SCHOOLS

We put on music making courses and workshops on-site in schools

All the latest equipment and tuition expertise supplied

Taster workshops & longer programmes available

BENEFITS FOR STUDENTS

• Working with contemporary music styles.
• Experience using the latest software & hardware.
• Learning from skilled industry practitioners.
• Secure up to 50% of Leaving Cert Music marks.
[E.g. Higher Level Core]

BENEFITS FOR SCHOOLS

• ALL EQUIPMENT supplied, no need to invest.
• FREE software licencing available.
• Provision of Music Technology tuition.
[e.g. where it currently isn’t available] • Free-up school teaching resources.

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Junior Cycle – Music Curriculum

Everything Provided
Fun, practical, and engaging music technology workshops delivered on-site in your school with all equipment, expertise, and materials supplied.

Curriculum Focus
These multi-faceted lesson plans address a variety of learning outcomes in each strand of the new Junior Cycle, as outlined in workshop descriptors below.

In-Service Learning
These workshops not only aim to engage the students, but also to showcase possible lesson plans for teachers in the new music curriculum.

Experience
We were directly involved in the NCCA consultation process during curriculum development, and have been delivering workshops in schools for many years.

Workshop 1: ‘Composition’

Description:
Composing and arranging original pieces of music in a fun and engaging way using a combination of music software and controllers, leveraging the latest creative techniques. Students will compare, analyse and critique both existing musical pieces (across all genres) and their own compositions.

This module relates to requirements:
Procedural Knowledge: 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.10, 1.14
Ideate and Innovate: 2.1, 2.9, 2.11
Culture and Context: 3.9, 3.10

Example requirement [Strand: Procedural knowledge]:
1.1 “compose and play back short musical phrases and support these phrases by creating rhythmic/melodic/harmonic ostinati to accompany them”

Workshop 2: ‘Found Sounds’

Description:
Learning how to find and record sounds, get them into the software, trigger sounds using devices, compose rhythms and melodies, apply effects creatively.

This module relates to requirements:
Procedural Knowledge: 1.1, 1.2, 1.9, 1.10
Ideate and Innovate: 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.9, 2.11
Culture and Conext: 3.9, 3.10

Example requirement [Strand: Innovate and ideate]:
2.7 “create and present some musical ideas using instruments and found sounds to illustrate moods or feelings expressed in a poem, story or newspaper article”

Workshop 3: ‘Radio Show’

Description:
Planning, producing and recording a radio show including custom jingle production and broadcasting and production tips. Also any student research carried out in advance as part of the ‘Culture and context’ strand can possibly be used for programme content.

This module relates to requirements:
Procedural Knowlege: 1.2
Ideate and Innovate: 2.2, 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, 2.11
Culture and Context: 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11

Example requirement [Strand: Culture and context]:
3.4 “compose and perform an original jingle or brief piece of music for use in a new advertisement for a product, and record the composition”

Workshop 4: ‘Performance’

Description:
Compose and arrange a piece of music to a video, and perform live as an ensemble to the visual using both acoustic instruments and music software.

This module relates to requirements:
Procedural Knowledge: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.11
Ideate and Innovate: 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 2.10
Culture and Conext: 3.1, 3.6, 3.9

Example requirement [Strand: Culture and context]:
3.6 “ associate/match music excerpts to a variety of texts (words, film, language,) and justify the reasons as to why this piece of music was chosen to match the text”

NOTE: These workshops can be delivered independently but can also inform each other. E.g. ‘Found Sounds‘ could feed into ‘Performance‘, ‘Composition‘ could feed into the ‘Radio Show‘, etc. Also, our facilitators will communicate with you in advance to see what curriculum elements you want to focus on or need particular support with per workshop.

Flexible delivery: We can deliver workshops with a variety of music software programmes depending on what suits your school, e.g. Free software such as Reaper or perhaps Garage Band is automatically installed on school computers. Talk to us to find out more. Alternatively we can also set you up with some free Ableton Live licences, which is a powerful/versatile option and the software of choice amongst many music artists these days… but that’s up to you!

