Develop skills on TWO instruments throughout S3 and S4 PERFORMING : 60% of Final Grade

PERFORMING Participate in many group performing activities, and solo opportunities in the classroom Perform pieces in a variety of styles This accounts for 60% of the overall course award

*New S3 pupils can audition for lessons in school on guitar, drum-kit, voice and percussion I don’t Perhaps you are saying: “I don’t get lessons on any instruments and I just like to ‘jam’ with my friends on the guitar.”

COMPOSING: Pass/Fail Learn composing skills and create music through the use of instruments and software. Create music in a variety of styles such as Blues and Jazz, Scottish and a song-writing project. ONE composition must be submitted by the end of S4 and this is awarded a Pass or Fail.

UNDERSTANDING MUSIC: 40% of Final Grade Develop skills in recognising features in music. Explore various styles of music and start to recognise various instruments, concepts and musical notation. This accounts for 40% of the overall course award.

The course offers a variety of learning through units of work: For example: MUSICAL STYLES UNIT 1.Performing: rock/pop pieces as group performances 2.Composing: Blues improvisation and a rap using Macbooks 3.Understanding Music: listening to and identifying features in Blues/Jazz, Rock/Pop amongst many other styles

PERFORMANCE UNITS 1 & 2 You will be encouraged to rehearse and develop your skills on each instrument during class-time through these units You can practise in different rooms within the department when studying this unit Classes will perform mini-concerts to demonstrate their skills

OTHER UNITS IN S3/4 INCLUDE:  VOCAL UNIT  SCOTTISH UNIT  HISTORY OF WESTERN MUSIC All units will provide opportunities to perform pieces in a group performance, create music and further explore features within the music.

It’s a fun and informal way of learning, with around 80% of learning being practical: no sitting at desks with books for a great deal of the course! Any SQA qualification (Nat. 5/Higher/Advanced Higher) accrues ‘points’ to gain entry into college or university – Music qualifications accrue exactly the same points as any other subject

You do not have to take Music in S3 to pursue a career in Music. Most of JGHS pupils who take Music accrue the points needed to gain entry to college, and then become doctors, vets and even a nuclear physicist! Many of their conditional offers asked for Higher Music.

The Music industry Rock/pop musician, Sound engineer, Orchestral musician, Composer/song-writer, Radio Television Jobs in music publishing, Jobs in recording studios, Marketing and publicity of artists, Roles in record labels, Publicity etc.

Our music department is one of the biggest in Edinburgh, with many opportunities to perform in events such as Rock Night, Usher Hall concert etc. In the SQA Music exams, we have some of the best results in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher in Scotland, and have been top in Scotland at Advanced Higher for the past 5 years. There’s a great team of music teachers and instrumental teachers at JGHS, so you’ll be in good hands! JGHS MUSIC DEPARTMENT