Music

thumbnail_DM2_4269 DGM.jpg Music Generation Waterford is part of Ireland’s National performance music education programme. It provides an exciting opportunity for young people to engage with performance music education led by a team of highly skills musicians.

Did you know St. Paul’s Community College is the only secondary school in Waterford City and County to have a brass and wind programme with Music Generation Waterford?

This unique programme offers students the opportunity to access subsidised music lessons and music instruments such as flute, clarinet, saxophone and trumpet during the school day.

St. Paul’s Community College is also the home of Music Generation Waterford’s City Music Hub which takes place in the school on Thursday evenings. This offers young musicians additional opportunities to avail of small group tuition in a range of rock, pop and traditional instruments, join a band or be part of an ensemble, all highly subsidise.

Our unique partnership with Music Generation Waterford provides young people with lots of exciting opportunities to be part of a vibrant music community, both in school and after school.

If you would like more information about the after school Music Hub email: musicgenerationwaterford@wwetb.ie

DM2_4229 DGM.jpg

St. Paul’s CC Music Department is host to a vibrant creative and welcoming learning environment within the school community.

As a subject, Music is offered through all programmes- Junior Cycle, Transition Year, Leaving Cert Applied and Leaving Cert Established. Music education aims to develop the three core areas of learning – performing, composing and listening – through a series of interrelated musical activities. This is supported further by students involvement in extra-curricular Music activities. Music at Junior Certificate is aimed at developing performing, composing and listening skills through the three year programme. Emphasis is placed on creativity and musicianship, as well as the study of eras, genres and styles of music. It is assessed by two CBAs, a practical examination and a combined aural and written examination at the end of the third year.

As part of the Wellbeing Programme Strands at Junior Cycle, each student gets the opportunity to participate in a Wellbeing Choir, which focusses on singing techniques, ensemble performance and also highlights the benefits music has on your Mental Wellness. The Transition Year Music Programme has more scope and flexibility and is shaped by the interests of the students in each class. The three strands of performing, composing and listening are covered but through the lens of culture, Film Music, Music Technology and Ensemble Performance.

Music for the Leaving Cert Applied Programme is completed over two years, with Key Tasks focusing on Genres, Music in the Community and the Organisation of Music Events.

The Leaving Cert Established Music Course takes all skills from the Junior Cycle and develops them to the point where students can analyse, compose and perform confidently and independently. It is not prerequisite for any student to already play any musical instrument to embark on any of our Music Programmes. Musicianship is taught using instrument sets provided by the school- Ukulele being the most popular of these.

Students also have opportunities to learn instruments and perform through our extra-curricular activities. Students from St. Paul’s have gone on to study Music at Third level, including Arts with Music in UCC and Sound Engineering and Music Production in WCFE.