Our aim is not only to give all children the opportunity to perform and participate fully in music making activities in the classroom, but to encourage what will hopefully become a life-long appreciation. The music curriculum throughout the School incorporates practical involvement in the three core areas of music: Performing; Composition; and Understanding Music. These elements develop the pupil’s instrumental, creative and aural skills.

St Columba's Music

Music can be studied up to and including National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher Level.

In addition to an experienced and enthusiastic departmental team, visiting specialists provide individual tuition.

There is also a wide ranging extra-curricular programme, including a graduated choral programme of 8 choirs, from Junior School through to Senior VI. This encourages choral development and progression as pupils move through the School and prepares many of our pupils to successfully audition for the National Youth Choirs of Scotland.

Instrumental music is equally well supported with pupils participating in music making in Junior School Orchestra, through to Senior Orchestra. All genres of music are encouraged and pupils can participate in the Jazz Band, Pipe Band and various chamber groups such as brass ensemble, flute ensemble, woodwind ensemble and, percussion ensemble. Many of our pupils successfully audition for places in the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, National Youth Brass Band of Scotland, National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland, National Wind Ensemble of Scotland and most recently one of our pupils has successfully auditioned for the National Children’s Orchestra of Great Britain.

Music Tuition

Music plays a vital role in the ethos of St Columba’s School and our dynamic, vibrant department has a huge part to play in our consistently outstanding results.

St Columba's Music

Over 300 of our pupils at Junior and Senior School currently receive 1:1 tuition from 16 visiting specialist teachers. Many of these teachers are professional performers with leading orchestras in Scotland and around the UK and/or teach at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Individual tuition is available in piano, keyboard, accordion, guitar, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, voice, trumpet, euphonium, French horn, trombone, tuba, tenor drum, snare drum and bagpipe/chanter.

Instrumental tuition requests should be made using the form below. Completed forms should be returned to Senior School for all pupils in Transitus-Senior VI and Junior School for all pupils in Junior 3-6.

Please complete our Instrumental Tuition Form here to register for music tuition. 


Piping & Drumming

For pupils wishing to learn the bagpipes, snare, bass or tenor drums, lessons are provided by the Piping & Drumming Programme. Please complete the Instrumental Tuition Form here.