LEAVING CERTIFICATE MUSIC CLASSES AT DUBLIN SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Our Leaving Certificate Lessons
Dublin School of Music delivers award‑winning tuition for every age and ability.
This is a two-year course starting in 5th year.
Dublin School of Music offers students one hour of class per week in preparation for the Leaving Certificate Music Course. This class is designed for students who would like to take music as an extra subject or who may not be able to study music at school.
Join us at our fully equipped schools in Tallaght, Stillorgan, and Terenure - three Dublin locations, one clear path from practice room to performance hall.
Class Time and Location:
Classes run from 8:00pm to 9:00pm every Tuesday evening at our Terenure branch, throughout the academic year (September - May)
The annual fee for the Leaving Certificate Musicianship Course is €550, which can be paid over two instalments.
Teacher: The Leaving Certificate course is taught by Aoife O'Donovan, a qualified secondary school music teacher. Aoife is an exceptional educator, and we are very proud to have them teach with us. Their students consistently perform to an exceptionally high standard in their Leaving Certificate exams.
Course Structure: The Leaving Certificate Music syllabus is broken into two sections: a written paper and a practical exam. Each section is worth 50%. The practical exam takes place the April before the written exam—so you have 50% of the work completed well in advance.
Practical Exam Preparation:
Extra classes are available in a range of instruments to prepare for the practical component. These are separate from the weekly theory class.
Options for the practical exam include:
- Play six pieces on one instrument (Grade 5 equivalent standard)
- Play four pieces on one instrument and four on another (this includes singing and group work)
- Play four pieces on one instrument and complete a short exercise on a music technology program
Note: Music Technology is a computer-based component that requires students to input written music and make several changes—similar in concept to editing a Word document, but for music. This option is ideal for students who study only one instrument or who prefer a digital approach to the practical component. It can be taught as a short separate module, and students may continue learning at home using a free program such as MuseScore.
Important: Students who complete the Leaving Certificate Music course at Dublin School of Music will sit the Leaving Certificate exam in their own school centre alongside their other subjects.
Theory Exam Preparation:
Dublin School of Music prepares students for the written paper. (Separate classes are available for practical exam preparation.) Students must study:
- Four set works - Irish Music - General Listening - Composition of a 16-bar melody - Backing chords to accompany a given line
What We Offer:
- Small class sizes to ensure maximum attention to each student - Qualified, experienced secondary school music teachers - Classes available through Irish on request - Grinds available on a one-to-one basis
We blend music theory education with practical learning, preparing any student to progress confidently and challenge themselves. This approach offers many opportunities to play with other musicians, form lifelong friendships, and develop crucial musical skills.
Great school, would 100% recommend for anyone interested in learning an instrument.
