Course Description

Are you interested in studying Leaving Cert. Music? Do you play an instrument or sing but haven’t studied music theory or Junior Cert. Music? At Waltons New School of Music we think music at Leaving Cert. level should be accessible to any student with a genuine interest in it. With this in mind, in 1999 we developed the Leaving Cert. Music Preliminary Course, designed for students intending to enter either our Two-Year Course or another Leaving Cert. Music course without either Junior Cert. Music or formal studies in music theory. Taking place over a single weekend in September, the Preliminary Course covers the fundamentals of music theory up to Junior Cert. standard as a preparation for Leaving Cert. It is also useful for students who want to take a refresher course in music theory before starting Leaving Cert. Music.

Like all of the New School’s Leaving Cert. Music courses, this online course can be taken by students living anywhere in Ireland.

The following elements are covered:

• Rhythmic note values
• Time signatures
• Bass and treble clefs: reading the staves and ledger lines
• Major and minor scales
• Key signatures
• Naming chords using roman numerals and guitar backing chords
• Recognising major and minor triads
• Harmony using guitar backing chords
• Answering a given four-bar melodic phrase

Course handouts, in pdf format, will be provided for further study and revision.

Requirements

Participants in this course will need:

• An internet-connected laptop, computer, tablet or smartphone. (A laptop or computer with webcam and microphone is strongly recommended, as it will have the largest picture.)
• Headphones or earbuds, if possible.
• Ideally, internet speed at least 1.5Mb per second. (You can test your speed using Measurement Lab’s Speed Test.)
• Free Zoom software or app.*
• Music manuscript paper. If you don’t have this, you can download printable music manuscript paper here.

*   If you haven’t learned music with Zoom before, please see our printable Zoom for Students information sheet for information on how to download and use Zoom for music tuition.

Before the course begins, the teacher will email you a Zoom meeting invitation that includes a meeting ID and password to join it.

Self-Assessment

Prospective Leaving Cert. Music students who have not completed Junior Cert. Music and who are unsure whether or not to take this course should download, print and complete our Leaving Cert. Music Self-Assessment. If you have difficulty answering any of the questions, we recommend that you take the Preliminary Course or private music theory tuition before commencing Leaving Cert. Music, either with the New School or elsewhere.

Amy Morrison

Amy studied in Trinity College Dublin (where she received both a BA in Music and a Professional Diploma in Education), the Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary (where she received an advanced diploma), and most recently in Dublin City University (where she completed a Masters in Choral Studies, graduating with First Class Honours). As a teacher, Amy has worked extensively in secondary school, music school, and workshop settings with students of all ages, teaching Junior Cert. Music, Leaving Cert. Music, theory, musicianship, piano and voice. She is also very involved with the Post-Primary Music Teachers Association, where she has been a member of the Conference Team at their annual conferences, and from 2018 to 2020 she served as Vice-Chairperson of the Association. Amy is the current Chairperson of Kodály Ireland, having been heavily involved as a member of the organisation’s committee since 2018. She is continuing her studies by completing the International Kodály Certificate with the Kodály Institute, alongside certificate courses with the British Kodály Academy and the National Youth Choir of Scotland. Amy also teaches our Music Fundamentals and Sight Singing Made Easy courses.

Reviews • Testimonials

‘I honestly didn’t think I would be brought up to speed and ready for Leaving Cert. Music in such a short space of time, but I was! Highly recommended.’
– D. McCarthy

‘Very clear and informative. A must for music students.’
– M. Oliver

‘I learned so much in just two days and feel so much more confident about studying music now. I would highly recommend the course for anyone interested in Leaving Cert. Music who hasn’t studied music theory before.’
– E. Thompson

Have you taken this course? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about it.

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2023 Course Schedule

DATES
23 & 24 September 2023

SCHEDULE
Saturday & Sunday
10 am – 1 pm, 2 – 4 pm

Fees

Preliminary Course: €160
Preliminary Course & Two-Year Course (if booked together): €590 *

* Students enrolling for both our Two-Year Course and our Preliminary Course together receive a 25% discount (€40) off the Preliminary Course fee.

The fee includes pdf course handouts, which will be sent to students.

Enrolment

Enrolment in this course requires a completed Leaving Cert. Music Enrolment Form and full payment of the tuition fee. Places on the course are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis, based on the date of enrolment.

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Questions about the course?

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