Music In Davitt College – Curriculum Content (Overview)
In all years, we aim to integrate and fuse the three curricular areas of performing, listening and composing.
| Junior Cycle – 1st Year |
| Performing:
Students are given the opportunity to take part in, and enjoy practical music making, in a variety of styles and genres. Students should also perform on a range of instruments learned outside the classroom. Students can also participate in group and solo singing. Participation is encouraged in a variety of musical events such as school masses, carol services, talent shows, concerts and traditional Irish performances. |
| Listening:
We aim to introduce students to a broad range of styles and genres including Traditional Irish, Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Film, Ethnic and contemporary. This in turn develops an awareness of, and an appreciation for melody, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, harmony, texture, form, mood and style. |
| Composing:
We aim to introduce students to music literacy, including Treble stave, time and key signatures, note values, chord banks, rests, dictation and basic composition |
| Junior Cycle – 2nd Year |
| Performing:
Students are tasked to improve their practical performance, and through group and solo work they would participate in the actual performance of previous musical ideas and set songs/works from the Junior certificate Course. |
| Listening:
The 1st year listening experiences would be expanded to include more detailed aural analysis and set works. We would strive to give the students the opportunity to attend a live performance. |
| Composing:
Further development of the composition skills acquired in 1st year would be expanded to include further keys, compound time signatures, more intricate melody writing and dictation and use of harmony. |
| Junior Cycle – 3rd Year |
| Performing:
We would further develop the students in the area of performance with particular emphasis on the Junior Certificate practical examinations, which are worth 25% of the overall grade. |
| Listening:
We aim to consolidate the student’s course work, and to include the use of examination papers and accompanying audio. Again, we would encourage students to avail of the opportunity to attend a live performance, especially that of any set songs or works on the Junior Certificate course. |
| Composing:
To further develop composition skills (Melody and Harmony) to complete the Junior Certificate Programme. |
All students would continue to participate in a wide variety of school based musical events.
| Senior Cycle |
| Performing:
Students are given the opportunity to take part in, and enjoy practical music making, in a variety of styles and genres, with special emphasis on preparation for the Leaving Certificate practical examination which is worth 50% of the final grade. This can include solo and group playing and singing. |
| Listening:
Students would be immersed in, and exposed to a diversity of musical experiences and should broaden their musical response to the following elements: Melody, rhythm, tempo, dynamics, harmony, texture, form, mood, style, performance medium and timbre. Listening resources would be drawn from Baroque, classical, romantic, contemporary, popular, film, traditional Irish and Ethnic music. The students would be heavily encouraged to attend a number of live performances, including a performance of their set works in the national concert hall, Dublin. |
| Composing:
Literacy skills to be developed include the following: Key signatures (up to 4 sharps and flats), minor keys, modulation, melodic composition, backing chords, musescore, and general composing techniques used within all 4 set works. |
All students would continue to participate in a wide variety of school based musical events.
