Music

Welcome to the Curragh Community College Music Department

Mr Aidan Mc Colgan

Why study Music?

Music education can be an amazing tool for helping students develop. Engaging them creatively. Challenging them intellectually. Building strong relationships with other students and teachers.

Music can provide an environment for the student where they are safe to explore, experiment and be allowed to take creative risks.

Through movement, sound, symbol and image, music can transform the student’s ideas into works that communicate feelings, meanings and interpretations to a wider audience.

What Skills will I develop?

Numeracy – through counting beats and rhythms.

Literacy – Learning songs and reading scores

Creativity – composing your own songs and lyrics

Team Work – performing and composing together

Communication – communicating their ideas through their compositions and works.

What will I study?

The Music curriculum is divided into three key strands Listening, Composition and Performance.

Listening – Students will engage with multiple genres from around the world and will learn how to discuss and engage with music in their own way. Students will learn how to analyse pieces of music both visually and aurally.

Composition – All students will learn basic music theory in their first year of Junior Cycle Music. These skills are then developed throughout the years. Students will learn to write simple melody lines, provide a basic accompaniment for a song and how to write harmonies.

Performance – Performance is the foundation for Music. During their first year, Music students are encouraged to perform regularly. Singing makes up a huge part of the music curriculum so students regularly perform together in class. Having an instrument is NOT REQUIRED, students will be taught basic tin whistle and ukulele.

How is Music assessed?