Welcome to the Music Department

Staff: 

Mrs. T Wilkin

Mr. L Needham

Broad General Education Music

In St Margaret Mary's Secondary School all pupils receive music lessons in S1 and S2, one period per week. Pupils have the opportunity to learn keyboard, tuned percussion, acoustic, electric and bass guitar, and drumkit. Pupils will also learn about various styles and genres of music such as orchestral music, opera, musicals, pop, jazz and various music types from different cultures around the world. Pupils will have the opportunity to create and compose their own music incorporating the use of music technology.

Pupils who show potential and skill in any particular practical area or instrument will have the opportunity to trial instrumental lessons with the specialist tutors. in St Margaret Mary's Secondary we have four specialist music instructors:

Mr Sweeney: Voice and Piano (Mondays PM)
Ms Makar: Keyboard and piano (Wednesdays and Fridays)
Mrs Weir: Drumkit and percussion (Wednesdays and Thursdays)
Mr Johnston: Guitar - Acoustic, Electric and Bass (Tuesdays)

Courses Available:

National 3 Music Performing
National 4 Music Performing
National 5 Music Performing
Higher Music Performing

National 3 and National 4 Music

Pupils learn two instruments and are required to perform a programme 8 minutes in length at Grade 1 level for National 3 and Grade 2 level for National 4. Pupils will continue to deepen their knowledge of listening to and understanding music by continuing to learn and study a wide variety of music genres, styles and structures. Pupils will continue to create and compose their own music integrating their knowledge of basic music literacy and technology.

Both National 3 and 4 Music is internally assessed.

National 5 Music

Pupils learn two instruments and are required to perform a programme 8 minutes in length at Grade 3 standard, which is assessed by a visiting assessor from the SQA. Pupils continue to expand their knowledge of listening to and understanding music as they progress towards the National 5 question paper set by the SQA which is 45 minutes in length. Pupils create and compose their own music which is assessed externally by the SQA.

Higher Music

Entry to this course requires a pass at National 5 music, preferably with an A or B pass.

Pupils continue to  learn two instruments and are required to perform a programme 12 minutes in length at Grade 4 standard, which is assessed by a visiting assessor from the SQA. Pupils continue to expand their knowledge of listening to and understanding music as they progress towards the Higher question paper set by the SQA which is 1 hour in length. Pupils create and compose their own music which is assessed externally by the SQA.