Useful Links – including Trad Schools

Donegal’s mad for trad!

There’s never been as much music going on for young people in Donegal (apart from, possibly, the days when there was a fiddle in every house).

The DMEP majors on classical, with maybe a bit of jazz thrown in. But there are other choices out there, notably the traditional music schools dotted around the county. Not to mention all the individual piano teachers and other tutors who are doing great work.

Here are some links. Please get in touch if you know of other music links we should be including 🙂

Trad

ceolnacoille.ie Ceol na Coille music school is busy, based outside Letterkenny and run by master trad musician Paul Harrigan. Summer school is big and has a growing rep.

Mulroy Music Patrick McBride is another traditional music lover making a difference in his home area – lots of teaching happening at Mulroy Music on the main street in Milford, and the shop is a go-to spot for instruments and music-related goods

What a difference An Chrannóg has made in and around Gaoth Dobhair. Once again that’s a heartland of trad in Donegal

inishowenmusic.ie Wonderful to hear what’s happening in trad in Inishowen these days

/inishowenmusic.ie/ceolan-school-of-music/ Take a bow (in Moville), Clodagh Warnock and Roisin McGrory

Renowned fiddler, academic and teacher Liz Doherty and her musician husband Jim Woods run trad classes in Buncrana

Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann is active in several locations in the county, including Letterkenny and Dungloe. This link is to the Meenacross branch, Dungloe. Here’s an Inishowen link. Check out the ‘branch locator’ at comhaltas.ie for more info

Kevin O’Donnell has them all going in the general Dunkineely area of south Donegal

Another major development for trad in the North-West has been the Acadamh Ceoil in Derry. Wonderful facility developed by Culturlann team in a city famous for its musicality

Classical

The Donegal Summer Music of Music is held in Letterkenny and is a musical highlight of the summer

General

Here’s a hugely positive development for music in the North-West, which has already helped in the development of very talented musicians and music tutors – the music courses (degree, Masters and Ph. D levels) at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster [link is to B. Mus (Hons)]

FURTHER AFIELD

A real person – not spam! Ben Jacklin has started subreel.com where you can find advice on everything from lap steel guitars to condenser mics. Ben is a studio engineer and music tutor (guitar, piano, bass).

And here’s another go-ahead music person – Lucas at www.pianodreamers.comI He reckons he’s got “lots of good info on digital pianos and keyboards, including reviews, guides, and tips to help people choose the best instrument for their needs”.

Instrument Tutorials

Fret Wire – Guitar Learning Tool

Make Your Own Instruments

How to tune an acoustic guitar

How to clean your cello

How to tune a violin

How to assemble the clarinet

Tutorial videos of different instruments

First Flute

Piano Keys Podcast

Gear4Music

Organisations