PC Soundwaves II, music tuition and more

PCC Soundwaves II, Sat. 4th March – sign up here 

We have a new mobile number, 087 7154 700 (office hours)

New students – If you’d like to learn to play or to sing, click here 

Join Donegal Youth Orchestra – click here

Join Donegal Youth Choir – click here

UPDATE, Wednesday, 22nd February, 2023

The pace is picking up again after the February mid-term break. Coming into view –

PCC Soundwaves II at PCC An Fál Carrach, Saturday 4th March, 10.30am – 4.30pm. Make music, make friends in the company of Seamus Devenny and Chaylene Murphy from Wall2Wall Music in Derry. If you’re 12 -18, play a bit of music or sing (any genre), come along! Fee – €20 (pay on the day). Sign-up sheet is here

Grade 3 or over? Join Donegal Youth Orchestra! Next rehearsal – RCC Letterkenny, this Friday (24th). Then on Friday it’s off to the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town for an open rehearsal, 6.30pm – 9pm. Bus leaves RCC LK at 5.40pm. 

Coming up – Ireland’s Biggest Orchestra! Two Dublin youth orchestras meet Donegal Youth Orchestra at Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny on Saturday 1st April. A day of rehearsals will end with a short performance from each orchestra, followed by a get-together of all three orchestras to play three pieces. And create Ireland’s biggest orchestra for a few minutes (around 120+ performers).

 

 

 

TUITION

We offer tuition across Donegal in a whole range of instruments, from violin to trumpet, guitar to drums. The cost is €20 for a 30 minute individual class. Group classes are available for some instruments.

Here’s mostly what we offer at the moment, all after school, 4.30pm to 9pm (availability in blue, occasional place in red) –

Letterkenny, Errigal College – lots, including violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, voice, ukulele, percussion, sax, flute, clarinet, and brass; The Vestry – percussion

Ballyshannon, FET centre – flute, clarinet, saxophone, voice, piano

Buncrana, Crana College – keyboards, violin, voice, cello

Carndonagh, Colgan Hall – violin, percussion

Donegal Town, Abbey Vocational – piano; FET Centre – violin, viola, cello, voice, flute, saxophone, clarinet, brass

Falcarragh, Atlantic School of Rock, Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola – guitar, bass, percussion, voice, piano

Milford, Mulroy Music Academy, Mulroy College – guitar, ukulele, piano, violin, flute, tin whistle

Moville, Community College – violin, percussion

Stranorlar, FET centre – piano, ukulele, guitar

Want to be a musician/singer? Sign up

PERFORMING GROUPS – Information below on our ten performing groups. We also have a ukulele programme involving 25 primary schools and 750 young ukulele players! Schools – ask us for details. Our email is musiceducation@donegaletb.ie

ABOVE – Vincent Kennedy conducting the Donegal Youth Orchestra and Donegal Youth Choir during the world premiere of his suite, ‘Colmcille, Dove of Peace’, at An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny in March 2022. The second performance at the theatre on Sunday 24th July 2022 also got a standing ovation. Pic  – John Soffe Photography.

Excellent results in from the Royal Irish Academy and Trinity examinations. Well done everyone, young musicians, parents and tutors.

All the evidence backs up what we see every day of the week – music is great for children (and adults). If you’re a young person, or the parent/guardian of a young person, take advantage of the many opportunities to learn an instrument across Donegal. Join up!

IMPORTANT WEBSITE NOTE –

GOOD ONES!

