Extra Curricular
music
At St Columba’s, music is at the heart of school life. Our vibrant Music Department delivers an exciting, year-round programme of extra-curricular activities, providing live music for all major school events, including Junior and Senior School Prizegiving, the Remembrance Service, Spring Serenade, and the Junior and Senior School Christmas Concerts at St Columba Church. Beyond the school walls, our pupils regularly perform in the community, supporting fundraising initiatives such as the festive season campaign for the Inverclyde Homeless Forum.
Our musicians and singers thrive on a wide range of performance opportunities. They have showcased their talents at events including the Inverclyde Music Festival, corporate and charity concerts at prestigious venues such as the Royal Concert Hall and Paisley Abbey, and local care homes and shopping centres, frequently raising significant funds for charitable causes.
The extra-curricular programme offers a variety of choral opportunities across the Junior and Senior School. Pupils can participate in the Junior 4–6 Choir, Senior School Choir, SVI Boys’ Choir, and SVI Girls’ Choir. Instrumentalists develop their skills in the Senior School Orchestra, performing at all high-profile school events. Pupils are encouraged to explore diverse musical genres through ensembles such as the Jazz Band, Pipe Band, Brass Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, and various chamber groups. Participation is expected for all pupils receiving instrumental tuition, whether lessons are provided in school or by visiting specialists.
“Music develops part of the brain like nothing else.”
Our aim is to nurture a lifelong love of music. The curriculum integrates the three core areas of music: performing, composition, and understanding music, developing pupils’ technical, creative, and aural skills. Music study is available up to National 5, Higher, and Advanced Higher levels, supported by a dedicated team of experienced staff and visiting specialists.
All musical genres are embraced, and pupils regularly achieve distinction beyond the school. Many secure places in the West of Scotland Schools Concert Band, the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior Conservatoire. In 2023, St Columba’s pupil Emily Barron was a national winner of the Scottish Young Musicians competition. Many Columbans go on to study at conservatoires and universities across the UK, pursuing careers in music and the arts.
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.
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.
Instrumental music is equally well supported with pupils participating in music making through Orchestra. All genres of music are encouraged and pupils can participate in the Jazz Band, Pipe Band and various chamber groups such as woodwind ensemble and trad band. 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.
