Junior Cycle Musicianship

 

These classes build on the foundations already laid in the Music Kindergarten. Children continue to develop their musical skills and understanding through active music-making rather than through learning abstract theoretical concepts. Our primary aim in the Junior Cycle is to develop within the children a love of music, an understanding of the basic building blocks of music and a deep sense of musicality. Musicianship skills are essential to all musicians. Understanding how music works, from the inside out, gives us a deeper insight into the music we perform or listen to and allows us to play with greater understanding and more musical awareness.

​

The Junior Cycle programme of study is designed to develop and strengthen the following key areas:

• Aural awareness

• A strong sense of pulse and rhythm

• Singing with accurate intonation

• Inner hearing

• Music literacy – the ability to read, write and “think” musical notation

• Composition and Improvisation

​

In addition, students will be introduced to music terminology, the instruments of the orchestra and a selection of music from each of the main stylistic periods. The overarching aim of the Junior Cycle programme is to help develop within our young musicians a deep sense of musicality, musical awareness and sensitivity to the music which they perform.

​

Senior Cycle Musicianship

In the Senior Cycle Musicianship courses, which are optional but strongly recommended, students are led to an understanding of the various music styles and periods together with the study of harmony, analysis and composition. Students continue to develop their aural skills but are now ready intellectually to explore, and understand more fully, the more abstract aspects of music theory. When approached in this way, understanding the theoretical aspects of music presents little difficulty for the students as strong aural foundations have already been laid. Upon completion of the Senior Cycle Musicianship programme, students will have developed the requisite skills necessary for admission to third-level music courses if this is a path they wish to explore.