Scrúdú Ceol Tíre (SCT) Performance Exams
There’s more to Irish traditional music than just playing tunes. Musical works have histories and stories, just as musicians today stand on the shoulders of giants from the past. The SCT (Scrúdú Ceol Tíre) programme is a graded series of exams designed to take you, as a musician, from basic proficiency in tune-playing through to a mastery of the tradition. Along the way you’ll learn about music theory, improve your aural skills and research the history of musical pieces, styles and players. Oh, and play tunes, of course!
Taking the exams
Exams take place between April and early June in locations throughout Ireland and in other selected countries. A new digital examination option is also offered. Candidates are assigned a time slot with an experienced examiner who observes and listens to performances and also speaks informally with the student about the theory and history of Irish traditional music. Most SCT candidates are entered by their music teachers, who have the best sense of which level to enter. Passing the exam entitles the student to a Certificate of Proficiency.
The SCT programme includes 12 levels of competence:
- Elementary (3 Levels)
- Grade (8 Levels)
- Performance Diploma
Completion of the Senior Cycle serves as a further step towards the TTCT Teaching Diploma Course.
Additional Needs
Candidates with additional needs will be accommodated provided such facilities are requested and a completed form is submitted at the time of entry.
Accreditation
In a significant development for the Comhaltas education programme, the Scrúdú Ceol Tíre examination system has received accreditation from Ofqual.
FAQs
This page includes a series of questions that are commonly asked by people seeking to take our SCT Exams. Click on the link to find out more.
History of the SCT exams
The SCT was launched by Mary McAleese in December 1998. The late Micheál Ó hEidhin, former Music Inspector with the Department of Education, gave unstinted and invaluable service to the development of the SCT based on his own professional and traditional background. He was ably assissed by the CCÉ Project Committee consisting of Dr Antóin MacGabhann, Dr Tomás Ó Canainn, Séamus MacMathúna, Máitin de Paor, Michéal Ó Briain, Lourda Griffin, Micheál Ó hAlmhain and Mary Nugent. Among others who gave considerable assistance were Noel Hill, Kathleen Nesbitt and Paddy Ryan.
This examination network is further example of the vibrancy of, and the standards being achieved in, Irish traditional music. To date approximately 75,000 exams have taken place across the world and with the new technology and accreditation partnership with MTB, the development of the exam structure will continue to build. In 2023 OFQUAL accreditation was achieved in partnership with Music Teacher Board UK.
Mícheál Ó hEidhin Award
The annual presentation of the Mícheál Ó hEidhin Award to high-achieving SCT candidates gives an opportunity to acknowledge the legacy of founding SCT Director, Mícheál Ó hEidhin (1938 – 2012) who played a decisive role in Comhaltas educational initiatives over a number of decades.
The award also allows Scrúdú Ceol Tíre to pay tribute to performance excellence, and to acknowledge the broad musicianship and analytical skills which are a requirement to achieving 90% at Grade 8. The annual award winners represent the culmination of many years of formal and informal tuition, aided by a structured examination system which promotes broad-based musical learning.
Additional information
Printed copies of the syllabus are available on request from Comhaltas – contact us via email [email protected] for details.