Music

• To ensure that, by the end of Key Stage 3 (KS3), pupils will have gained an understanding of the basic concepts of how music works in practice, for example, the use of melody, rhythm, chords etc along with an awareness of the makeup of different musical groups and an understanding of the features which characterise the different musical periods spanning the past four centuries to the present day.
• To promote the making and appreciation of music throughout the curriculum under the statuary three headings of Listening, Performing and Composing.
• To prepare pupils fully for the public examinations at GCSE, AS and A2 level.
• To advise A Level pupils about possible career paths involving the study of music at University or Music College after leaving school.

KS3

Pupils undertake a wide range of practical / listening / creative tasks designed to motivate and inform. In addition, there is a continuous assessment procedure in place, designed to ensure that each pupil develops an understanding of a number of basic key concepts as to how music works as an art form.

 

KS4 – GCSE

Pupils follow the CCEA specification which requires preparation and study of  the  three statuary headings of Listening (25%), Performing (35%) and Composing (40%).

 

AS / A2 Level

Pupils, as at GCSE, are entered for the CCEA specification – preferred because all assessments are conducted externally. A choice of two module options is on offer, with a third, compulsory, module. These modules are:

• A1 – Core composition (40%) with a performance option (20%) or
• A2 – Core performance (40%) with a composition option (20%) and
• A3 – Test of Aural Perception and a written paper focusing on set work(s) / historical area (40%)

Extra Curricular Activities

In addition to the staple curriculum programme a wide range of musical activities –instrumental and choral – are on offer outside the classroom during lunchtime and after school. For details of these follow the Extra Curricular link.

 

Career Paths

Over the years, many Academy pupils have chosen to pursue their studies  at third level education with a view to embarking upon a career in Music. Several former pupils have gone on to study Music at such mainstream universities as The Queen’s University, Belfast, and The Ulster University along with those of York and Edinburgh. We have also had Oxbridge successes with recent places at St John’s College, Cambridge, and our first organ scholar (Exeter College, Oxford). More recently, a leaving pupil obtained a place at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester to study cello. We hope for, and indeed anticipate, many more such successes in the future.

 

Instrumental Lessons

Twelve peripatetic tutors teach throughout the week at B.R.A.  Lessons cost £13 and each lesson lasts 35 minutes.  A contract is signed between parent and tutor at the start of each academic year.  Instrumental reports are sent out by the tutors at Christmas and June.

 

The instrumental tutors for 2008/2009 are:

 

STRINGS Miss R McGinley Miss T Neill Mr S McNeill	WOODWIND Mrs G McChesney DR G McAtasney
BRASS Mr N Power Miss S Snell	VOICE Ms M Murphy Mr D Revels
PERCUSSION Mr P Comfort	GUITAR Mr C Boyd
ORGAN Mr P Stopford	PIANO Miss R McGinley

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can click here to download a copy of the Contract for Provision of Instrumental Music Tuition.

 

School News

SPRING CONCERT

23rd Mar 2010

Ulster Hall - 23rd March - 7.30pm

read more...

THE ACADEMY THROUGH TO SCHOOLS’ CUP FINAL

17th Mar 2010

16 - 12 win against Wallace High School

read more...

NEWS FROM THE SWIMMING POOL

11th Mar 2010

Water Polo, Inter-house Gala & Lifesaving

read more...

HOCKEY NEWS

10th Mar 2010

Shield semi-final win & selections for U15 Area Board Tournament

read more...