Leaving Cert Notes

Notes and anki decks for the leaving cert.

  • Performing Practical
  • Beat/Pulse/Tempo

The Orchestra

  • String Family
  • Woodwind Family
  • Brass Family

Irish Music

  • Traditional Features of Irish Music
  • Traditional Instruments
  • Irish Dance Types
  • Sean Nós Singing
  • Irish Fusion
  • The Harping Tradition
  • Seán Ó Riada
  • Mícheál Ó Shuilleabháin
  • Céilí Bands
  • Irish Song Tradition
  • Irish Dance
  • Influence of traditional Irish Music on the Music of North America
  • Edward Bunting
  • Regional Styles

Music Theory

  • Rests, Clef & Note Names (with Note Values)
  • Treble Notes

Composing Paper Questions

  • Question 1 - Continuation of a Given Opening
  • Question 5 - Major Harmony
  • Question 5 - Minor Harmony

Set Works (Set A) - Spotify Playlist - YouTube

  • Romeo & Juilet Fantasy Overture by Tchaikovsky - Annotated Score - YouTube - Spotify
  • Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen - YouTube - Spotify
  • Piano Quartet No. 1 by Gerald Barry - Notes Slides - YouTube - Spotify
  • Cantata 78 “Jesu Der Du Meine Seele” by Bach - Annotated Score - YouTube - Spotify
  • RTÉ lyric fm Leaving Cert Music Podcast - Spotify

Music - Higher

Statistically, the "easiest" LC subject with 95% of Higher level students getting an honour.

50% of the marks are awarded by April, which means Music is a little less to worry about when it comes to exam time. 

Higher Level Course Content

  • Composing melody & Bass from chords
  • Composing to a Given Dance Rhythm or Meter
  • Composing: Adding A Countermelody/Descant & Chords
  • Composing: Adding Bass & Chords to a tune
  • Composing: Continuation of a given opening
  • Composing: Setting Music to a given text
  • Listening - Aural Skills (Unheard)
  • Listening - Bach
  • Listening - Barry
  • Listening - Berlioz
  • Listening - Deane
  • Listening - Irish Music
  • Listening - Irish Music Essay
  • Listening - Mozart
  • Listening - Queen
  • Listening - Tchaikovsky
  • Listening - The Beatles
  • Unprepared - Aural Memory Melody
  • Unprepared - Aural Memory Rhythm
  • Unprepared - Improvisation
  • Unprepared - Sight-reading (all)
  • Unprepared - Sight-reading (Rhythm Guitar)
  • Unprepared - Sight-reading (Sight-clapping)
  • Unprepared - Sight-reading (Ukulele)

Ordinary Level Course Content

  • Adding Bass & Chords at Cadence points
  • Adding Descant Notes & Chords
  • Composing bass & Melody from Chords
  • Composing to a given rhythm or meter
  • Continuation of a given opening
  • Setting Music to a given text

The Exam - Higher and Ordinary

Listening Paper  (100 marks - 25%)

In June of 6th year, a 90-minute long test where you are tested on four set works, Irish music and general listening skills.  

Composition Paper   (100 marks - 25%) In June of 6th year, a 90-minute long test where you are tested on Melody writing and harmony

Performance    (100 marks - 25%)

In April of 6th year, a test where you perform as a soloist or as part of a group or both. Higher Level: 3 pieces on one instrument and one unprepared test OR 2 pieces on each of two instruments and one unprepared test Ordinary Level: 2 pieces on one instrument and one unprepared test. Electives (100 marks - 25%) - Higher level only

You must choose one of the above parts to study for this extra credit.  Most people (97%) go for the Performance elective. As Ordinary level does not have an elective component, the component in which the student achieves the highest mark is reweighted to a mark out of 200 to make up 400 marks in total. Listening Elective: You must work on a music project over the course of 5th and 6th year and submit some work to the State Examinations Commission and sit an extra written paper in June. Composition Elective: You must undertake a large-scale composition to be submitted to the Examinations Commission in your final year. Performance Elective: This involves a more substantial performance during the examination period in April of 6th year.

Future Careers with Leaving Certificate Music

This subject is not an essential requirement for any courses in the CAO system. Future careers can include Artist, Musician, Actor, Performance, Education. 

Download the Leaving Cert Music Syllabus

Download the Leaving Cert Music Chief examiner's report (2012) 

Download the Leaving Cert Music Guidelines for Teachers

Past Papers

Created by studyclix.

irish music essay leaving cert

Community Activity

irish music essay leaving cert

This is a workbook I put together to have Leaving cert music Irish essays in the one place. These essays are from resources I have gathered from teaching music over the last few years. This booklet includes Essays for: Céilí Bands Denis Hempson Edward Bunting Fusion of Irish Music Mícheál Ó Shuilleabháin (Use for: Irish composer and solo fusion of styles.) Music Collectors Sean Nós The Harping Tradition Turlough O Carolan Irish Dancing Influence of the Song and Dance Music of Ireland on the Folk Music of North America Sean O Riada (Use for Irish composer) This booklet also includes: A revision checklist Study summary after each essay (this allows students to summarise key points and add keywords to a column in each study summary)

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IMAGES

  1. Irish Music Essay Booklet (Leaving Cert music)

    irish music essay leaving cert

  2. Díospóireacht Student Submitted Sample Answer

    irish music essay leaving cert

  3. Leaving Cert Irish: H1 Notes

    irish music essay leaving cert

  4. Guide to Irish

    irish music essay leaving cert

  5. The Elements of Music

    irish music essay leaving cert

  6. Irish Notes

    irish music essay leaving cert