Aim
This music specification aims to contribute to the development of artistic awareness and understanding, self-expression, self-esteem, imagination and multicultural sensitivity, and therefore, to the development of the whole person. Students will develop the knowledge, skills and understanding necessary to produce and engage with authentic and original music, that is both theirs and the music of others. In doing so, they will develop the music literacy, critical skills and language necessary to engage with today’s musical world.
Students will have music lessons in the GCC Music Centre which was officially opened in April 2023. Thanks to Music Generation, students will use instruments from their store to learn about a wide variety of instruments, including learning the basics of how to play the ukulele, the boomwhackers and some other percussion instruments. In Junior Cycle music, students learn in every class by listening, composing and performing.
While instruments are not taught as part of the Junior Cycle curriculum, music lessons are available through Music Generation after school to all students of GCC. Performance is worth 30% of the Junior Cycle music exam, so singing or playing an instrument is strongly encouraged. The written exam is worth 70%. The exam is assessed at Common Level.