The aim of the Music Department is to ensure that those pupils who follow a course in music have the opportunity to create , perform and respond positively to music.
i) Music making develops creativity, listening skills, powers of co-ordination, discrimination ,reflection, evaluation and decision -making. Music making is the heart of music education and must be organized by the teacher. Performing involves individuals, small groups or the entire class. All material chosen will be appropriate and within the each pupil’s personal experience and capability.
ii) The Music Department provides a high quality learning environment in which all pupils will develop an informed interest in music in whatever ways appeal to them, and develop such skills and insights as are an intrinsic part of the full enjoyment and experience of music.
iii) Pupils of all ranges of ability will realise their full musical potential on a wide variety of instruments at an achievable pace.
Back to topCourse Aims
The Music Department aims to satisfy the requirements defined in the Arrangements for Music issued by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. The Arrangements take account of the elements, Solo Performing, Group Performing, Inventing and Listening. Therefore it is strongly felt by the department that a broad based course common to all three Standard grade Levels is necessary . The courses which the Music department provide allows for the development and integration of the four elements. They also provide an appropriate balance of these four elements. The Music Department feels that all units of work should allow pupils to develop their full potential , while pupils should not be pressurized to work beyond their capabilities, extension material should be available for more able pupils and those pupils experiencing learning difficulties given the required assistance.
The courses provided for S1 and S2 are structured and integrated units of work with a bias towards performance- solo and group. All material is differentiated. The instruments available to the pupils are electronic keyboards, tuned percussion drumkit and guitar. If the pupil plays an orchestral instrument she is encouraged to participate in class music making.
During the course pupils will perform music for a variety of purposes and in appropriate ways. The three main purposes are:
i) To develop conceptual awareness and understanding.
ii) To acquire and apply skills appropriate to the chosen instruments.
iii) To respond to the disciplines of the group activity.
Curriculum Guidelines
There are four main areas in the Music Curriculum guidelines:
1. SOLO PERFORMING.
2. GROUP PERFORMING.
3. LISTENING.
4. INVENTING.
Solo and Group Performing are important aspects of musical experience, encouraging active participation by pupils, and teaching them to interact with their colleagues.
Solo Performing
This allows the personal expression of ideas, moods and emotions through the production of sound from a variety of sources . These sources are Keyboard ,Tuned Percussion, Guitar, Voice,Drumkit and also all Orchestral instruments.
· KEYBOARD COURSE - A practical course designed for pupils of all abilities. The pupils work at their own pace thus enabling them to fulfill their potential at the optimum level. The course teaches each pupil basic keyboard skills with a view to learning to read music, playing melodies with both hands whilst using a rhythm accompaniment.
· TUNED PERCUSSION COURSE- A practical course, which allows all pupils to experience the wide variety of tuned and untuned percussion instruments available in the department.
· GUITAR COURSE - This course caters for all standards of guitarists, beginning with the learning of simple chords and leading to accompanying tunes. Pupils are also taught to read music which enables them to play both melodies and chords on the guitar.
Group Performing
On a chosen instrument pupils learn to perform in an ensemble,at an appropriate and consistent tempo in a musically expressive and convincing manner, conveying to a high degree the mood and character of the music through secure intonation and good control of dynamics, tone and rhythmic impulse and responding with considerable sensitivity to the playing of the others in the group.
Listening
The Music department have re-structured this course with reference to 5- 14 and also Standard Grade Music. The main aim is to encourage pupils to listen to all types of music ranging over a variety of periods and styles, including compositions and performances which have particular relevance to their own musical activities.
This develops an aural awareness and insight into different types of music.
Inventing
Pupils will be encouraged to develop musical ideas mainly through imaginative response. During the course pupils will explore feelings and ideas by inventing for a variety of purposes.
i) to develop musical initiative and inventiveness through experimenting with sound;
ii) to develop powers of musical discrimination, expression and sensitivity to sound;
iii) to develop the ability to organise and produce a musical invention using appropriate skills and techniques.