Full-time course duration:

4 Years (8 Semesters)

Admission Requirements:

Leaving Certificate in six subjects, including either English or Irish, and including at least two C3s at Higher Level.

Entrance Examination

All applicants must sit the CSM’s Honours BMus Degree Course Entrance Exam. There is no specific Mathematics requirement. Grade B2 or higher in Foundation Level Mathematics is recognised as one of the subjects for entry but does not attract CAO points

NB: This is a Restricted Access Course and all applicants must sit the CIT CSM Honours Degree Course Entrance Test 20th April 2013).
Candidates are not allowed to defer the results of the Entrance Test.

This involves an interview, performance, aural & sight singing tests, and a written paper dealing with rudiments, compositional techniques (harmony) and general musical knowledge Samples of the aural & sight-singing tests and written paper are available upon request from The Administrator, CIT Cork School of Music, Union Quay, Cork. Normally, applicants should have reached at least Grade VI on their Principal Instrument and a list of scales, arpeggios, studies, pieces and concerto movements is also available for every instrument in respect of the CIT CSM’s own Grade VI syllabus.

Each candidate who sits the Entrance Test is awarded up to a maximum of 600 points that are added to the Leaving Certificate points for the purpose of determining entry. Each standard candidate must achieve the minimum threshold of 240 points in the Entrance Test and the minimum Leaving Certificate entry requirement in order to be eligible for admission.

Sample Paper:

• Please CLICK HERE to download sample paper and audio files are available to listen or download below.

Garda Vetting

In Year 3 and 4 of the Bachelor of Music (Honours) CR121, students studying the following modules will be required to undergo Garda vetting:
> Instrumental Teaching 1
> Instrumental Teaching 2
> Instrumental Teaching 3
> Music Therapy 1
> Music Therapy 2
> Community Music Project 1
> Community Music Project 2

These modules require applicants to undergo a Garda Vetting process. This requirement is due to the mandatory external placement element of the modules which will bring the applicant into contact with children or vulnerable adults and in which they will assume positions of trust. CIT uses the GCVU to help assess the suitability of all applicants on such modules. Offers of places on these designated modules will be provisional and contingent on the applicant’s satisfactory completion of CIT’s Garda Vetting Procedure.

Depending upon the outcome of the vetting process, the Institute reserves the following rights:
1. To not register a student
2. To remove an existing registered student.
3. to delay the student’s practice placement modules.

In all circumstances, it is the applicant student’s responsibility to proactively disclose any convictions/cases pending. The Institute reserves the right to inform any placement agency of the existence of any convictions/cases pending.

Leaving Cert Subjects:

Helpful subject Music, though not mandatory. It is important to get the sample Honours BMus Degree Course Entrance Test from the CIT Cork School of Music’s Administrator, Union Quay, Cork, to check that you can meet the requirements of the Practical, Aural & Written elements.

Course summary

This four-year programme leads to the award of an Honours BMus. The course offered by the CIT CSM differs fundamentally from those available elsewhere in the country in a number of ways. In particular, Performance Studies are an integrated feature throughout the course and students receive credit for them proportional to their level of ability and specialisation.

Department(s)

CIT Cork School of Music

This four-year programme leads to the award of an Honours BMus Degree. The course offered by the CSM differs fundamentally from those available elsewhere in the country in a number of ways. In particular, Performance Studies are an integrated feature throughout the course and students receive credit for them proportional to their level of ability and specialisation.

One of the attractions of this Honours Degree course is the nature of Years 1 and 2, which are best described respectively as “Foundation” and “Transition”. The carefully co-ordinated elements of the Year 1 course seeks to ensure that every student is subsequently able to fulfil their potential, whatever specialisations are chosen. During Year 2, the continuation of core studies is balanced by the introduction of elements that ensure students can make an informed decision about which subjects they would like to specialise in during the third and fourth years. Whilst these might prove to be Performance Studies, or Music in the Community, or Pedagogic [Music Teaching] Studies, or Music and Technology, or Music Therapy, it is equally possible to specialise in Applied Musicianship Skills and/or Music History. Students specialising in conducting and/or orchestration reap the benefits of multiple sessions with the CSM’s most senior performing groups, including the Fleischmann Choir, Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.

Potential professional performers can study with people who have played in and/or conducted professional orchestras, choirs and bands, are (or have been) members of professional chamber ensembles, and perform regularly as soloists. Aspiring teachers take courses in Pedagogic Studies that reflect the very best practices to be found in a School that has been at the cutting edge of music education for nearly 130 years. In addition, there is also coherent and meaningful provision for students whose interests and strengths lie in the fields of Applied Musicianship Studies (including Analysis, Composition and Counterpoint) and/or Historical Studies.

Staff of the CSM have blazed the trail for both Community Music and Music Therapy studies in Ireland, and the Music and Technology

Studies are enhanced by the unique availability of state-of-the-art digital equipment in the CSM and linkages with the BA Honours Degree in Multimedia offered by the Department of Media Communications in CIT's Bishopstown Campus.

Further Studies

Suitably qualified graduates may apply either to undertake research (leading to the award of an MA and/or PhD), or to follow a Taught Master’s course in either Music (Performance and Composition) or Music & Technology.