Music initiative has kids tuned into the delights of melody

A pilot scheme likely to be a first in the country where every pupil gets music tuition in small groups once a week during school hours at a subsidised rate has begun in one city national school.

The scheme introduced last month in Scoil Bhríde Menlo aims to bring cutting-edge music teaching methods to the primary school classroom.

It has received funding from the Galway City Council Arts Office, matching fees which the parents have been asked to pay. But at €35 per child for a 17-week term – €50 for two kids and capped at €65 per family – they could well be the best value music classes in the city.

All students in the schools will receive 40 minutes’ instruction per week from Matthew Berrill and Peter Tobin, two experienced musicians and teachers, who will work in tandem with the classroom teachers. The pupil teacher ratio for the class is set at 15:1.

Children learning instruments outside of school are encouraged to bring them in while those who do not can use a bank of pool instruments currently being built up by the local community. Instead of focusing on learning one or two instruments, the classes instead delve into all aspects of music, from melody and rhythm to composing, exploring a range of different musical styles, from Irish traditional to jazz.

The scheme’s progress will be overseen and directed by Mairéad Berrill, who has been involved with music education for over 20 years. She worked with students at the Presentation College Headford and is co-founder and administrator of The Corrib Music Scheme, an after-school instrumental tuition programme which saw participation rates of young people in music soar in the Headford area.

For the younger pupils, the focus is on enjoyment and pre-coordination, teaching them new skills before they even get their hands on a whistle or fiddle, explains Mairéad who also teaches some of the Menlo classes in between studying for her PhD on group music-making in secondary schools.

“We will teach a little tune and they have to wait and then contribute later so they’re learning social skills. There’s a call and response, so they learn about volume, about performance, coordination, pitch so when they come to apply those to an instrument they already have the basics,” she said.

“For second class they drew dragons, so we then composed a piece to go with the pictures. In another class we brought in conga drums so we imagined we were in Africa and did a piece around goat skins.”

The project has been spearheaded by local resident Willie Campbell, owner of Campbell’s Tavern in Cloughanover, who has seen at first hand the positive influence that her music teaching has had over a generation of youths in the North Galway town.

“The Department of Education are completely fascinated by her [Mairéad’s] methods. It’s very much about inclusivity. Her thing is very much about the group,” he enthused.

“The traditional way in music teaching is to bring the best few pupils to represent the school, her way is to bring everybody along the musical journey in some role.

“If 100 kids are learning an instrument, 5% are going to achieve excellence, that’s just human nature, the key is to bring that 95% along on the journey so they could go through the whole process and never pick up an instrument – although that’s highly unlikely – and still develop a real understanding of music.”

Willie insists that the scheme does not replace music classes outside of school, rather it enhances them. Given that the only requirement on the school curriculum is for an hour per week for music, art or crafts, it can be hit or miss if teachers decide to teach any music.

The school has sent out a plea to the local community to donate any unwanted instruments for the programme. There are plans to stage a concert using the newly polished music skills as early as Easter.

City arts officer James Harrold said the project could well be replicated across other schools.

“This is a wonderful initiative offering Menlo children the opportunity to work with some of the best music educators in Ireland. This sophisticated pilot project should lead to similar work in other schools, and it will be a really enjoyable experience for the young participants too.”

School principal Máire De Brún said so far the project has been warmly received.

“The response from parents has been very enthusiastic and we feel this pilot will go on to become part of the fabric of Scoil Bhríde as its wider benefits to the children become apparent.”

Willie is hoping the programme will have a long-term spin-off.

“Maybe we could prove the benefits of this so in the future when the Department is putting the curriculum together they will make music an integral part,” remarks Willie.

“It’s so much more than being good at playing – the level of happiness, contentment it creates, they learn to work together, use their imagination and creativity.”