Front Row: Oliver Tully, Chairman Louth VEC; Dr. Padraig Kirk, CEO Louth VEC; Sinead McDonnell, Bush PP
Back Row: Eibhlis Farrell, DkIT; Gemma Murray, Louth Contemporary Music Society; Eamonn Quinn, Louth MEP Secretary; Una Kirk, Louth VEC Committee Member
We hope….this programme will inspire Ireland ’s young musicians who might not otherwise get access to such valuable teaching..Bono
Music Network based in Dublin is committed to promoting, encouraging and funding the highest standards of music creation and performance throughout the island of Ireland . Since 2003, Music Network has campaigned for better music education provision in Ireland through the implementation of reports and two pilot Music Education Schemes, in Donegal and Dublin respectively.
In July 2009, U2 and the Ireland Funds pledged €7 million to implement a widespread music education project throughout Ireland on a phased basis between 2011 and 2015.
As a first step in applying for this funding, Louth VEC has recently established the Louth Music Education Partnership (MEP). The inaugural meeting of the steering committee of the new Louth Music Education Partnership (MEP) took place recently at the head office of Co. Louth VEC in Dundalk . The Louth MEP aims to foster a generation of children in Co. Louth who enjoy creating music by providing them with the opportunity to learn a musical instrument or to sing, and to carry on playing/singing into adulthood. The Louth MEP is established as a sub-committee of Co. Louth VEC with the VEC as the lead partner. The committee includes representatives of the VEC itself, representatives of the primary, post-primary and third level education sectors (DkIT) in the county, as well as representatives of the Arts Office of Louth County Council, Louth Music Contemporary Society and private enterprise.
The Louth Music Education Partnership Committee is currently preparing an application for funding to the National Music Education Partnership to provide an accessible county wide programme of vocal and instrumental tuition for children and young people from pre-school up to 18 years. If successful, the partnership will provide a comprehensive three year programme encompassing all genres of music including rock, pop, jazz, traditional, classical and music technology.
Speaking about the initiative the CEO of Co. Louth VEC, Dr. Pádraig Kirk said that “the plan is to provide an out-of-school countywide network of accessible vocal and music tuition classes for young people using VEC sites to bring music to the people of Co. Louth …… the VEC has up to nine different sites across the county that will be opening their doors to youth of all ages in the community who wish to avail of this tuition”. Dr. Kirk added that “figures from the Department of Education and Skills reveal that the numbers studying Music across the county is quite poor and the partnership aims to compensate for this in whatever way it can”. Dr. Kirk paid tribute to the different sectors that had come together to address this issue.
When up and running in 2011 it is envisaged that the music programme will incorporate all genres of music and include a mix of musicianship, singing and choir classes, one-off workshops and instrumental demonstrations, as well as group instrumental tuition to include instruments such as guitar, violin, flute, recorder and tin whistle. Ahead of the full implementation of the programme Co. Louth VEC has secured funding to enhance Music education provision in its own schools with all recently acquiring new suites of musical instruments and music technology.
For Further Information Contact:
Eamonn Quinn Louth MEP Secretary, Co. Louth VEC, Chapel St. , Dundalk, Co. Louth. Tel.: 042-9334047, Fax.: 042 9339412 e-mail: eamonn.quinn@louthvec.ie
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