ENRICHING

LIVES THROUGH
MUSIC
Learning and Participation
at the National Concert Hall
Blow the Dust Orchestra
Learning and Participation at the National Concert Hall

Welcome

Music is a universal form of human expression. Those

of us involved in it professionally know of its power to
enrich our lives, improve our sense of well-being, inspire
creativity, expand our horizons, build family and social
cohesion and bring happiness into our lives.

The National Concert Hall believes that the joy of music

should not be confined by our concert stages, defined
by genre or limited by barriers of access, but available
to everyone, as creators, participants or audience.

Our Learning and Participation programme is therefore

central to our mission as a national cultural institution
to foster and celebrate the appreciation, knowledge,
enjoyment and pure love of music as an integral part of
Irish life.

I would like to thank our many partners and supporters

for helping us on our journey to achieving our ambitious
goal of all music, for everyone.

Simon Taylor
CEO

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Learning and Participation at the National Concert Hall

Welcome

Whether you are a child experiencing the joy of music

for the first time, a parent seeking to create lifelong
memories for your family, a young musician embarking
on your career, or an older person reconnecting
with your past through music, we aim to support and
develop your relationship with music, recognising the
many forms that this relationship may take.

This brochure outlines some of the thinking behind the

Learning and Participation programme, and some of
the individual projects and activities that we undertake
as part of this. We look forward to seeing you, your
families and friends at many of our events in the future.

Nigel Flegg
Head of Learning and Participation

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Enriching Lives Through Music

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CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES
We seek to foster the natural creativity of
children, and to harness the potential of music
to enhance family cohesion. We view children
as co-creators of the learning process and
most of our family initiatives include both
parents and children as active participants!

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Enriching Lives Through Music

I love coming to the

concerts with Daddy
because it makes us
have fun together
Emily, 6

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Children and Families

Programme includes:

Mini Music
An action-packed weekly music workshop for
babies and young children aged three months to
eight years old.

Family Workshop Days

Drums, percussion, jazz, the magical sounds of the
Javanese Gamelan and more all to discover in
these fascinating interactive music workshops.

Family Concerts
Designed to entertain, excite and educate, we
present a wide range of fun, accessible and
participative concerts for the whole family to enjoy
throughout the year.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Songschool is a great
way to meet people your
own age who love music
as much as you do
Eimear, 14

RockJam
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Children and Families

RockJam and Songschool

Music camps for young people who are interested
in writing, recording and performing songs, making
a video, learning about music technology, and
meeting others who love music as much as they do
(for primary and secondary school ages).

AfriKaa!
A multi-sensory installation and experimental
concert for children with Autistic Spectrum
Disorders. This unique sound journey allows children
to move freely through the rich soundscape of
South Africas Limpopo Valley.

Bring Along a Baby

A relaxed and informal chamber music recital for
parents of babies and very young children. Babies
can sleep, feed and play while the parents sit back
and enjoy the music.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Celine Byrne Masterclass

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MUSIC
STUDENTS AND
MUSICIANS
We seek to equip music students and
musicians with the skills required for
professional careers. We aim to foster the
development of younger musicians and to
encourage a genre-spanning approach to
music learning.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Fantastic it has proven

to open new horizons
for many members
within the group.
Conor, SinfoNua member

SinfoNua
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Music Students and Musicians

Programme includes:

Masterclasses
We offer unprecedented access for music students
to some of the best musicians in the world for
masterclasses, workshops and other educational
events.

SinfoNua
A development orchestra for emerging musicians
which aims to mirror the workings of a professional
orchestra; while giving valuable orchestral
experience and the opportunity to work with
Irelands finest conductors and soloists.

RhythmWorks
When it comes to learning a musical instrument
and developing as a musician, rhythm is an
essential component that must be mastered by all.
These hands-on, interactive rhythm workshops are
aimed at young music students of any instrument.

Perspectives Education Series

Education events running parallel to the eclectic
NCH Perspectives series, these aim to open your
mind and stretch your imagination.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Music and Science: Quavers to Quadratics

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SCHOOLS
AND TEACHERS
We aim to enhance the musical experience
of students in primary and post-primary
education, to encourage musical
engagement within the whole school
community, and to develop musical activity
in schools where it is reduced.

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 Enriching Lives Through Music

They learned as
much in one day
about science and
music as they would
in a year at school
Teacher, Quavers to Quadratics
school group

Music and Science: Quavers to Quadratics

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Schools and Teachers

Programme includes:

Primary Ensemble Project

An exciting and innovative programme for primary
schools, delivered in partnership with the Royal Irish
Academy of Music. This project aims to develop
existing ensemble programmes, and give the
opportunity for young students to perform with
other school ensembles in concert in the NCH.

Music and Science: Quavers to Quadratics

Why are musical instruments made from different
materials? Why are they all different shapes
and sizes? What does a sound wave look like?
Can sound really break glass? This innovative
programme explores the intersection of the worlds
of music and science through a series of hands-on
workshops.
In collaboration with TCD and UCD, and kindly supported by Science
Foundation Ireland and Dublin Port Company.

Music Workshops for Schools

Rhythm, melody, singing, rap and percussion
a range of music workshops designed to
get everyone involved, with the emphasis on
enjoyment and active music-making!

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Before today, I never

realised music could
make you see things
in your head
Patrick, 8, workshop participant

Rushad Eggleston
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Schools and Teachers

Musical Stories for Primary School Students

Children create their own characters in class
before bringing them along to the NCH to
discover their adventures, developing the musical
soundscape to accompany the story (1st-3rd class).

