Courses Taught 

In S1 and S2 we follow a music course which includes the following topics from a Curriculum for Excellence-:

S1      

• Working with others                       
• Provide feedback to others                       
• Create compositions
• Capture experiences by recording sound                        
• Respond to feedback
• Sing/play music from a range of styles & cultures                  

S2      

• Playing by ear                       
• Analyse technical aspects of my own and others’ work                 
• Create & present compositions                  
• Use music technology to compose                                      
• Provide feedback to others

The courses are practical based and involve lots of performing.   

In S1 pupils perform on keyboard, tuned percussion, voice, guitar, bass guitar and drum kit – with a view to choosing two instruments to take forward through the rest of S1 and into S2 and beyond.

Assessment is done through the year formally and informally which involves assessment of solo and group performance, listening skills and creating skills.

                           S3 Standard Grade pupils working hard

At the moment S3 pupils begin a course at Standard Grade level.   Assessment on two music instruments or voice is carried out all year and culminates in the S3 exam in May when their listening skills are also assessed by a listening examination.    Composing is continually assessed throughout the session and contributes to the overall grade in the S3 examination.

In S4 the final Performing examination is in February/March when each pupil performs a programme of 4-6minutes on their first instrument in front of a visiting examiner.    Second instruments and composing are internally assessed with grades sent away to SQA.    The listening element is assessed by a listening paper in May.

In S5 we have many pupils coming to the Faculty for the first time since S2, and we offer a range of courses from Access 3, Int. 1,  Int. 2, and Higher.   Pupils can opt for Music:  Music with Performing or Music:  Music with Technology.

                                          Senior pupils composing

 

                            Higher pupils recording for Sound Engineering

Music with Performing involves:  performing on two instruments/voice to an examiner, creating a folio of compositions and a listening exam in May.

Music with Technology involves:  performing on one instrument/voice, creating a folio of sound engineering projects, creating a folio of compositions, and a listening exam in May.

                             

Adding vocals to a Sound Engineering project

 

We have a good uptake in S6 where we offer music at Advanced Higher, but also follow the same series of courses as above for pupils coming in for the first time.  

We are lucky to have new facilities and have lots of up to date equipment such as mixing desks for sound Engineering, computer software such as Sibelius, Cubase VST, Cubase SE and Guitar Pro 5.      There is an Interactive Smart board in each teaching room, along with 20 keyboards, tuned percussion instruments, bass guitars, acoustic and electric guitars and a drum kit.

Instrumental tuition is available on drum kit and percussion, clarinet, flute, oboe, saxophone, trumpet, cornet, euphonium, tuba, violin, viola, ‘cello, double bass, bass guitar, keyboard and piano.