This article is from page 11 of the 2014-08-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
A NEW countywide music education programme part funded by rock giants U2 kicked off in Ennis yesterday.
Scoil Chríost Rí in Ennis is playing host to Clare’s newest summer music camp. The camp, which runs until August 15, is the first project rolled out under the Clare Music Generation project.
In January, Clare secured a € 400,000 funding boost from the U2 and Ireland Fund’s supported National Music Education Programme.
The overall aim is to provide the first countywide music education service in Clare.
Clare Music Education Partnership will receive close to € 435,000 in seed funding which will enable high quality, accessible music education programmes to be provided for children and young people in their local communities.
Clare/Limerick Education and Training Board (formerly Clare VEC) is the lead statutory agency for the programme.
Scoil Chríost Rí in Cloughleigh has been chosen as the launch-pad for this new era in music education following the success of the school’s 5th and 6th class students in the Pan Celtic Music Competition in Derry in May.
“Scoil Chríost Rí are very proud of their musical endeavors and believe in the power of music to develop a child’s confidence, wellbeing an feel good factor when playing music in whatever genre they like” said Karen Vaughan of Scoil Chríost Rí. She continued, “Music crosses all boundaries and is a gift for life, which is why we are passionate about the teaching of music of all genres, in particular traditional Irish music which instills in a child a strong sense of cultural identity which is at the heart of musical ethos for this camp. “We wanted to see what when you mix six genres of music together rap, hip-hop, percussion classes with djembe, bodhrán an samba drumming, rock classes with drums, electric and bass guitars, acoustic and all the different traditional Irish music instruments”. The camp is sponsored and supported by Clare Local Development Company and Music Generation Clare in association with the music team at Scoil Chríost Rí. Adrian Healy Development Officer with Clare Local Development Company said, “Clare Local Development Company is delighted to get involved with Scoil Chríost Rí in this initiative. “The school has a strong musical education ethos, which we felt would yield benefits for those in the local RAPID area. “We were happy to come on board the project and to fund the purchase of musical instruments for the school. “Clare Local Development Company believes that the investment in the musical education of young people is hugely beneficial for the holistic development of younger people, both from an individual and community point of view.”