• the Donegal Youth Orchestra got a standing ovation at their end-of-year concert on Saturday 21st May at the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. Super stuff, and some remarkable solos from departing members
• the Donegal Chamber Orchestra played a storm in the Church of Ireland in Leitirmacaward. Congrats to them, to conductor Victor Yélamo and leader Orsi Szabo-Yélamo, and thanks once again to those locally who make it happen
• Donegal Junior Strings, also conducted by Victor Yélamo, managed to fit in performances in seven schools on their one-day tour in June 2022. The schools were in Letterkenny (3), Raphoe, Ballougry (across the border near Carrigans), Buncrana and Newtowncunningham. Thanks to our full-time violin resource tutor Orsi Szabo-Yélamo who helped on the day (and demonstrated the viola). Well done everyone!
• Big thanks to Renato Paris (London) and Music Network for the ‘Groove’ workshop which Renato gave at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, on Wednesday 23rd June 2022
• A possible violin/fiddle programme for east Donegal took a step closer when Nigel Boullier (Bangor) and DMEP music manager Martin McGinley played for students at St Baithin’s in St Johnston and Balloughry PS (near Carrigans) on Wednesday 23rd June 2022. The pair also played at an Ulster-Scots Night at Monreagh Community Centre that night. Thanks Nigel!

Just the three of us (edit)

[Links to a clip of Eden, Hannah and Renato Paris having an impromptu jam at the end of Renato’s ‘Groove’ workshop in the RCC in Letterkenny on Wednesday 23rd June 2022.]

Happy holidays and thanks to our 30+ music tutors for their efforts in giving the gift of music to our DMEP students, and also to those looking after our groups. 

The Donegal Junior Strings added a cross-border element to their 2022 school tour on Wednesday 15.6.22 – a visit to Ballougry primary school near Killea. The school is under threat of closure. Hopefully it won’t happen, as it’s a fine country school with plans to maintain and grow numbers. Here’s conductor Victor Yélamo and the DJS in action. Video from the tour coming up shortly! If you’re a string player aged 7 -14 you can join the DJS. Drop us a line to musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or call John on 087 715 4700 (working hours). The DMEP is now enrolling for all music classes in September, and for other performing groups.

If you’ve a child interested in learning music or singing, you’ve come to the right place!

You can enrol a new student using the link below (or above!). The name goes on our waiting list, used to fill any available places.

New students – If you’d like to learn to play or to sing, click here 

Any queries? Ring our manager Martin McGinley on 087 1677 699 or our administrator John McIvor on 087 715 4700. Our office number is 07491 76293 and our email is music education@donegaletb.ie  Check out the Facebook page Donegal Music Education Partnership-DMEP.

In 2021-2022 a 30 minute individual class was €17. For some instruments, there’s a small group rate of €10, with two or three in the group. Charges will be reviewed during the summer.

Mulroy Academy of Music, Milford – If you’d like to join the new Mulroy Academy of Music at Mulroy College in Milford (guitar, bass, drums, violin, piano – group rates available, apart from piano) click here.

Atlantic School of Rock, Falcarragh – another new development in 2021 – 2022, with tuition in guitar, bass, voice, drums and piano at Pobalscoil Chloich Cheannfhaola (PCC), at Falcarragh. Please use the form for ‘New students’ above, and mention Atlantic School of Rock. Group rates, apart from piano/voice.

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The Soundwaves day in PCC An Fál Carrach in early December was a big success – see the DMEP Facebook page for a video of an original song created on the day.

Below, at PCC Soundwaves in PCC An Fál Carrach on Saturday 11th December – Seamus Devenny from Wall2Wall Music keeps the beat as Anu on piano awaits the cue from other band members. The song is an original, ‘After the Storm’ (working title), from, remember the name, Ten Human Beings. There’s a video on the DMEP Facebook page.

Contact the DMEP – email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or phone 07491 76293. Please wait while the call transfers (we’re still working from home). John’s new office mobile – 087 7154 700 (office hours).

TUITION – Most of our classes were pretty full in 2021-2022. A good few spaces will become available for September as our students finish up and prepare to head to university, college, course or maybe even work! Click here to get on the waiting list.

Cost

One-to-one lessons (mostly what we do) cost €17 for 30 minutes. Tuition fees will be reviewed for 2022-2023. We follow the school year and have 30 weeks of lessons (subject to review during the summer for the 2022-2023 year). You pay in advance quarterly. We have some group lessons, such as with guitar, at €10 for half an hour. Two or three in the group.

