Tin Whistle
Instruction in Tin Whistle is provided for all 1st – 6th class pupils as part of the school’s music programme.
School Choir
Our school choir is made up of pupils in 3rd-6th class who become members of the choir regardless of their singing ability. We feel that all pupils should have the opportunity to be a part of the choir as they are learning much more than simply ‘how to sing’.
Choir practises take place every Tuesday afternoon in the PE hall. Each practice consists of vocal warm-up activities, diction activities, practising choruses for school assembly and practising other songs. Through all these activities the children will learn how to breathe properly when singing, how to pronounce their words correctly, how to phrase different parts of different songs and how to deliver all these things in a single performance.
The choir’s main event each year is the school’s Carol Service. This takes place in either St. Ninian’s Parish Church (C of I) or in Convoy Presbyterian Church. Most of term 1 is spent rehearsing the songs for this service. The songs always include part-singing and solos, positions that are highly sought after!
During December the choir visits the two nursing homes in Convoy to sing carols to the residents. This is always an event which is very much enjoyed by both the residents and the pupils. The choir has also sung in the Foyleside Shopping Centre in Derry, in aid of the Samaritans.
In Term 2 and 3 a variety of songs are learnt and we have put on musicals/plays at the end of the summer term. In the past we have performed the musical ‘Jonah and the Whale’ in the Balor Theatre in Ballybofey. As part of our Green School Flag Day the choir has performed in ‘The Litter Muncher’ and most recently ‘Robin Hood’.
The choir is very important to our school and the pupils gain a great deal from participating in it. They learn what it is like to be on stage and how to conduct themselves accordingly. They are continually developing their vocal ability. When they finish 6th class, pupils have been members of the choir for four years and some of them become very competent, confident singers with a wide repertoire. Most of all, we hope the pupils leave our school with increased confidence to perform and that they have a developed a love for singing!
Rachel McDonnell
Choral Director
© 2026
