The Music Department
Members of Staff
- Classroom Teachers: Mr I Frost, Mrs C Crawford
- Instrumental Tutors: Strings, Wind, Brass, Percussion, Guitar and Keyboard.
Philosophy: Music is not just about listening and playing. It can also:
- Teach us the benefits of collaborating and working with others;
- Be the focal point for bringing together a number of other subjects
The Music Department Vision: To be positive, open-minded and ready to meet the challenges brought about by change in education thinking.
Aim of The Department: To provide experiences for pupils which will contribute to their personal, intellectual, social and cultural growth.
Course
S1
- Practical Units - keyboards, acoustic and bass guitar, percussion and drum kit, singing
- Historical Units - blues, ragtime, swing, skiffle, rock and roll, Beatles, samples of music from 1970 to present day.
- Inventing Units - improvisation, pentatonic melodies using rondo form, riff compositions, pop songs.
- IT - Music Ace programme, Instruments of the Orchestra, projects using CD ROMs
S2/3 - Standard Grade
Integrated units of:
- Performing on at least two instruments (solo and group)
- Inventing at least on piece
- Listening to a wide range of music from a variety of styles and periods
S4/5/6 - Intermediate 2Higher, Advanced Higher
Core units:
- Performing
- Inventing
- Listening
In addition the pupils will be required to undertake anextension/optional unit.
Accommodation
We are fortunate to have at our disposal three well equiped and spacious classrooms, an uptodate digital recording studio and four practice rooms, which all contain a piano and audio equipment. We are also the proud owners of a set of steel drums and a collection of Samba percussion instruments.
Extra Curricular Activities
The music department staff run a number of ensembles during lunchtime and after school. These have included brass and vocal groups, wind, string, swing and samba bands.
For further information on the musical groups being offered, please see the music department notice boards outside rooms 5 & 6.
Pupils undertaking SQA examination work can, having sought permission from the teaching staff, book practice time in the department after hours.
Homework
Weekly tasks for all year groups; certificate classes have weekly listening and theory activities as well as individual practise on chosen instruments.