Outstanding fees? Pay here 🙂

You’ll need the info we sent you when you registered – your family ID (starts with CD2), your six-digit PIN and the last four digits of the mobile number you gave us. Any difficulties, email musiceducation@donegaletb.ie

LATEST

For the DMEP’s latest developments, please check out our Facebook page DMEP-Donegal Music Education Partnership, and also the Facebook account of our music development manager, Martin McGinley – dmep.

PERFORMING GROUPS

We have ten performing groups and they’re always glad to see new members. The good news is that ‘in person’ rehearsals are starting again. So you can join the likes of the Donegal Youth Orchestra (if you’re under 25 and at least Grade III standard), the Donegal Chamber Orchestra or Donegal Junior Strings; the Donegal Youth Choir (ages 12 – 18 approx), the Letterkenny and Dungloe Junior Choirs (very keen on new faces), or the adult choir Errigal Singers, who will hopefully get back to rehearsal every Monday evening in Letterkenny; our jazz-inflected outfits the Errigal Groove Orchestra (looking for electric guitarist, bass player, brass at the minute) or Saxtet; and Mind Your Quavers, our adult back-to-music group. More details below.

The Errigal Singers and conductor Maghnus Monaghan performing at Donegal Castle.

Yes, you could be starring in a DMEP performing group! The cost for 2022 – 2023 is just €100.

Here’s the line-up in no particular order (ages approximate, these are the fondly-remembered rehearsal times and places before Covid) –

Donegal Junior Strings, conductor Victor Yélamo – beginners, 6 – 12 yrs. Rehearsals weekly, Saturday afternoons, 4pm – 5pm  RCC Letterkenny

Donegal Youth Orchestra, conductor Vincent Kennedy – most instruments, grade 3 and up, 12 – 20 yrs. Rehearsals every second Fri, RCC, Letterkenny

Donegal Chamber Orchestra, conductor Victor Yélamo – strings, prob Grade 4/5 and up, mix of students and adults. Saturday afternoons, 1.30pm – 4pm, RCC Letterkenny

Dungloe Junior Choir, conductor Sara Laughlin – anyone aged 6 – 12 years interested in singing and making new friends. Every second Sunday afternoon, Rosses Community School

Donegal Youth Choir, conductor Sara Laughlin, accompanist Evan McGarrigle – ages 11 to 20. Every second Sunday afternoon, Vestry, St Conal’s Hospital grounds, High Road, Letterkenny. 4pm – 6.30pm.

Errigal Singers, conductor tbc, adult choir. Every Monday evening, 7pm – 8pm, Errigal College, Letterkenny. Welcome for all new members and especially needing male singers!

Errigal Groove/ Saxtet – jazz, rhythm and blues. Brass, wind, guitars, drums, vocals – join up! 12 – 18. Saxtet is made for sax players 🙂 Tutor Brian McDevitt leading the way. Every second Saturday, RCC, Letterkenny.

Letterkenny Junior Choir – if you’re aged 6 to 12 and like singing, come along! Every Thursday, 3.30pm – 4.30pm, RCC, Letterkenny. Conductor – tbc

Mind Your Quavers – for adults who’d like to get back playing. Mix of instruments, including violin, cello, flute, trumpet and more. All welcome. Leaders – Irene Donnelly, Seamus McGuire. Every second Thursday, Errigal College, 7pm – 9pm.

Get in touch via musiceducation@donegaletb.ie or phone us on 07491 76293.

Check out what we do on Facebook or see our playlist on YouTube for loads of music 🙂

Note – we request data to allow us to run our programme. Our data protection policy is here.

WHO WE ARE

The DMEP is the music arm of the Donegal Education and Training Board, which is doing marvellous work in education and training across the county. The DMEP is supported by the Department of Education.

Martin McGinley is the DMEP’s Music Development Manager, John McIvor is the administrator and Orsolya Szabo-Yélamo is the full-time violin resource tutor. In terms of the DMEP’s web presence, there’s valuable support from hosting expert Jakub Józefowicz of LetsHost, based in Oranmore, County Galway.

 

We teach mostly classical, with some jazz and contemporary/rock. We cater for all ages and abilities. Details here.

 

 

Click here to enrol for music tuition or our groups