co-curricular music

Co-curricular Music

The High School enjoys a very strong musical tradition. 

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All pupils from the Nursery to F2 receive one music class per week from a specialist music teacher in which they learn how to read, compose, listen to and perform music on instruments.

But in addition to that, more than 500 individual music lessons are taught each week to pupils in L3-F6, in piano, all orchestral instruments, singing, guitars, bagpipes, pipe-band drumming and clàrsach.

Click to download a copy of: Instrumental Instruction at HSD 2022/23

Once they have begun playing an instrument, pupils in L4 upwards have the chance to join a huge number of music ensembles, with choirs for different age groups, training wind bands and orchestras, string ensembles and a symphony orchestra; the last group recently gave a complete performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. There is also a Jazz Band, a Pipe Band, and ensembles for guitars, clàrsachs, and various chamber groupings.

More than 500 individual music lessons are taught each week to pupils in L3-F6

We’re very proud of our musicians and, understandably, we want to give them the chance to demonstrate their talents to a wider audience. Our musicians, of all ages and standards, have regular opportunities to perform, with our public Autumn and Spring Concerts in the Caird Hall being particular highlights of the school year.

As they progress, our pupils have the chance to sit ABRSM exams and they are also encouraged to join outside musical organisations and attend national training schools, orchestras and choirs. As a consequence, in recent years a number of our pupils have taken up places with National Youth Choir of Scotland choirs and with National Youth Orchestra of Scotland ensembles.

We want to encourage our pupils to explore their musical talents; as a result the School makes a large number of instruments available for hire.