Subjects » Music

ISSA offers a diverse music programme. Music forms part of the school curriculum from Primary school up to Senior School.At senior school level, students focus on the following three areas: listening, composing and performing.

Although only the fundamentals in these three areas are covered, a foundation is laid for IGCSE music, which covers the above-mentioned areas in much more detail.Should a pupil choose to do IGCSE music,in addition to having passed Form 3 music, he/she must have completed at least two years of instrumental tuition and completed an external music examination of a grade two to three level.

Students can be entered for these examinations at ISSA.Students, who have not completed these external examinations, will need to do an audition before being allowed into the IGCSE programme.Once pupils have successfully completed the IGCSE certificate, they then have the option of doing music at the AS and A levels.

The IGCSE programme consists of the following components:

1. Listening

This module is sub-divided into (1) prepared listening examination where prescribed works are analysed and (2) unprepared listening.With the unprepared listening component, students are examined on their general understanding of various cultures and genres of music.

2. Composing

Pupils are expected to do three compositions for IGCSE.They are free to choose the instruments they wish to compose for, but all the compositions have to be contrasting in nature.

3. Performing

Students need to perform solo and ensemble repertoire on at least one instrument. In order to meet the required standard for IGCSE, instrumental tuition needs to commence in Form Two and external music examinations need to be passed with a minimum of a Grade Two qualification by the end of Form Three.

Instrumental tuition is offered from Primary School level and can continue throughout Senior School.These are specialized classes and tuition is offered on Keyboard, Piano, Voice, Strings (violin, viola), woodwinds (clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, flute) and brass (trumpet, euphonium).

Instrumental tuition is optional at school and pupils receiving lessons are putting themselves in line for possibly continuing with IGCSE music.Preference is given to Primary School and Form 1 and 2 pupils,since this gives them the time to acquire the necessary skill to continue with IGCSE music.Should pupils choose not to do IGCSE music, ISSA offers an alternate:

At Form Four level, should pupils want instrumental tuition without doing IGCSE,they can then be entered for external instrumental examinations.As a pupil advances,this external qualification is acknowledged at certain tertiary institutions and the student can be given credit for this qualification.