Contributing to young peoples’ personal development within a vibrant music community
Fret Frenzy
Musical Minds
Early years music programme
in area childcare centres
Musical Minds is a music exploration and learning experience in selected early childhood services during the academic year. The Musical Minds programme encourages preschool children to explore sound and music through a range of play activities and group work with one of our experienced and diverse musicians along with their Early Childhood Care & Education staff.
Soundworlds Parent & Toddler Music Programme
Parent, Baby and Toddler Music Programme
Our parent and toddler programme is delivered by our Kindermusik specialist who works with parents to reinforce the important benefits music has on young children. The programme is delivered in situ to Parent & Toddler groups in a six-week block, each session is approx. 90 minutes in duration. The cost for the entire programme is €360.
After-School
Music Centres
Music Generation Mayo’s After School Music Centres start again after mid-term break offering group classes in piano, guitar, ukulele, drums, and violin for all school-age children in Charlestown, Crossmolina and Ballinrobe. The programmes are designed to help children develop their musical skills and creativity in a fun and supportive environment with experienced and qualified instructors. Classes are €12 per week and include a monthly jam session with other instruments. New this year is “Music Club” for children from Junior Infants to 2nd class, which is a fun, interactive approach to learning music fundamentals through songs, games and activities and participating in ensemble evenings with older children. All classes are subject to demand and availability is limited. Enrol your child today and give them the gift of music!
The Core
Contemporary Youth music space
for teenagers, age 12-18
The Core is a music making space for young people aged 12-18, housed in the Ballina Arts Centre in Ballina. Young people can explore music technology and song writing, recording, study an instrument or sing, as well as have a live performance venue for their music. A six-month membership costs €50. See https://thecoremayo.com/ for more information.
Ceili Ukulele
Primary school environment
large group ukulele classes
Ceili Ukulele is currently offered in large group, primary school environments in 18 locations around the county. Children in 4th and 5th class learn contemporary songs and gain the skills necessary to accompany themselves on the ukulele in a fun, fast-paced approach, taught by professional musicians visiting their classrooms. Primary school environment large group classes are matched funded between the schools and Music Generation.
Erris Strings
Primary school environment
large group violin classes
The Erris Strings programme is delivered in partnership with Arás Inis Gluaire and is modelled on the Scoil Úna Naofa/St. Agnes’ School Violin Project in Crumlin, Dublin. The children in the large group, primary school environment of Belmullet learn the violin through a playful, engaging aural fashion, followed on later by music notation. Primary school environment large group classes are matched funded between the schools and Music Generation.
Foxford Brass
& Reed Band
Wind & Brass small group classes as
part of a mixed age community band
Music Generation Mayo partners with the historic Foxford Brass & Reed Band, located in Foxford, to provide access for young people aged 9 and older to brass and reed instrument playing. Through subsidised group class instruction, provided by Music Generation Musicians, children and young people learn not only how to play an instrument, but also participate in a multigenerational performing brass and reed band.
Email info@musicgenerationmayo.ie for more information
Songwriting Projects
Songwriting 6-week after-school community based workshop
Music Generation Mayo piloted a songwriting workshop in 2019 in cooperation with Ballyhaunis Foroige /Youth Services club. Young people in our songwriting workshops have access to professional song writing musicians and the musical instrument and vocal resources to compose and create their own music, while learning the necessary skills of collaboration.
Interested in piloting a songwriting project? Contact us!
JSax
Primary school environment
large group JSax classes
Music Generation Mayo successfully piloted a JSax programme in a large group, primary school environment during the 2019-20 academic year, with the view toward future expansion. The JSax is a lighter weight, smaller version of a saxophone and is taught by a professional jazz saxophone musician visiting the classroom. In the post pilot expansion, primary school environment large group classes would be matched funded between the schools and Music Generation. Interested in becoming a JSax school? Contact us.
Uilleann Piping
Traditional Irish piping
small group classes
Small group Uilleann piping classes, ranging from beginner to advanced are taught by two professional pipers on Saturday mornings in Castlebar. Uilleann piping students are given opportunities to perform in local venues with their mentors, as well as in their local trad groups. Uilleann pipes are available for rent for student use.
Email info@musicgenerationmayo.ie for more information
Harp Ensemble
Participation in large group
performing harp ensemble
The Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble is a large harp “orchestra” meeting fortnightly for Saturday afternoon rehearsals under the direction of two professional harpists. Participants should have a minimum of one year’s playing experience and use of their own harp (harps may be available to rent from the instrument bank). Music is learned by ear, so music reading is not required. The harp ensemble has frequent opportunities to perform and attend workshops all over Ireland. Registration is now open!
Email info@musicgenerationmayo.ie for more information
Differently-Abled
Primary & post- primary special needs school
environment music therapy classes
Students in special needs school environments participate in music experiences with our qualified musical therapist. The programme is currently being offered in St. Dympna’s and St. Nicholas’ schools in Ballina in a partnership between Music Generation Mayo and Mayo North-East Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
Access Programmes
After-school community youth
centre based music groups
Children and young people who may not otherwise have opportunity to experience music receive group music-making sessions with professionally trained musicians who visit these after school centres weekly. These programmes are currently being offered through a partnership between Music Generation Mayo and Mayo North-East Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
Instrument Bank
Instrument rental scheme offered through the
Mayo Library system in Castlebar, Ballina and Belmullet
Children and young people under the age of 18 can rent instruments from three local libraries in the Mayo Library system. Instruments can be rented for six months (with one renewal, if desired, and provided there is no waiting list for the instrument). Rental fee (with a deposit) is affordable. Library membership, which is free, is required for instrument rental. You can find our Instrument Cleaning/Sanitisation protocol here. Music Generation Mayo, in partnership with Mayo County Co. Library Service, has also developed an extensive music library, resources which are also available on loan.
Workshops
Single or short-term music workshops on a variety of topics and styles facilitated by professional musicians in classroom environments, after school groups or specially created events.
Music Generation Mayo can provide a variety of single event or short term projects tailored to meet your needs across a broad spectrum of musical styles and topics to any age group of children and young people. Examples include: Songwriting, African Drumming, Exploring Sounds for young children, Special Needs music workshops, Jazz & Blues, Irish Traditional Music. Our talented team can bring you whatever you need!
Email info@musicgenerationmayo.ie for more information
We had been looking for some time for a way to get involved in an initiative in music education in Ireland. After talking to various people in Ireland about what to do, we came to the conclusion that the Music Network scheme is really well thought out and that we, in partnership with the Ireland Funds, should just get behind it