Music
Here students get to develop their musical skills through a broad set of media and genres.
Course Content
- Aural Skills
- Composing Task - Backing Chords
- Composing Task - Melody/Jingles
- Composing Task - Triads
- Dictation - Rhythmic or Melodic
- Found Sounds
- Graphics/Graphic Score
- Irish Music
- Music Industry
- Music Production
- Music Promotion
- Practical Unprepared Tests: Aural Memory Melody
- Practical Unprepared Tests: Aural Memory Rhythm
- Practical Unprepared Tests: Improvisation
- Practical Unprepared Tests: Sight-reading (all tests/sight-rhythm/rhythm guitar/ukulele)
Assessment
- Written Exam (70%)
- 2 Classroom-Based Assessments (CBAs)
- Practical Examination (30%)
Exam
Students must complete a 1.5-hour-long exam paper. This is worth 70% of the overall marks.
Classroom-Based Assessments
Students must complete 2 CBAs. CBA 1 is titled 'Composition Portfolio' and CBA 2 is titled 'Programme Note'. In CBA 1, students must choose two of their pieces to include in a portfolio. For CBA 2, students must prepare a Programme Note to inform an audience about their upcoming performance in an interesting and relevant way (the practical examination).
Practical Examination
In third year, students must perform 3 songs/pieces either as a group performance or individually. The songs may be performed through instruments, voice or a combination of both. Students will also have to take an unprepared test, in which they will choose from an aural memory test or a sight-reading test. This practical assessment is worth 30% of overall marks.
Future Careers
Studying Music can be useful for a number of careers in sectors such as History, Music, Languages, Culture, Theatre and Performing Arts.
Download the Junior Cert Music Specification
Download the Junior Cert Music Chief Examiner's Report (2012)
Download the Junior Cert Music Assessment Guidelines
