MUSIC COURSES

The development of music literacy forms a major part of a solid education for performers, composers and listeners of all kinds. An understanding of how written symbols relate to the sounds of music, and learning the skills to interpret and translate these symbols enables us to communicate and experience music in a meaningful way. Music theory is a very practical subject that is symbiotic with performance and composition.

The course at the Cork Academy of Music give students opportunities to acquire:

• a knowledge of the notation of western music, including the signs and terminology commonly employed
• an understanding of fundamental musical elements such as intervals, keys, scales and chords and their application
• skill in constructing balanced rhythmic patterns or completing given melodic or harmonic structures
• an ability to apply theoretical knowledge to performance and to understanding score analysis

Also, as part of our curriculum, we include Contemporary Harmony, Basic Orchestration, Basic Composition skills and Music Technology.

Students are assessed on their ability to identify, use and manipulate conventional musical symbols, to complete extracts and to answer questions relating to the elements of music according to the grade-by-grade parameters of the syllabus, and realise these skills in music performance on their chosen instrument.





Knocknaheeny Youth Music Initiative was set up in December 2009 as an outreach scheme of Cork Academy of Music. Initially run as a pilot scheme, the course proved so successful that it was approved for further funding in 2010 and 2011. The course aims to give early school leavers and young people on unemployment benefits a route back into education through music. Students at KYMI study for FETAC qualifications in Music and Computer Skills, along with instrumental and theory exams with the internationally recognised ABRSM.

In addition their studies, the musicians of KYMI have been actively involved in community projects through their performing groups. KYMI have performed at a host of community events including the Shandon Dragon Festival, Mad Pride festival 2010/2011, Cork City Hall, Cork City Marathon, and most recently Áras an Uachtaráin for President Mary McAleese.