Second Class – St Canice's Music Programme

In Second Class Violin, Viola, Cello and Double Bass players may wish to continue their playing by taking part in our Second Class lessons. These lessons involve preparation for our Junior Orchestra pieces, as they now become members. If they haven’t already taken up an instrument or wish to try something else they can take up Viola, Double Bass, Recorder or Pocket Trumpet. If numbers permit those second class students with lots of rhythm can move on from Junior Percussion to Senior Percussion lessons! If they are a singer now may be the time to enrol them in singing lessons. Perhaps they are interested in the Piano either? Most of our second class instrumentalists also benefit from enrolling in our Royal Irish Academy of Music Preparatory Theory classes which augment and supplement their instrument learning and will go on to take a theory exam in May.

RIAM Theory Preparatory

The beginner level theory lessons at Preparatory level are taken up in Second Class. An exam will then be taken in May of the following year.

The course is planned to provide a foundation for the study of Musicianship and to ensure a thorough grasp of music literacy, and is a helpful adjunct to the practical study of an instrument.

By |2019-10-11T18:16:32+01:00October 11th, 2019|

Junior Percussion

The video shows Patrick O’Shea 5th Class 2013-2014 interviewed and performing in Senior Orchestra in the programme “Meet The Orchestra” recorded in May 2013 and aired on RTE Junior in September 2013

Junior Percussion players have the opportunity to play on the school’s samba drums, orchestral timapni, glockenspiel, snare drum, suspended cymbal, triangle and bass drum.

St Canice’s percussionists perform in the Senior orchestra, Junior orchestra and Jazz band and may also get together with fellow string or woodwind or brass players to form smaller performing groups.

By rainrain|2019-12-19T22:35:46+00:00October 11th, 2019|

Voice

Singing lessons can be taken up by individuals from first class onwards under the expert tuition of Irish Soprano Roisin O’Grady.

By |2019-10-11T15:47:48+01:00October 11th, 2019|

Piano

The video shows Aoibheann Smyth 5th Class 2013-2014 interviewed and performing in Senior Orchestra in the programme “Meet The Orchestra” recorded in May 2013 and aired on RTE Junior in September 2013

The Piano can be a member of the orchestra or a solo instrument.

The first piano was built as early as 1694 and replaced the harpsichord as the most popular keyboard instrument of the Romantic era. The piano was first referred to as a pianoforte which means soft (piano) loud (forte) instrument. It was named the pianoforte because, unlike the harpsichord, it allowed the player to control the degree of loudness and softness of a note by the way he/she would strike a key.

Playing the piano often involves the use of all ten fingers and sometimes both of your feet. To make a sound, simply press a key down. The softer or harder and slower or faster the pianist presses a key will determine the sound quality of the note. The three pedals, controlled by the pianists feet, also change the tone of the piano. They include the damper pedal, the soft pedal, and the sostenuto pedal. The damper pedal is the most used pedal by far, serving to sustain the notes that have been played. The soft pedal, which may be locked in place during a performance, serves to lighten the intensity of the notes. The last pedal, the sostenuto pedal, makes it possible to sustain some notes while allowing the player to play detached sounds on another part of the keyboard.

St Canice’s pianists can perform alone or in a duo to perform duets or even play with other members of the orchestra.

By rainrain|2019-12-19T22:36:00+00:00October 11th, 2019|

Pocket Trumpet

The pocket trumpet is a compact size B♭ trumpet, with the same playing range as the regular trumpet. The tubing is wound more tightly than that of a standard trumpet in order to reduce its size while retaining the instrument’s range.

A pocket trumpet comes in just two pieces. It is played with the right hand on top of the instrument with the first three fingers resting on the valves. The left hand holds the instrument with the fingers wrapped around the middle of the valves.

The pocket trumpet is a very versatile and widely used instrument. Trumpets are always needed in bands, symphony orchestras, jazz groups and small instrumental groups. It is very common for the trumpet to perform a large number of solos and melodic lines in all of these groups. The trumpet also works well as a solo instrument.

St Canice’s pocket trumpeters perform in the Junior orchestra, Senior orchestra and Jazz band and may also get together with fellow brass, woodwind or string players to form smaller performing groups.

All instruments have limited availability and will be distributed for hire on a first come first served basis. Pocket Trumpets are available for hire for ONE YEAR ONLY. Lesson costs depend on the size of the group being taught and can alter annually. Please ask for further details.

By |2019-10-11T15:03:03+01:00October 11th, 2019|

12 Next