Welcome to the Music and Performing Arts Department of St. John the Baptist's College!

Music and Performing Arts Staff 2024/25:

Ms. K. McGrath

Mrs. R. Wardell

Mrs. S. van der Westhuizen

The Department provides opportunities for all pupils from Years 8-12 to come together to enjoy and perform music in and out of the classroom. Diversity is celebrated within the department by holding and attending different events and productions.

Music and Performing Arts is an area of the curriculum that develops pupils sensitivities to many aspects of everyday life and prepares them for a very wide range of stimulating and challenging activities. It plays a central role in the development of pupils' understanding, being concerned with the education of feeling; exploration of values; practical and perceptual skills and intellectual and aesthetic development.

Departmental aims:

• To recognise the potential of career opportunities
• To enable pupils to discover, in all shapes and forms, as a medium of expression
• To provide practical experience of music for all pupils
• To develop aural perception and imagination
• To enable pupils to experience enjoyment and satisfaction through participation in both ensemble and individual music-making activities
• To develop social skills, decision making and self-confidence in the pupils
• To create an atmosphere where pupils, whatever their musical ability, can contribute to and learn from the class that is both enjoyable and stimulating
• To contribute to pupil's personal and social development and the development of positive attitudes to self and others

Key Stage 3 Overview

Year 8:

• The Elements of Music
• Music Theory
• Listening and Appraising
• Keyboard Skills
• Instruments of the Orchestra

Year 9:

• Music History (Eurovision & Folk Music of Ireland and the wider world)
• Music Theory
• Listening and Appraising
• Composition
• Keyboard Skills
• African Drumming
• Ukuleles
• Introduction to Digital Music

Year 10:

• Film Music
• Music History (Pop Music)
• Music theory
• Listening and Appraising
• Composition
• Keyboard Skills
• Digital Music

Key Stage 4 Overview

GCSE Music

The CCEA GCSE Music specification is for everyone who loves music: composing, playing an instrument, listening to music, or using music technology. It encourages students to develop their musical potential by focusing on performing, composing, and listening.

Key features

The following are important features of this specification.

• It offers opportunities to build on the skills and capabilities developed through the delivery of the Northern Ireland Curriculum at Key Stage 3.
• It includes two externally assessed components and one internally assessed
  component.
• It includes the three fundamental musical activities:
  - performing and appraising;
  - composing; and
  - listening and appraising.
• It promotes knowledge, understanding and appreciation of past and
  contemporary musical styles, traditions and contexts.
• It accommodates the needs and interests of a wide variety of students.

Prior attainment

• Students do not need to have reached a particular level of attainment before
  beginning to study this specification. However, this specification builds on the
  knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Key Stage 3 Music
  curriculum. We recommend that students possess some skills in vocal or
  instrumental performance. (CCEA, 2017)

This specification is a linear qualification: students take all the assessments at the end of the course.

There are three components:

• Component 1: Performing and Appraising
• Component 2: Composing
• Component 3: Listening and Appraising.

 GCSE Music Specification 

CCEA Level 2 Performance Skills

Performance Skills is an excellent qualification for pupils who want to explore career opportunities, techniques and their own talents, within the arts. The course outcome is a B equivalent. Pupils must complete a portfolio and choose a discipline of performance to study which will be used to complete a final performance. The course is internally assessed and externally moderated. 

The course focuses on three compulsory units;

• Unit 1: Working in the Performing Arts Industry
• Unit 2: Develop Technique for Performance
• Unit 3: Rehearse and Perform.