Music

Department members: 

Danielle Gorman, Annie Smyth & Jackie O’Brien 

Department co-ordinator: Danielle Gorman 

Provision of the Subject in the School: 

Music is taught as an optional subject for Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate and in Transition Year. Students follow the course set out by the DES.  Junior Cycle music aims to deliver a broad and balanced education in music by providing students with the musical knowledge, understanding, practical competencies and attitudes appropriate to their age, needs, abilities and interests.  Senior Cycle music students engage in a two-year course which offers them performance, music technology, composition and listening opportunities as part of their Leaving Certificate music programme. Transition Year students complete a series of modules designed to expand and broaden their experience and understanding of music such as Film Music and learning to play the Ukulele.  

Facilities/Resources: 

The Music department has its own music room, equipped with an upright piano, an electronic Roland piano, Casio keyboards, microphones, amps, a full drum kit, class set of ukuleles, percussion instruments, Boomwhackers, 7 PC’s with MuseScore and Audacity installed as well as a laptop trolley with 30 laptops, an interactive overhead projector, a visualiser, along with a vast selection of CDs, DVDs, music books etc.   

Teaching and Learning: 

First Year 

All first years use the new first year music book ‘Maestro’ by Nathan Barett.  This book focuses on the new learning outcomes of the new Junior Cycle music specification.  

Second Year 

Second year students continue their Junior Cycle programme with the same book ‘Maestro’.  The second year programme builds on the learning outcomes introduced in first year.  Second year students also complete their CBA1, which is a composition portfolio. 

Third Year 

Third year students complete their music course with a general study on a music topic of their choice.  Composition skills, such as melody and backing chords are refined.  They also complete their CBA2 which is a research project based on their practical. The Junior Cycle students are due to complete their practical examinations around Easter each year.  

Transition Year 

This year’s TY comprised of three class groups.  Each group completed a 10-week course where they learn about musical genres and the impact of these on the music industry, film music and how to play the ukulele.  

Fifth Year 

Fifth year music students started composition work on backing chords, melody development and studied three of their set works Tchaikovsky, Bach and Queen. Irish music and general aural skills were also studied in Fifth year along with technology as an option for performance.  Practical preparation was catered for with classroom performance sessions and critique. 

Sixth Year 

Sixth year music students began with revising composition and worked on this throughout the year.  They completed their final set work, ‘Piano Quartet No. 1’ by Irish composer Gerald Barry, and the remaining areas of the course such as Irish music, aural skills and music technology were revised during the year. Their performance exam was held over the Easter break.  

Assessment: 

Assessment includes 

• Monitoring homework 

• Continuous assessment tests in class 
• Practical exams on a regular basis 
• End of term exams (1hour 20mins duration) 

Exam years also have their mocks in February, with mock practicals too. 

Events Co-ordinated by the music department: 

• Open Night 

October 2023 – students from all years performed in Room 7- the music room – for open night. It was a showcase of the musical talent we have in O’Carolan College.  

• OCC’s Seasonal Celebration

The theme of this years’ celebration was ‘Peace’. We explored peace around the world and traditions incorporating peace. We had performances from our 5th and 6th year music classes also.  

• Music Trips 

The Leaving Certificate music class go to the National Concert Hall for a ‘Guide to Leaving Certificate Music’, which is a performance based on Tchaikovsky’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’.  This is one of their set works for the Leaving Certificate. Performed in sections and in full by the National Symphony Orchestra. Third year students also got to visit the National Concert Hall to see ‘Music in the Classroom’.