Welcome to the Music Department! - St. Patrick's College - DCU

Welcome to the Music Department!
Staff in the Music Department
Head of Department
Dr. John O’ Flynn Office: B119 Ext: 2150 john.oflynn@spd.dcu.ie
Lecturers
Dr Rhona Clarke Office: Ext: rhona.clarke@spd.dcu.ie
Dr Patricia Flynn Office: B121 Ext: 2152 patricia.flynn@spd.dcu.ie
Dr John Buckley Office: B123 Ext: 2088 john.buckley@spd.dcu.ie
Part-time Lecturers
Mary Nugent
Mary O’Donnell
Sheryl Lynch
Thomas Johnston
David Connolly
First Year Music Tutor
Roisin Nic Athlaoich
Music Department Administrator
Carol Davis Office: C112 Ext: 2064 carol.davis@spd.dcu.ie

Music Department Information
Lecture Rooms
Most music lectures take place in B118. This is the main lecture room in the
music department; some curriculum music lectures take place in other rooms
in the college. Please check the notice boards for any updates or changes.
Practice Rooms:
Five practice rooms (B120, B122, B124, B126, B128) are available for the sole
use of music students. Each practice room has a piano. Some have a music
stand.
Practice rooms may be booked by signing your name on the booking sheets
located on the practice room notice board. New booking sheets are put up
every week. During busy periods a student may only book a room for one
hour at a time.
The rooms are available Monday to Friday from 8.00am – 10.00pm except
during one week in the second semester when they are used for composition
preparation. Music students may also practice in these rooms on Saturdays.
Students who wish to practise during Sundays or holidays must contact
College Security at telephone extension 2299.
If you should experience problems trying to book a practice room please
contact Carol Davis in C112, Extension: 2064
Instrumental lessons are also given in these rooms.
Please see page 9 for a list of instrumental teachers available this year.
Noticeboards
There are two main notice boards in the Music Department, one is for
Academic Music notices, and the other is used for Curriculum Music notices.
It is recommended that you consult these notice boards frequently for
updates and extra information. The lecture timetable is displayed on this
notice board.
Please note that Academic Music lectures are referred to as “Music” on the
college timetable, whereas “Ceol” refers to curriculum music courses taken by
B.Ed students as part of Education Studies.
The Studio
There is a Technology Studio beside the main lecture room (B117). Students
will use this for score processing such as writing harmony and counterpoint
assignments or orchestration projects. Students may also use software for
practice in aural and music notation skills

1 st Year Students
Practical Examination
At the end of the college year you are required to take a practical
examination. In 1 st year this is an 8-10minute exam where you will perform
2 pieces/songs. Performances should be at the appropriate level (above
Grade V or equivalent) and the Head of Department must approve the pieces
that you choose.
2 nd Year Students
Practical Examination
At the end of the college year you are required to take a practical
examination. In second year this involves a 10-12 minute recital where you
will perform 3 contrasting pieces/songs. Performances should be at the
appropriate level (above Grade VI or equivalent) and the Head of Department
must approve the pieces that you choose.
The practical performance examinations are scheduled to take place during
the week ?????? Students are advised to keep this week free.
3 rd Year Students
Practical Examination
At the end of the college year you are required to take a practical
examination. In 3rd year this involves a 12-15 minute recital where you will
perform 3 contrasting pieces/songs. Performances should be at the
appropriate level (above Grade VII or equivalent) and the Head of
Department must approve the pieces that you choose.
Please note that a review of progress of performance will take place early in
the 2 nd semester.
The third year practical performance exam will take place ?????. Students are
advised not to make any travel plans in advance of this examination.
Information pertaining to all years
Students may perform in classical, traditional, popular, jazz or a combination
of these. Students must provide evidence of attending instrumental lessons,
and further must perform a midyear review of their work in front of peers.
At the beginning of the academic year you will be asked to register your
music teacher’s name and contact details.
A form listing your chosen pieces for the May practical examination must be
submitted to Carol Davis in C112 by ?????
For the examination you must provide the examiners with the original of the
pieces/songs. Should you need one, an accompanist will be provided, as well
as rehearsal time with the accompanist. However, please ensure that
Carol Davis Office: C112 is informed of this requirement and that you
submit an additional copy of the music along with the examination form. No

