Q: YOUR SON is in Transition Year and so will sit Leaving Cert in 1999. He plays drums and electric guitar but has no formal training in music. He would like to take music as a Leaving Cert subject. Has he any chance of succeeding with his informal background? Where can we get details of the new syllabus? What about further study?

- Cork parent

A: YOU don't say whether it's possible for him to take music in school during Transition Year. This would seem to be a very good opportunity for him to get some formal music training before starting his Leaving Cert programme this Autumn. It would be especially useful in helping him with his written work. He could also take lessons outside school hours, giving him an opportunity to get started straight away and to progress at his own pace.

In any event, he must have two years study before he can sit the Leaving Cert. A booklet on the new syllabus has been produced by the Department of Education - it's available for £1.50 from Government Publications, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2 or from booksellers. It covers the syllabus for Leaving Cert, Leaving Cert Applied or Leaving Cert Vocational Programme.

There are three core modules - performing, listening and composing. Each is given a 25 per cent weighting. At Ordinary level, the student can choose the remaining 25 per cent from any one of the areas. So your son could take 50 per cent in performing, which would probably suit his talents very well. At Higher level, students will take these same three plus additional studies (a Higher level elective) in one of the three activities and there are additional requirements for these. Each section will be worth 25 per cent. Three modes of assessment will be used in the exam - practical, written and aural.

Your son is lucky in that the new syllabus will start this autumn and there is a very definite policy of encouraging musical creativity, sensitivity and potential. Students will have much more scope for performing and composing. The curriculum aims to meet the needs of students interested in music as a creative subject at Leaving Cert level, for those who want to study music at third level and also for those who want to work in the music industry.

Students will be encouraged to perform individually, as a member of a group/choir or in mixed vocal and instrumental group. The style can be pop, jazz, classical or a fusion of styles. The focus will be on making the syllabus more accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds.

You mention that your son has taught himself to read some music so perhaps it would be worthwhile contacting the Cork School of Music, which is now a constituent school of Cork RTC. They would be aware of local possibilities which might suit your son. There may also be some summer courses which could be helpful.

As regards further study, Newpark Music Centre in Blackrock, Co Dublin, (phone 01-2883740) has a one-year full-time practical training course designed to prepare musicians for employment within the industry. A diploma course in jazz studies from Guildhall School of Music London, could be of great interest to your son. There is also a course at Colaiste Stiofain Naofa in Cork (phone 021-961020) which covers production, performance and band management.

Ballyfermot Senior College (phone 01-6269421) in Dublin offers a higher national diploma in music management and the rock school offers a popular music performance course.

There are degree courses in UCC, UCD, TCD, Maynooth, Cork RTC, Waterford RTC and the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin. DIT Adelaide Road offers a degree in music performance. It is also available as a subject in an arts degree in colleges such as UCC, UCD, Maynooth and TCD.

Q: MY CHILD who is 13 years old has been grieving for his friend who died a month ago. I've tried explaining all the emotions that he is going through but I feel he needs more help than I can give. Who can help him?

- Co Laois parent

A: IT'S very normal for your son to grieve and it's good that he can talk to you about his friend. Grief is a natural response to bereavement and he will have similar responses to grief as an adult.

He needs to talk it over and express his feelings to you, other family members and friends. Some schools provide counselling for bereaved students. It's very difficult for a youngster of that age to come to terms with death - it is probably his first encounter with something so final.

Younger children have a different understanding of death and need to be helped in a different way. The guidance counsellor in school might talk to him and give him some time over the next few months? If the counsellor feels he needs more help, then he will be referred to the school psychologist but this may not be necessary as he will probably work through the grieving process himself.

In the meantime, you could contact Solas, the bereavement counselling service for children run by Barnardo's at Christchurch Square, Dublin (phone 01-4530355). They run a helpline service from Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 12 noon. The service gives information and advice and if necessary can also provide counselling. They publish a very helpful free booklet entitled Death - Helping Children Understand.

Q: I'M a graduate in history of art and sociology and enjoy both subjects enormously. I would like to do a postgraduate course where I could combine both subjects. I'm quite artistic and a good communicator.

- Wexford graduate

A: THERE is what appears to be a very good option for you in DIT Aungier St, Dublin, in the one-year post-graduate course in advertising. Competition is keen for entry and an interview is held for the 30 places. The course has a practical emphasis based on a project approach.

In the first semester, advertising management, marketing communications, the creative function and production techniques are studied. During the second semester the group is divided into business/executive and creative streams with different options available for both.

In the last five weeks, the class is divided in two to form two separate advertising agencies. Both groups compete for an account which is sponsored by a company and so provides real experience.

Job prospects are excellent in areas such as advertising agencies, sales promotions, design and art direction, brand management and direct marketing. You can also continue to study on a part-time basis for the specialised diplomas in advertising of the Joint Advertising Education Committee.