Balwearie High School

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Music

Balwearie has a thriving Music department with many opportunities for students through courses in both Music and Music Technology. As well as students learning to play a wide range of classroom-based instruments, the school has a variety of visiting instructors covering different string, woodwind, brass and percussion instruments as well as the piano, guitar, bagpipes and pipe band drumming. There are many extra-curricular groups in the department run by Music teachers and visiting instrumental instructors where pupils are able to take part in both the Christmas and Spring concerts, the Fife Festival of Music and numerous other performing opportunities throughout the year.

For students studying Music and Music Technology in S4-6, support is available in the department. Students should approach Music staff if they require a space to work (e.g. at lunchtimes) or equipment to complete work at home. There is also a dedicated Composition support session on Monday lunchtimes with Mr Harlow in C307.

There are also online support sites such as: 

 

Check us out on YouTube (Balwearie Music Department) and Instagram (@balwearieperformingarts) 

 

Music Pathways

 

 

 

Extracurriculars

 

Monday:

S4-6 Music Support - Lunchtime in C307 - Any student in S4-6 studying Music or Music Technology who would like 1 to 1 support on any aspect of their course

Student-Led Orchestra - 3:30pm in C304 - Open to all S3-6 students who play an orchestral instrument (note: students must also attend another group on their instrument to attend)

 

Tuesday:

Pipe Band - lunchtime in C302 - For students who take part in Bagpipe / Chanter / Pipe Band Drumming lessons

Senior Mixed Choir - lunchtime in C304 - Open to all S3-6 (Note: S3 pupils must also attend Junior Choir)

Wind Band - 3:30pm in C304 - Open to all Woodwind, Brass and Percussion players

 

Wednesday:

Guitar Group - interval/lunchtime (rotates) in C307 - For S1-6 students who receive Guitar lessons and any other keen and able guitarists

String Ensemble - lunchtime in C303 - For Senior String players by invitation

Brass Group - lunchtime in C304 - Open to all Brass players 

Keyboard/Piano Club - lunchtime in C302 - Everyone welcome!

Senior Strings - 3:30pm in C304 - Open to all S3-6 students who play a string instrument

School Show - 3:30pm in Assembly Hall / Drama Dept - For students involved in Chicago 2025 (see Teams for rehearsal information)

 

Thursday:

S1-3 Junior Choir - lunchtime in C302 - Open to all students in S1-3

Percussion Group - lunchtimes in C306 - For  all S1-6 students who receive Percussion lessons

 School Show - 3:30pm in Music Dept - For students involved in Chicago 2025 (see Teams for rehearsal information)

 

Friday:

S4-6 Senior Girls Choir - 1:20pm in C302 - Open to S3-6 students (Note: S3 pupils must also attend Junior Choir)

S1-3 Junior Strings - 1:25pm in C304 - Open to all S3-6 students who play a string instrument (Students may wish to bring lunch and will be given time for a short break before the group starts)

 

Fife Festival of Music 2025

 

results festival 2025.pdf

 

Music Staff

Below you can meet all the department staff and find out a little bit more about them by clicking on their photos.

Music Staff (ID 1136)

  • Mr Harlow
    Faculty Head of Expressive Arts & Teacher of Music

    Mr Harlow

    Where (and what) did you study?
    Glasgow University - Electronics with Music

    Edinburgh University - Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary Music)
    Who is your favourite band or artist?
    I can't choose!

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Smurfs Go Pop!

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    The violin because I feel it is where my strengths lie

  • Miss Charnley
    Teacher of Music

    Miss Charnley

    Where (and what) did you study?

    Edinburgh Napier Uni - Bachelor of Music with Honours
    Strathclyde University - Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary Music)

    Who is your favourite band or artist?

    Taylor Swift, McFly, Dolly Parton

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Spice World by the Spice Girls

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    The Bari Sax. No justification needed.

  • Miss Douglas
    Teacher of Music

    Miss Douglas

    Where (and what) did you study?

    University of Aberdeen - Bachelor of Music (Education) with Honours

    Who is your favourite band or artist?

    blink-182. Fleetwood Mac. Fall Out Boy. Carly Rae Jepson.

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Step One by Steps

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    The viola - it's the first instrument I received lessons in (other than recorder...) and is unique enough there's not many of us!

    I do also enjoy the tambourine

  • Mrs Normand
    Teacher of Music

    Mrs Normand

    Where (and what) did you study?

    Aberdeen University - Bachelor of Music (Education) with Honours

    Who is your favourite band or artist?

    Queen

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Smurfs Go Pop!

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    The piano - for me it can be a good instrument for my health and wellbeing

  • Mr Anderson
    Guitar Instructor

    Mr Anderson

  • Mr Brown
    Pipe Band Instructor

    Mr Brown

  • Mr Clarke
    Upper Strings Instructor

    Mr Clarke

  • Mrs Drever
    Piano Instructor

    Mrs Drever

  • Mr Fraser
    Double Bass and Bass Guitar Instructor

    Mr Fraser

    Where (and what) did you study?

    Royal Northern College of Music - Music

    Who is your favourite band or artist?

    Miles Davis

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Blondie - Parallel Lines

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    The Double Bass because I enjoy playing bass lines and being the foundation of a musical performance!

  • Mrs Furness
    Cello Instructor

    Mrs Furness

    Where (and what) did you study?

    RSAMD (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) - Cello Performance Bachelor of Music with Honours

    RSAMD - Post Graduate Diploma in Performing

    Who is your favourite band or artist?

    Carole King. Karen Carpenter. Santana. Jaqueline Du Pre

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Eddie Calvert -The Man with the Golden Trumpet

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    The cello because of the beautiful, sonorous tone. I also love to sing because it's wonderful for the soul!

  • Mrs McLaughlin
    Brass Instructor

    Mrs McLaughlin

  • Mrs Morrison
    Percussion Instructor

    Mrs Morrison

    Where (and what) did you study?

    Edinburgh Napier University - Bachelor of Music with Honours

    RSAMD (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) - Post Graduate Diploma in Performing

    RSAMD - Master in Music

    Who is your favourite band or artist?

    Beyoncé. Bruno Mars

    What was the first album you ever bought?

    Kylie Minogue - Kylie

    What is your favourite instrument to play?

    Marimba because I enjoy how versatile an instrument it is.

  • Miss Muir
    Bagpipes Instructor

    Miss Muir

    Where (and what) did you study?

    Royal Conservatoire of Scotland - Scottish Music - Piping BA (Hons)

  • Miss Pettican
    Woodwind Instructor

    Miss Pettican