accompaniment will be provided for students that do not forward copies of
the music to be performed by the due date.
Participation in Music
It is mandatory for all students to participate in either Choir or Music
Ensembles · (or both), and at least one other of the activities listed below:
Music Department: Within the College:
Music Ensembles Traditional Music Group
Choir Folk Group
Lunchtime concerts
Instrumental Tuition
Performance on an instrument or voice is a requirement of academic music
and there is a practical examination at the end of the academic year.
In First Year a minimum entry standard of above Associated Board Grade V
(or equivalent) is essential. In order to facilitate students, lessons are
available on campus by negotiation with private tutors, but lessons may also
be taken outside of the college. Students must pay their teachers
individually, on a private basis for their instrumental tuition.
The following instrumental teachers will be teaching in the college this year.
Please contact your teacher and arrange a lesson time. Students pay the
teacher directly. Payment should be made at the first lesson of each
semester (9 – 10 weeks).
Piano Aileen Cahill 086 356 5595
Melanie Eggleston 087 962 3501
Patricia Grant 087 757 3426
Barbara Murray 086 866 8928
Violin/Viola Roisin Nic Athlaoich 086 350 9380
Aidan McWatt 087 909 3295
Trad. Violin Michelle O’Brien 087 412 8696
Singing Aisling Connolly 087 663 9137
Imelda Drumm 086 826 9610
Caitriona O’Leary 086 407 1984
Gavan Ring 085 147 7164
Flute Naoise O’Briain 087 290 4447
Recorder Anna Pories 01 843 4114
Irish Harp Aisling Connolly 087 663 9137
Clarinet Paul Roe 087 239 3173
Conor Shiel 01 837 5210
Guitar Glen Austin 087 298 7706
Mathew Quinn 085 715 0148
Cello Anne Murnaghan 087 638 3638
Percussion Seamus Lally 087 299 5666
Double Bass Brian Quigley Contact Office
Saxophone Paul Roe 087 239 3173
Fintan Sutton 087 220 0174
Button Accordion Peter Staunton 086 790 0041
If you would like to receive tuition on an instrument not listed above, please contact
Carol Davis in C112.

Musical Activities
Academic music students are expected to take an active part in the musical
life of the college and marks are awarded for participation in musical
activities. All music students must take part in either Choir or Music
Ensembles (or both), and at least one other Collegebased musical activity
if not taking both Choir and Music Ensembles.
· Choir: Choir activities include participation in college events such as
the annual Carol Service and the Lunchtime Concert Series, also major
choral concerts and competitions. Choir rehearsals normally take place
between 12pm on Mondays and Thursdays.
· Music Ensembles: Rehearsals for music ensembles take place on
Monday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm. Activities here include
preparation for the lunchtime concert series, song writing groups, and
orchestral groups for the accompaniment of choral concerts.
Performance in all musical styles is included, i.e., Popular, Traditional,
Classical and Jazz.
· Lunchtime Concerts: The concerts take place at lunchtime on
Wednesdays in each semester and are organised by a student
committee, which is formed at the start of each academic year.
Students in the music department (and their friends) are encouraged
to perform and to attend and to show support for the people who are
performing each week.
Other Musical activities in the college include:
· The Traditional Music Society
· Folk Group
· Singer/songwriter workshops/Open Mike
· Hip Hop Society
The Following are the forms that you will need to fill out
during the year.
1. Registration Form – giving the name of your
instrumental/vocal teacher
2. Practical Examination Form – Choices of Pieces/Songs
3. Participation in Musical Activities forms to be submitted at
the end of both semesters (one in December and on in
May)
These forms are available outside Office C112 or
can be downloaded on www.spd.dcu.ie.
Requirements for Practical Examinations 2012/2013
Students are expected to take lessons in their main instrument at their own
expense.
Instruments
Students may present for their practical examination, with an instrument or

voice in the following genres:
1. Classical
2. Traditional
3. Jazz instrumental or Popular
A combination of genres or of instruments, or of instrument and voice is also
acceptable.
Content
First Year
Two contrasting pieces/ songs.
Traditional musicians: 2 sets of dances e.g. A set of hornpipes and a
set of reels
Standard: Above Minimum Grade 5.
Second Year
A programme of three contrasting pieces/songs.
Traditional musicians: 3 sets of dances
Standard: Above Minimum Grade 6
Third Year
A programme of three contrasting pieces/ songs.
Traditional musicians: 3 sets of dances and a slow air.
Standard: Above Minimum Grade 7.
All pieces presented should result from lessons attended during the
current academic year. An accompanist will be provided, if required. Each
student may have one rehearsal with the accompanist before the examination
date.
The Head of Department must approve all programmes to be performed.
Programmes must be submitted to Carol Davis in C112.
Please note that a review of progress of performance will take place early in
the 2nd semester.
Date of Practical Examinations:
1 st Year/2 nd Year:
Third Year:
Criteria for Marking Practical Examinations 2012/2013
First Class Honours – (70%– 80%)
The performance shows a high level of technical mastery and the pieces/songs are
contrasting and at the required standard. The music is communicated convincingly with real
musical understanding and there is a strong sense of musical style.
Second Class Honours, Grade 1 (60% 69%)
The performance is technically secure and the music is well chosen. There is a very good
sense of style and attention to interpretative details.
Second Class Honours, Grade 2 (50%59%)
The performance is reasonably secure and the music is well chosen. Musical understanding is
conveyed, although minor flaws mar the overall impact. There is a good sense of style with
reasonable attention given to interpretative details.
High Pass (45% 49%)

The performance holds together with some technical mastery. The music is well chosen
with some care given to the guidelines. There is a reasonable sense of style and, although
flaws mar the overall impact, some attention is given to interpretative details.
Low Pass (4044%)
The performance holds together but without any obvious technical mastery. The chosen
music is acceptable, although at the margins of the appropriate standard. The performance
falters but contains some musical impact.
Fail (under 40%)
Neither the standard of performance nor the choice of programme is acceptable. The
performance does not hold together and musical response is minimal