Music

Our People

Our Music teachers guide students in developing their musical knowledge, practical skills and creative expression through engaging and meaningful learning experiences.

Learning Outcomes

In Peicai Secondary School, we aim to develop students’ musical competencies and enable them to:

• Develop musical understanding by exploring musical elements, concepts and diverse genres, and appreciating music from local and global cultures.

• Express themselves creatively through musical exploration, composition, arrangement and performance.

• Build instrumental and ensemble skills through individual practice and collaborative music-making.

• Cultivate a lifelong enjoyment of music through active participation in musical activities and performances.

Holistic Development of Competencies

Our Music curriculum supports students’ holistic development by nurturing the following competencies:

• iCARE Learning Dispositions: Students develop Innovation, Collaboration, Autonomy, Resilience and Enthusiasm through musical exploration, practice and performance.

• Technological Competencies: Students learn to arrange music, manipulate sounds and create compositions using digital tools and platforms.

• 21st Century Competencies: Through collaborative music-making, group performances and showcases, students strengthen their critical and inventive thinking, communication, collaboration and information skills.

Peicai Secondary School offers a two-year lower secondary Music curriculum that equips students with foundational theoretical knowledge and develops their musicianship. Aligned with the school’s Aesthetic Programme, the curriculum recognises music as an integral part of students’ lives. We believe that every child has the potential for musical learning and creative expression and should be given opportunities to discover and develop this potential through Music education.

Music Curriculum and Syllabus

Our two-year lower secondary Music curriculum provides students with opportunities to develop their musical knowledge, practical skills and creativity through three key areas of learning: Listening, Creating & Arranging, and Performing.

1. Listening

Curriculum Modules

• Musical Elements and Genre Characteristics

• World Music Studies

• Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL)

Students explore musical elements, genres and cultural traditions while developing their listening skills and appreciation of music from local and global cultures. Through active listening, they learn to identify musical characteristics and understand how music can be experienced and expressed in different ways. As part of the Performing Arts-Based Learning (PABL) experience, students attend live concerts and engage with music in a real-world performance setting, deepening their appreciation of music and broadening their musical perspectives.

2. Creating & Arranging

Curriculum Modules

• Drum Track Composition Module

• Rhythmic Explorations in STOMP Percussion

Students experiment with musical ideas, create drum tracks and explore different approaches to musical arrangement and composition. Using digital platforms such as GarageBand and Chrome Music Lab and SUNO AI, they investigate sound manipulation, rhythmic patterns and musical structures. These experiences nurture creativity, technological competency and collaboration.

3. Performing

Curriculum Modules

• Ukulele/Guitar Fundamentals

• Keyboard Fundamentals

• Popular Music in JamBand 

• Post-Examination Instrumental Workshops

Students develop their instrumental techniques and musicianship through individual practice and ensemble playing. They learn fundamental skills on the ukulele, guitar and keyboard, applying their knowledge through individual and group performances. Through the JamBand module, students explore popular musical structures, learn how different instrumental parts fit together, and develop their ability to collaborate in a band. These experiences build confidence, strengthen teamwork and encourage students to express themselves through music.

Through these three areas of learning, students develop a strong foundation in music theory, practical musicianship, creative expression and collaborative performance while cultivating a deeper appreciation for music.

Lower Secondary Music Syllabus

2023 Primary & Lower Secondary Music Syllabus (opens in new tab)

Department Programme/Highlights/Student Outcomes

SYF 2026 Youth Station Project – Youth Station Produced!

Zoe Katherine Lee Buckalew (2AY) – Feel the Moment

Zoe’s original song, Feel the Moment, was selected for Youth Station Produced! from 21 entries in the SYF 2026 Youth Station Project. Under the mentorship of Dominic Yuan, producer, songwriter and founder of PARKA, Zoe developed her songwriting skills and experienced the music production process. Her song was also professionally mixed and mastered, marking an important milestone in her journey as a young songwriter.

About the Song

Through Feel the Moment, Zoe reflects on the pressure to seek approval and the fear of being judged by others. Her song encourages listeners to embrace their individuality, let go of others’ expectations and have the courage to be themselves. It also highlights the importance of showing kindness and accepting the differences that make each person unique.

Through her music, Zoe hopes to remind others to live authentically and appreciate the present moment.

Listen to the Song :

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
For so long, I’ve been hiding
Behind these big brick walls
Building these bricks as armour
But they never ever stopped the fall

[Pre-Chorus]
Got me thinking
What if nothing matters
Whether if you and I
We could be like stars in our own sky
Be the stars in our own sky 

[Chorus 1]
Just feel the moment, only for our eyes
Screaming our names at a silent sky
They won’t recall half the mess we made
So why let their voices live in our heads?
Don’t look away, just keep your faith
What really matters is the love we keep safe
When we focus on us, we’ll see it clear
For all we know, our truth is what we hear.

[Verse 2]
We’re not here for their approval
Not trophies on display
Yet we still twist ourselves
Just to fit what they’d say
Maybe it’s time we stop comparing
Like it’s some twisted game
And let the stars take its place

[Chorus 2]         
Just feel the moment only for our eyes
Screaming our names at a silent sky
And we could make our own constellation
And we can stop all this contemplation
Don’t look away, just keep your faith
What really matters is the love we keep safe
When we focus on us, we’ll see it clear
For all we know, our truth is what we hear.