Hello there!

My name is Karen Armitage and I am the Head of the Music Department in St Andrew’s College Junior School.  I have been teaching for nearly 30 years and have studied singing, piano, violin, and musical theatre with the ABRSM, RIAM and LCM.  I am also a qualified Montessori teacher.

We are so lucky to have a wonderful team of highly qualified music teachers who bring a wealth of experience and passion to their teaching every day.  Our highlights of the year are our Carol Services and Nativities, our P6 Musical, our Performing Arts Festival and our end of year Summer Concert which involves the children singing, dancing and acting - a lot of work, a huge amount of fun and the benefits are immeasurable!  We also have two thriving choirs and a string orchestra.  I believe exciting opportunities such as these encourage children to grow in confidence whilst giving each child a sense of responsibility and commitment to their peers.  Children constantly amaze us by how talented, creative, brave and inspiring they can be.

We provide individual instrument lessons to approximately 160 students during the school day where children can choose from a range of instruments – piano, violin, cello, double bass, guitar, ukulele, drums, bodhran and voice.  We also teach a String Programme to all children from P1 to P6 where  the children learn to play violin in their class groups and can choose violin, cello or double bass from P3 onwards. 

I look forward to working with your children in the coming year as we sing, perform, compose, play and enjoy the many wonderful opportunities and experiences learning music can provide.

Karen Armitage

Email : karmitage@st-andrews.ie