Special Schools Sing-Along

We invite special schools (pupils with moderate,
severe and profound general learning disabilities)
to join us for these interactive concerts.

The Irish Music Project

Traditional Irish music workshops for Leaving
Certificate students, developed by Altan members
Ciaran and Martin Tourish.

Continuing Professional Development

Courses for primary and pre-school teachers,
aiming to support educators to develop their skills,
equipping them to engage in imaginative, active
and educational music sessions in the classroom.

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 Enriching Lives Through Music

Song for 16 competition winners Ammani Bengo & David Adderley

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Music is the
biggest single
outlet in my life
Dennis, 91, violinist with
Blow the Dust Orchestra

Blow the Dust Orchestra

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COMMUNITY
We seek to promote lifelong learning
through engagement with people of all
ages, and with all sectors of society,
providing those with reduced access
opportunities to experience the remarkable
benefits of musical interaction.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Gamelan Ensemble
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Community

Programme includes:

NCH Community Ensembles

We believe that everyone should have the
opportunity to play or sing in a music group at
some point in their lives: Sing, drum, play discover
your inner musician!

NCH Sing Out!: A community choir where the

motto is come together and find your voice!
Percussion Lab: Discover the rhythms of the world
in this exciting and accessible drumming group.
Gamelan Ensemble: Experience the magic of
the Javanese Gamelan percussion orchestra.
Blow the Dust Orchestra: For older or returning
players blow the dust off your instrument and
come along and play!

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 Enriching Lives Through Music

Tea Dance Tunes

brought our service users
on a journey back to
times in their memory
when things were clearer
and perhaps happier
Nurse Manager,
Alzheimer Day Care Centre, Monasterevin

Tea Dance Tunes

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Community

Music Appreciation
An interesting and informative series of talks given
by respected figures in Irish music education and
performance, designed to enhance musical
understanding and enjoyment.

Tea Dance Tunes Dementia Friendly Concerts

We invite people living with dementia, their carers
and families to enjoy a concert of favourite songs
and music with audiences encouraged to join in,
sing along and dance.
Kindly supported by Dublin City Council North Central Area and Michael
and Loret OBrien.

CAOS Ensemble
Any instrument, any level, any age! The ultimate
participative ensemble.

Music in the Workplace

Workshops for corporate events, team building and
away-days.

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Music in Childrens Hospitals

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HEALTHCARE
IN THE
COMMUNITY
Through our activities in the community
healthcare sector we aim to enrich the lives of
those living with long-term health conditions,
to contribute to learning, through music, of
people with special needs, and to contribute
to physical and emotional well-being through
participation in music making.

To date, our activities have brought musicians

and music programmes into all parts of the
country, and in a wide variety of settings.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

It brings big smiles

to little faces
Senior Nursing Manager,
Our Ladys Childrens Hospital Crumlin

Music in Childrens Hospitals

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Healthcare in the Community

Music in Childrens Hospitals: Kids Classics

By bringing music into the wards of childrens
hospitals this programme helps to improve the
quality of life for patients, families and staff.
Kindly supported by the Lauritzson Foundation, the Community Foundation for
Ireland, Brackaville Investments Ltd. and Michael OBrien.

Health and Harmony

An outreach music programme which brings
musicians into Alzheimer and Dementia care
centres around Ireland for bi-monthly performances.

Music in Mind
This initiative is designed to bring music
participation to people living with mental health
difficulties such as anxiety and depression.
In partnership with Mental Health Ireland the
programme provides percussion and choir
workshops to clients of mental health support
centres around Ireland.

National Rehabilitation Hospital

Pursuing our mission to provide music to those
unable to attend the NCH, a dedicated team of
professional musicians provide monthly workshops
and concert performances in the National
Rehabilitation Hospital.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Bernadette Greevy winner Roisn Walsh

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BURSARIES
AND AWARDS
Our bursaries and awards recognise the hard
work of talented musicians, celebrating
those who have commenced their
professional careers and supporting those at
an earlier stage of the journey.

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Enriching Lives Through Music

Bernadette Greevy winner Gavin Ring

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Bursaries and Awards

Bernadette Greevy Bursary for Singers

One singer per year is awarded a bursary of 5,000
by the NCH, in honour of Irish mezzo-soprano
Dr. Bernadette Greevy.
Kindly supported by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and
Gaeltacht Affairs.

Young Musicians Award for String Players

The total award fund is up to 10,000 every two
years and may be made to one or two young
musicians at the discretion of the judging panel.
This award may be used for further study or towards
an instrument upgrade.
Made possible by the generosity of Anne-Sophie Mutter and the
Trondheim Soloists Chamber Orchestra.

Jerome Hynes Young Composers Competition

An award of 2,500 and the commissioning of
a new work to be premiered at the NCH.

ParaMusica Award
This forthcoming award will recognise the
achievements of musicians with disabilities. Each
year one talented musician will be awarded a
bursary of 2,500 to assist with tuition, instrument
upgrade or other costs associated with their
musical career.

Please contact education@nch.ie for further

details on all events or visit www.nch.ie

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 Enriching Lives Through Music

LEARNING AND PARTICIPATION PARTNERS

Lauritzson Foundation Michael & Loret OBrien Brackaville Investments Ltd.

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01 417 0000 nch.ie