in Our Lady s are expected to take on the role of Music Prefect as well as participate in the Music Department ensembles including orchestra and/or choir.

Extra-curricular
Performance and developing musical skills play a vital role within an extremely busy and vibrant Music Department. All students availing of instrumental tuition in school are expected to perform in one of the school ensembles. All those involved in vocal tuition and Music Theatre must sing in one of the school choirs.

Our Lady's is proud to offer a wide variety of ensembles:
Senior Orchestra, Junior Orchestra, Senior Choir, Junior Choir, Chamber Choir, Staff Choir, Plearaca (Irish Traditional Music), Brass Ensemble, Harp Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble and Rock Band.

Performance Opportunities
The Music Department produces and strives to maintain an exceptionally high standard of performance. The main performance opportunities during the academic year consist of various School Masses and prayer services, the Annual Christmas Carol service, the Annual Department Spring Concert, St. Patrick s Day celebrations, School Musicals and numerous performances within the community.

Many of our young musicians also perform in the Ulster Youth, Training and Junior Choirs as well as various Music Service ensembles. All Music students are encouraged to become actively involved in community music groups including church choirs, music societies, youth music groups as well as Feis and Music Festivals.

Career Opportunities
A number of our A Level Music students pursue Music at third level. Career opportunities include: Teacher (primary, secondary, third level), instrumental tutor, performer (solo, orchestral), conductor, music director, sound engineer, recording technician, instrument maker, piano tuner, music journalist, music critic, composer, music manager, music agent, music librarian, music copyist, music publisher, music retail and music therapist.