{"id":56,"date":"2019-01-30T09:27:03","date_gmt":"2019-01-30T09:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/in\/ststephenshs\/?page_id=56"},"modified":"2025-05-22T13:24:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T13:24:35","slug":"music","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/in\/ststephenshs\/departments\/music\/","title":{"rendered":"Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

Department Staff List<\/h1>\n

Miss G Lamont – Faculty Head of Creative Arts
\nMr O’Neill<\/p>\n

Instrumental Staff:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Mrs E Wilson (Voice – Monday)
\nMr J Straczynski (Guitar \u2013 Tuesday)
\nMiss K Cooke (Woodwind \u2013 Tuesday)
\nMr L Deveney (Percussion – Wednesday & Thursday)
\nMrs V Douglas (Woodwind – Thursday)
\nMr A MacPherson (Pipe Band Drumming \u2013 Thursday)
\nMr A Foden (Brass – Friday)<\/p>\n

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BROAD GENERAL EDUCATION (S1-S3)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

This course provides the students with a broad general education (BGE) linked to the relevant outcomes and benchmarks from curriculum for excellence.<\/p>\n

Students attend the department 2 periods per week in S1, 1 period a week in S2 (in S1\/2 this is on rotation with Art), 3 periods a week in S3. Time is spent studying musical literacy and various styles such as orchestral, rock & pop, music of the world, Scottish music, film & tv music etc. Practical lessons are the main focus of skills development within S1\/2, where students will be given the opportunity to learn keyboard, tuned percussion, guitar, and ukulele.<\/p>\n

In S3, students who choose music will be given the opportunity to select two instruments which they should focus on, with a view to progressing to National Qualifications in S4.\u00a0 Students will also study Understanding Music concepts at National 3, 4 and 5 level.\u00a0 They also have the opportunity to take part in group performing lessons in class and complete a unit of work on composing their own music.<\/p>\n

SENIOR PHASE (S4 \u2013 S6)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Senior Phase students can study National 3, National 4, National 5, Higher or Advanced Higher Music, progressing through each level as appropriate. We also offer standalone units in Performing and Understanding Music, as an alternative pathway for students.\u00a0 Students are encouraged to take a more independent approach to their practice and are required to prepare a Performing programme on two instruments.<\/p>\n

COURSE ASSESSMENT<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

National 3 and 4 Music<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The courses are unit based and internally assessed.<\/p>\n

National 5 Music<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Students are required to prepare a programme of music across two instruments, at Grade 3 level.\u00a0 They must perform a minimum of two pieces on each instrument (totalling 8 to 8.5 minutes) and are assessed by a visiting SQA examiner in February\/March (50% of overall course award).\u00a0 Students are also required to complete an Understanding Music listening exam in May (35% of overall course award).\u00a0 Students will also be assessed on Composing Skills (15% of overall course award) where they compose their own piece of music and write a composing review, both of which are assessed externally by SQA.<\/p>\n

Higher Music<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Students are required to prepare a programme of music across two instruments, at Grade 4 level.\u00a0 They must perform a minimum of two pieces on each instrument (totalling 12 to 13 minutes) and are assessed by a visiting SQA examiner in February\/March (50% of overall course award).\u00a0 Students are also required to complete an Understanding Music listening exam in May (35% of overall course award). Students will also be assessed on Composing Skills (15% of overall course award) where they compose their own piece of music and write a composing review, both of which are assessed externally by SQA.<\/p>\n

Advanced Higher Music<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Students are required to prepare a programme of music across two instruments, at Grade 5 level.\u00a0 They must perform a minimum of two pieces on each instrument (totalling 18 to 20 minutes) and are assessed by a visiting SQA examiner in May (50% of overall course award).\u00a0 Students are also required to complete an Understanding Music listening exam in May (35% of overall course award). Students will also be assessed on Composing Skills and Analysis (15% of overall course award) where they compose their own piece of music and write a composing review.\u00a0 They are also required to submit an Analysis of a piece of music, approximately 800 words in length and researched independently.\u00a0 These elements are externally assessed by SQA.<\/p>\n

Supported Study<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

The department offer Supported Study throughout the school session.\u00a0 All students, particularly those in Senior Phase, should use the website\u00a0www.mymusiconline.co.uk<\/a>\u00a0for revision of concepts which are taught in class and featured in the exam.\u00a0 Students should also make use of Microsoft Teams for further support from their class teacher.<\/p>\n

Instrumental Lessons<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Our team of music instructors provide weekly lessons to students from S1-S6 and also work closely with our local primaries and students in Craigmarloch School.\u00a0 Students attend a 25 minute lesson each week with their instructor and in the Senior Phase, their instructor will assist them in preparing for their exam programme, alongside their class teacher.\u00a0 S1 students will be a focus of recruitment for lessons in August\/September.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

We have a variety of extra-curricular activities on offer in the Music Department:<\/p>\n