Music and Performing Arts
Welcome to the Music and Performing Arts Department of St John the Baptist College!
Few people are unaffected by the arts. They pervade everyday life and are an integral part of social culture. Within the school curriculum, the arts can enrich the lives of individual pupils, providing opportunities for their personal, intellectual, social and cultural growth.
The Department provides opportunities for all pupils from Years 8-12 to come together to enjoy and perform music both in and out of the classroom. Here, 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.
Our Music and Performing Arts Department aims to do this by:
- 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 enable pupils to extend their musical experience through their own initiative
- 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 children's personal and social development and the development of positive attitudes to self and others
- To learn to appreciate the enjoyable and worthwhile nature of leisure
Key Stage 3
We also aim to produce a secure, nurturing environment to learn Music and Drama for pupils to enjoy extracurricular experiences within the realms of Performing Arts.
The department works to develop the pupils’ appreciation and enjoyment through performing, composing, and listening activities.
In Year 8 Music we cover:
Unit 1: The Elements of Music
Unit 2: Keyboard Skills
Unit 3: Instruments of the Orchestra
Unit 4: GarageBand
In Year 9 Music we explore:
Unit 1: Keyboard skills
Unit 2: Film Music
Unit 3: Rhythm
Unit 4: African Drumming
In Year 10 Music we study:
Unit 1: Performance Skills
Unit 2: Song writing
In Year 8 Drama we cover:
Unit 1: Introduction to Drama – Serious Fun
Unit 2: Physical Theatre
Unit 3: Cinderella
Unit 4: Snow White
In Year 9 Drama we explore:
Unit 1: Styles of Drama
Unit 2: Sleeping Beauty
Unit 3: Butterfly Lovers
Unit 4: Matilda
In Year 10 Drama we study:
Unit 1: Silent Movies and Melodrama
Unit 2: Macbeth
Unit 3: Refuge Boy
Unit 4: Monologues
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.
Students can explore a range of music, including classical, pop, film, and traditional Irish music. This deepens their appreciation of the diverse heritage of music and promotes their personal, social, intellectual, and cultural development.
Through the performance element of the course, students develop the skills they need to communicate effectively as musicians. This increases their self-confidence and enhances their presentation, communication, and evaluation skills. The opportunity to write their own music allows them to be creative.
This qualification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills developed through the Area of Learning The Arts and the Cross-Curricular Skill of Using ICT.
This specification is a linear qualification: students take all the assessment at the end of the course.
The specification has three components:
- Component 1: Performing and Appraising
- Component 2: Composing
- Component 3: Listening and Appraising.
Performance Skills KS4
Performance Skills is an excellent qualification for pupils who want to explore their talents and the result of the completed course is a B equivalent. Pupils must choose a discipline of performance to study. Popular disciplines for pupils include dance, drama, singing and music.
The course focus’ on three compulsory units;
- Unit 1: Working in the Performing Arts Industry
- Unit 2: Develop Technique for Performance
- Unit 3: Rehearse and Perform.
Extracurricular Provision
- Choir
- Performing Arts club
- African Drumming
- Ukelele club
- Traditional group
- Vocal ensembles
- Singing tuition
- Piano tuition
- Upper strings tuition
Extra - Curricular Provision
The Music Department offers a variety of extra-curricular opportunities for pupils which will build their confidence in performance and give them opportunities to perform at various events. The school has a vibrant choir that performs at many events throughout the school year including our annual carol service. The school African drumming group is held on Tuesday’s at lunch time. There is also a Music Theory club on Thursday’s at lunchtime where pupils can develop their keyboard skills and musical knowledge. A violin tutor comes into the school on Wednesday’s for individual/small group tuition.