Music hits the right chord with prepared students, says ASTI

THE composing section of yesterday’s higher level Junior Certificate music paper hit the right chord with well-prepared students, according to Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) spokesperson Mary McFadden.

She said they would have found the first two questions on their set songs and set works straightforward but comprehensive. While a recording of Australian folk song ‘Click go the Shears’ sung by Rolf Harris was entertaining.

The chosen songs/chosen works question was selected from the ‘orchestrally accompanied instrumental and vocal music’ category as described in the textbooks. But it was given a different wording on the paper, which Ms McFadden felt may have caused anxiety for some students. She also thought that a question asking candidates to identify which of four groups was heard playing from U2, The Corrs, Westlife and The Chieftains was more a test of general knowledge than of the syllabus but most students should have known the answer.