Enhanced Music Programme

The Enhanced Music Programme (EMP) is offered at St. Margaret’s School (Secondary). This is a two-year upper secondary programme that allows students with music potential, aptitude and passion to pursue an in-depth study of music. St. Margaret’s School (Secondary) also serves as an ‘O’ Level Music Centre for students from other schools.

The vision of the St. Margaret’s School (Secondary) EMP is to create a community of confident and creative musicians. To this end, we are committed to nurturing musically talented Lower Secondary. For students who wish to join the EMP at the Upper Secondary, applicants (at Secondary Two) need to pass a written Selection Test and participate in an audition conducted by music teachers. The audition could be on any instrument, including the use of vocals.

The EMP is a two-year programme starting at Secondary Three and ending with the GCE ‘O’ Level Music Examinations. The syllabus includes an in-depth study of Asian, Classical, Jazz, Popular and Multimedia genres. Apart from classroom lessons that introduce students to the music of Western and Asian traditions, students are also engaged in workshops that provide hands-on experiences (e.g. gamelan workshop and Indian music workshop) to gain deeper insights into the cultural context.

There are opportunities for students to attend composition workshops by local composers. Through such workshops, students become acquainted with real composers and are inspired to think more deeply about communicating their thoughts and ideas through music.

At the combined schools’ music camp, there are opportunities to collaborate and learn with EMP and Music Elective Programme (MEP) students from other schools, and to learn from music industry professionals.

The EMP at St. Margaret’s School (Secondary) is well-supported by a variety of music co-curricular activities, namely the Choir, String Ensemble and Concert Band.

All in all, the EMP at St. Margaret’s School (Secondary) aims to develop in its students a strong interest in music and deepen their understanding of music as a whole.

For queries on the EMP, please contact:

Application for the Enhanced Music Programme (EMP)

Secondary 2 students who are interested in applying for the Enhanced Music Programme (EMP) are required to approach their music teacher for information on the application process in Term 3 of the academic year. The selection exercise consists of aural tests and submission of a video recording of their performance of two contrasting music pieces of their choice on any instrument(s). More information on the EMP can be found on the MOE Website and the MOE Facebook page.

Performing Arts CCAs Supporting the Enhanced Music Programme

Choir	Concert Band	String Ensemble

Our Alumnae in the Music Pathway

	Grace Wong, an MOE Teaching Scholarship (Overseas) holder, pursued a Bachelor of Music (First-class honours) at the University of Birmingham in 2013-2016. She went on to read Musicology at the University of Oxford in 2016-2017, and has recently returned to join the teaching profession in Singapore.
	Evangeline Anne Lim Shyan Ying, received the 2017 Teaching Award for a four-year Bachelor of Arts degree programme at the National Institute of Education, specialising in Music.
	Tsai Gin-tzu, who was in our school String Ensemble, completed her education at St. Margaret's Secondary School in 2015. A resilient student who has had to overcome obstacles to follow her heart, she went on to pursue her passion for music at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA). We rejoice with her - she has not just graduated but clinched the 'Best Graduate 2021' Award! Her desire to learn continuously is evident in her desire to delve deeper into music through the Master's Programme she will enrol in. Congratulations and all the best to you, Gin-tzu!