Booking & Info

Leaving Cert - Music Technology

ALL Equipment & Tuition Provided | Programme delivered on-site | Keep FREE software licence

We provide full support for the Leaving Cert Music Technology electives that are part of the existing Music curriculum. We teach students the skills they need for their Performance Exam using professional production software (Ableton Live).

We supply all the equipment and software during class time and then leave you with a FREE software licence so you can run the program from your existing school workstations.

Using high quality, fully functional software means that where practical we can deliver content beyond the requirements of the exam – allowing students to pick up industry-relevant skills and to become really engaged in the creative process.

The software is intuitive and easy to work with, meaning students can quickly pick up the skills needed to perform curriculum requirements. Depending on the level selected, the Music Technology elective can account for up to 50% of total Music marks.

Levels Covered

• Ordinary Level
• Higher Level Core (1 activity)
• Higher Level Core (1 of 2 activities)
• Higher Level Elective (1 activity)
• Higher Level Elective (1 of 2 activities)

Who Benefits?

• Schools that don’t have the equipment or know-how.
• Schools that don’t offer Music Technology now can.
• Students starting music after the Junior Cert cycle.
• Students less proficient on an instrument – a way of securing marks.
• S.E.N. groups – music technology can present a viable alternative.

Course Development

We have engaged with state bodies to ensure content meets official requirements. We have also hosted numerous focus groups with music teachers who are experienced in delivering the music technology electives in order to tune course materials.

Demo Video 1

Exam requirements – Inputting a score.
(Click ‘YouTube’ or ‘Full Screen’ links for bigger view)

Demo Video 2

Exam requirements – Applying edits.
(Click ‘YouTube’ or ‘Full Screen’ links for bigger view)

Demo Video 3

Exam requirements – Compile a backing track.
(Click ‘YouTube’ or ‘Full Screen’ links for bigger view)

More Information

TRANSITION YEAR

Engaging & Relevant Activity

Develop Digital Media Skills

Create & Perform Unique Tracks

A music technology workshop or workshop-series is ideal activity for TY students. We have been delivering workshops as part of TY Programmes nationwide since 2011.

Music-making using technology provides a great creative outlet for students as well as relevant digital media experience using a cutting edge software tool. Students get to make their own tracks individually or as part a group in modern styles that they engage with such as Hip Hop or Dance Music.

As well as a creative outlet, students are getting a flavour of the technical elements of sound production and editing, skills highly relevant in expanding media industries.

All too often there can be an over emphasis on office-based applications during school years. However with the growth of handheld devices and online media worldwide there is an increasing demand from businesses for audio-visual content.

The workshops we run can be standalone or else tie in with other school activity, e.g. music produced for an event, a performance or to a theme.

DETAILS

Duration – There is flexibility in course structure to suit time and budget available. E.g. half-day taster workshops (3 hours), or longer programmes over a number of sessions (4-8 two-hour sessions).

Number of Students – Our typical set up uses 10 laptops and there are headphone splitters allowing two students per laptop. Where possible we prefer to cater to smaller groups of 6-8, as there is a better balance between group tuition & individual support.

Outcome – Every workshop works toward an end goal such as a finished track or a public performance. All students come away with their own MP3 or CD.

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE FOR MULTIPLE BOOKINGS & LONGER PROGRAMMES

PRICING

We apply a flat rate of €75* per tuition hour.

* This includes supply & use of all equipment, provision of software,
travel time, preparation and post-production.

Examples:
3-hour taster session: 3x€75 = €225
2-hour session each day for 4 days: 8x€75 = €600
Etc.

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OTHER WORKSHOPS

We also run workshops with other age groups and in other school contexts.

Taster workshops are a handy low-cost way to see the set up and test how students respond. We regularly run programmes in collaboration with other education providers and organisations, providing components of a wider range of activities e.g. themed events. See example video ->

Get in touch for more information, sample workshop outlines, etc.