PDF are available below. Please scroll down for more course outlines.
Primary School Programmes
Ceili Ukulele
Whole Class Performance Music Education (4th – 5th Class)
Céilí Ukulele is an exciting music programme for schools providing provides whole class ukulele tuition for 4th – 5th classes to allow students to experience the fun of learning and performing music together. The focus of this programme is to impart a knowledge of basic and more advanced musical principles, while instilling a joy and passion for performing music individually and with peers. It is designed to enhance and add value to the existing curriculum provision at your school.
Céilí Ukulele is designed as a 28-week programme over the academic year, with weekly lessons of approximately 60 minutes duration per class. Over the course of a full academic year, students will aim to learn 15+ songs & 20+ melodies on the ukulele, as well as honing their performance skills through regular group practice and performance.
Each week, a specialist Music Generation Mayo musician-tutor will visit each classroom, to provide whole-class tuition designed to engage and excite students about playing the ukulele and singing accompanying songs.
Weekly lessons over the course of the year will focus on learning:
Melodies/Riffs
Strumming patterns
Rhythmical phrasing
Chords and chordal progression
Fundamentals of music theory
Body percussion
Singing – this is a natural accompaniment to playing the ukulele and learning songs
Musical games, challenges
Performing as part of a band/ensemble
Each child participating will need access to a ukulele, which can be taken home and utilised for practice. Many children already have ukuleles, however for those that do not, Music Generation Mayo can provide a good quality entry level ukulele model to schools at a subsidised cost of €20 each. It is also recommended that each participating classroom have access to 1-2 ukulele tuners, these can be provided at a cost of €5 each.
Instrument/Accessory orders must be placed at the time of application and paid for by the end of June.
Ceili Ukulele cost €950 per class for a 28-week term.
Full Ceili Ukulele information PDF can be downloaded at top of page.
Ceol na nÓg – Early Years Programme
Whole Class – (Junior Infants – 2nd Class)
The aim of this programme is to enhance and complement the children’s music education currently provided by teachers in schools for classes Junior Infants to second class. Music Generation Mayo provides a Musician Educator (ME), trained in music performance and education, to implement a music programme that is creative, engaging and inclusive in partnership with classroom based teachers and SNAs. The programme has been planned for 26 weeks, though some schools may take a shorter programme. The children will use resources and instruments provided by the ME and if schools have their own instruments, these can also be utilised also.
A typical 45-minute class may include the following, though activities will vary between classes depending on the age of children and previous classroom based musical experiences:
- Keeping Beat
- Rhythm
- Tempo
- Timbre
- Singing
- Confidence Building
- Instrument Exploration
- Sound Exploration
- Listening Skills
- Dynamics
- Activity Songs/Tune Learning
Ceol na nÓg costs €32 per 45 minute class, €832 for a 26 week programme. Depending on circumstances, it can sometimes be delivered for a 13 week programme. A full information PDF can be downloaded at the top of page.
Secondary School Programmes
Bualadh Beats
Large group drum circles
Bualadh Beats provides whole class percussion tuition and allows students to experience the many benefits of learning and performing music together. Bualadh Beats will provide an understanding of basic and intermediate musical principles. Our percussion programme is designed to give all students a rewarding musical experience, whether music students or not. It complements the music curriculum but it not only for music students.
Students will be given the opportunity to play a range of accessible instruments such as bongos, congas, timbalas, cajons and more. Our musician educator will also provide cultural and geographical context for each of the instruments. Students will learn musical styles and genres from around the world and incorporate these into their own student led creative performance projects. While Bualadh Beats is primarily a percussion programme, it also incorporates song and tuned percussion where resources allow.
Programme Structure:
There is flexibility in the delivery of Bualadh Beats. It can be delivered as an eight to ten week programme delivered for different TY/ALC 1/ ALC 2 students. It could also be delivered in longer time frames to 1st and 2nd year students, if timetables allowed. Please contact us to discuss your particular situation.
Bualadh Beats is delivered during school time through the academic year, with weekly 45 minute lessons per class enrolled. Classes are €32 / week with a minimum of 2hours 15 minutes (3 classes) per visit.
Songwriting
Workshop Style TY Programme
We have piloted a new songwriting programme in Balla Secondary School in early 2023. Working in smaller groups with Cathal Faughnan from The Core, Ballina, students devise and compose a composition and produce a recording of the same. As this programme is in pilot stage, please contact us for details.
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.
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. 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. Please note, instruments are not available on loan to schools, only to individual young people.
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