Mr Z Fazlic BA (Director of Music)
Mrs S Smart, BA (Mus. Ed.)


Visiting Staff:

  • Piano - Mr M Beetschen, Mrs. Susan Smart
  • Violin/Viola - Mr S McMurdo
  • Cello - Mrs S Smart
  • Flute - Miss E MacPherson
  • Clarinet/Saxophone - Miss F Pybus
  • Brass - Mr P Petrie
  • Percussion/Drumkit - Mr C McGregor
  • Guitar/Bass - Mr S McLaughlin
  • Pipes/Chanter - Mrs M Campbell
  • Pipe Band Drumming - Mrs M Stewart
  • Singing - Mrs J Taylor

Aims and Outline of the Music Department

The Music Department caters for the entire School from Nursery to S6. There are three strands to its work, in the form of Timetabled Curricular Classes, Instrumental Tuition, and Extra-Curricular Activities. The principal objective of all three is to help pupils achieve their fullest potential in the subject by developing skills, understanding and an appreciative response across as wide a range of music as possible.

  • All classes from the Nursery up to S2 are timetabled for music twice a week. This allows for a gradual accumulation of musical experience which is further reinforced by frequent opportunities for practical activity in half-class groups. From S3 onwards Music is not compulsory apart from a modular rolling programme in S5; however, sets for Int 2 (S3&4), H and AH (S5&6) are always well subscribed, with exam results well above the national average. The Department aims to adopt an integrated approach throughout all its class teaching, giving opportunities for Performing, Listening and Composing at every stage. The perfect music lesson (sometimes achieved) will result in enjoyment, informed understanding and a sense of natural progression.
  • It is open to any pupil to take individual lessons on a musical instrument or voice, but an extra fee is payable, and the system does necessarily require absence from regular classes (on a rota basis in order to minimise disruption). The work of the Visiting Instructors is a vital and equal adjunct to what happens in the classroom, particularly in the case of SQA exam candidates whose Performance assessments now carry 60% of their total marks. The Department also makes regular presentations for external exams (both Associated Board and Trinity/Guildhall.)
  • The Department's extensive extra-curricular programme is fully described on other web pages

Courses

  • Nursery and Primary School: From the earliest years there is a strong emphasis on developing the singing voice, frequently in conjunction with movement and drama. Awareness of pitch and rhythm and the ability to contribute to group activities (instrumental and vocal) are regarded as central to the qualities we seek to foster at this stage. At the same time pupils are encouraged to discover their own individual musical personalities through solo performance and creative projects. Music teaching in Transitional starts to introduce the concept-based approach which accompanies continuing practical work in the Secondary School and forms a core element of the SQA syllabus later on.
  • S1/2: At the beginning of Secondary, blocks of skills-based learning on guitar, keyboard, percussion and computers link in to opportunities for Group Performance, while Listening and Composing tasks begin to follow the lines of Intermediate 1 and 2 work. In this way pupils are given as wide a preparation as possible for their future options - some will wish to take the subject on to a higher level whilst others can simply be equipped with the knowledge and competence to enhance their enjoyment and contact with music in the future.
  • S3/4: Pupils who choose to do Music after S2 follow the Intermediate 2 course (Intermediate 1 is possible if required)
  • S5/6: Higher and Advanced Higher are both available at this stage, and in S5 only there is a modular Rolling Programme which provides all pupils with a short block (8/9 weeks) of Music at some point in the year.

Successful Learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors - if the Music Department can't tick all these boxes, then who can?