Music
Music at St. Patrick’s
Name of HOD: Mrs Celeste McEvoy

Staff currently teaching in Department:
Ms Christine Galway BMus PGCE (part-time)
Mrs Celeste McEvoy MA, BMus, PGCE (full-time)
Visiting Tutors
Mrs Carol McEvoy (Lower Strings - SEELB)
Mr Niall Lynch (Upper Strings - SEELB)
Mrs Patricia Rogan (Woodwind - SEELB)
Mr Philip Ferguson (Brass - SEELB)
Miss Kasey Peters (Percussion)
Miss Ria Maguire (Singing Coach)
Mr Jonathan Moan (Classical Guitar)
Mr Joel Byrne McCullough (Rock Guitar)
Mr Paul Foreman (Bass Guitar) *
Miss Bridin Wells (Piano and Theory)
Mr Niall McClean (Traditional)
starting Sept. 08

Topics taught in Year 8:
Pulse
Rhythmic Notation
Time Signatures
Musical Notation of Pitch
The Instruments of the Orchestra
Form in Music
African Music
Song writing

Music is part of the Arts subjects in the school and consists of 1 full-time music teacher, 1 part-time teacher and 11 visiting instrumental tutors. Music is offered to all pupils from Year 8 to Year 14.
All students are given the opportunity to learn the recorder and keyboard in class and are encouraged in practical and composition classes to use instruments that are being learnt in or outside of school.
In these classes, pupils will develop their aural awareness, practical and compositional skills.
Students who choose to study music at GCSE level receive 4 35minute periods of class per week and those studying music at AS and A2 receive 8 and 9 35minute periods of class respectively.
Senior students have access to all the IT facilities that the music department has to offer, including 8-track mixers and mini disk recorders, music notation software and midi compatible keyboards.
The Department houses a computer music suite, with the music software packages Sibelius 4 and Cubase. Students are encouraged to learn how to use Sibelius early on in Year 8, and build on this knowledge significantly so that, when students progress to GCSE years and beyond, they are already familiar with the software and will extend their knowledge. The computers are available every day after school, and also during the Composition Club which runs every Thursday for any student who wishes to avail of help.

Instrumental Tuition
Music lessons are available either on a one-to-one basis or in small groups. Lessons last between 20-35 minutes and are taught by 4 peripatetic tutors from the South Eastern Music Centre and 7 visiting music teachers.
Tuition is available on the following instruments:
• Piano
• Violin, viola, cello, double bass
• Clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, saxophone
• Trumpet, cornet, trombone, tuba, euphonium, French horn
• Guitar – classical, electric and bass
• Percussion (drum kit)
• Tin Whistle, fiddle (traditional), bodhran
• Voice

Any student who wishes to take up tuition need only approach a member of the Music Dept. Usually lessons are paid for a term in advance. Letters with more detailed information regarding tuition will be sent home on request, and as soon as payment for lessons is received, the student’s name will be placed on the teacher’s timetable.
Lessons are timetabled in a rota system – lessons will change time every week. It is the onus of the student, to check at what times the lessons are each week.

Extra-curricular music at St. Patrick’s
St. Patrick’s Grammar School has a rich extra-curricular life and students throughout the school are encouraged to become involved in the range of activities that are available.
Monday    Traditional Music Session – Lunchtimes, Orchestra - 3.20-4.30pm
Tuesday   Junior Choir - lunchtime, Senior Choir – 3.20-4.30pm, Chamber Group – 3.20-4pm
Wednesday  Junior and Senior String Quartets – 3.20-4pm
Thursday  Composition Club 3.20-4.30pm, School Stars Auditions
Friday   Folk Choir and/or Barbershop Quartet - Lunchtime

School Stars Success
June 2007 saw the success of SPGS students wining the Grand Final of School Stars. X Factor judges Ray Quinn and Chico joined UTV’s Frank Mitchell in announcing the St. Patrick’s group the winners, after they beat stiff competition from 22 acts from across the whole of Ireland in the Grand Final in the Waterfront Hall. The winning act, which played ‘Monster’ by The Automatic, was ecstatic with their achievement.

This year, another act from SPGS has gained a place at the School Stars Final which takes place at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry on 16th June, 2008.
Niall McCrickard and Conor Brannigan, a talented duo singing an acoustic version of a Foo Fighter song, are hopeful for success. Tickets for the show can be purchased from the Music Department.

(Niall and Conor, who are representing SPGS in the Grand Final of School Stars in the Millennium Forum in June.)
Orchestra
The school orchestra rehearses on Monday from 3.20pm – 4.30pm in music room 1S1 under the direction of Mrs. McEvoy. All students who take instrumental tuition should aim to take part in the orchestra.

String Quartet
The Senior String Quartet has enjoyed success playing at prestigious events and venues throughout N. Ireland, most notably at the Waterfront Hall. The quartets, junior and senior, are taken after school by upper string tutor, Mr. Niall Lynch.

Chamber Group
The Chamber Group, under the direction of Mrs. Pollaco, plays mainly arrangements of light music and rehearses weekly on Tuesday from 3.20pm to 4.00pm.
School Choir
There is a junior and senior choir under the direction of Ms. Christine Galway, which consists of students from year 8 to year 14. The repertoire is very mixed as the choir perform in events ranging from school functions to national competitions.

(The choir on a school trip to the Odyssey Arena.)
Folk Choir
The school Folk Choir meets weekly at lunchtimes and is responsible for many of the liturgical services needed throughout the school calendar. The repertoire of the folk group consists of hymns and contemporary music carefully chosen to enhance the spiritual experience of the participants in the Mass.
Traditional Music Groups
The Irish traditional music teacher, Mr. Niall McClean, rehearses groups during both lunch periods on Monday. These groups join together to play in the Prize Day functions, the Open Day in January and the Annual School concert in March. This year, the traditional group were invited to perform at the Ballyduggan Mill in Downpatrick to help with the celebrations of the Down District Community Safety Partnership.
Other Musical Experiences
On occasion, visiting musicians are invited to play for pupils to enhance their musical awareness.
For a cross-curricular project, CSI: Red High, two players from the Ulster Orchestra, Mr. Patrick McCarthy and Mr. Peter Young hosted a workshop for Year 8 students on mood and music, and how mood is captured in films.

Annual Chairperson’s Awards, Down County Council, Music Competition.
This year, two groups of performers from SPGS won coveted awards at the Annual Chairperson’s Music Competition. A clarinet trio consisting Shane McKenna, Neil Morgan and Christopher Wells performed a lively jazz piece with G.I. Jive, and rising star, Niall McCrickard performed his own bodhran solo for the awards.

The clarinet trio receive their award from Councillor Eddie Rea.

Niall McCrickard performs his own bodhran solo whilst Councillor Eddie Rea enjoys the music.
Composition Success
Shane McKenna, a Year 14 student, was chosen to join composer-in-residence at Queen’s, Brian Irvine, to write a piece of music specially commissioned for an ensemble from Ulster Youth Orchestra and the Ulster Orchestra. Shane’s piece, entitled ‘March of the Spartans’, was inspired by the action film ‘300’. A selection of the students’ compositions was later performed by the Ulster Orchestra in the Waterfront Hall.

Milk Cup Composition Success
Past-pupil, Joseph Ward came first in the Milk Cup Anthem Composition Competition. The competition, which was held to mark the 25th anniversary of the internationally acclaimed youth tournament, invited budding young musicians and songwriters to compose an anthem celebrating the event. Shane McKenna, mentioned above, was runner-up.