DRUMMING IS BACK! We are delighted and very excited to announce the arrival of Dave Hingerty to the school. Dave operates his own drum academy in Dublin and is perhaps best known for his work with The Frames as a former band member. Dave will teach Drum Kit on a Thursday at the WSMD this year which will include performance Workshops. For more about Dave’s distinguished career to date please go to www.davehingerty.com. Bonnie Stewart is also teaching Drum Kit this year and is available on a Saturday.

SUZUKI ALL THE WAY! This year violin will be taught by a very well qualified member of Suzuki Ireland. This is a highly effective method of training very young children in Violin and incorporates group classes. This year Ms. Stella O’Connor will join us each Saturday for classes. For more about the method visit www.suzukiireland.net

STAGE CRAFT FOR VOICE STUDENTS! This year voice students will be treated to performance workshops by Leslie Dowdall. Leslie is a successful singer/songwriter who will conduct the mid-term performance workshops for all voice students at the school teaching mic technique and on-stage choreography and posture to help students relax and feel confident on stage. Leslie will also be taking the Choir this year on a Tuesday. For more about Leslie go to her website: www.lesliedowdall.com

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New Teachers:

For this term we have three new teachers - Stella O'Connor, Dave Hingerty and Leslie Dowdall.

Stella O'Connor is a member of Suzuki Ireland and replaces her daughter Linda each Saturday.

Dave Hingerty, former drummer for The Frames, will be teaching drum kit each Thursday evening.

Leslie Dowdall is a successful singer/songwriter and will be taking the choir on a Tuesday.

We wish them all many happy years with WSMD.

STAFF CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Clodagh Clarke and Dave Croydon will not be teaching this year.
David Creevy has changed his hours to Wed evening and Saturday afternoon only.
Stella O’ Connor is our new violin teacher who is available from 09:00 Saturdays.

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AWARDS

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New Course:

ShantiMusic© Pre-instrumental Classes

This is the result of many years teaching young children and offers something new and effective. Shanti is the Sanskrit word for peace and it was chosen because we feel that music and yoga are a pathway to peace.

Each of the courses is designed to segue into the next chronological year, building on and developing the course content from 18 months to 7 years.

The course begins with parent and toddler education. The goal is to awaken the child's interest in music; to stimulate use of the voice and rhythmic movement and to increase the child's emotional stability through music (Parent and child bonding). Each course follows a series of modules and each module contains a theme. The first theme is Teddies. The course will follow teddy through a typical day.

Parents will learn how to use music for simple activities surrounding meal times and getting ready for bed.

Ages 3 - 5 focuses on elements of music, specifically pulse in music, pitch (high/low) and dynamics. The themes are taken from core curriculum ideas such as plants and animals and the four seasons. The Material covered in the age 3-4 course will be revisited from a different educational angle during the age 4 - 5 course.

The 6 - 7 years course is all about the rudiments of literacy, improvisation and performance. Each module is 10 weeks long and will end with a performance for parents.

This is a new approach incorporating yoga postures and philosophy into music education. Each 50 minute class will contain song and dance, use a marvelous array of musical instruments and will contain a small art project to make the course varied and interesting to the children plus providing a visual culmination of their time with us here at the Wicklow School of Music & Drama.

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Kodaly Society of Ireland
www.kodaly-ireland.com
Kodály believes that music, with singing in the focus,
has a liberating effect on the mind and increases a child's ability to deal better with all the other subjects of the school curriculum.





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The Mozart Effect
www.mozarteffect.com
The Power of Music in Health, Education & Wellbeing.

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Sound Therapy & Brain Technologies - www.thelisteningprogram.com
For information on the benefits of
classical music for the developing brain.


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Supplies: Charles Byrne of Dublin are offering a 10% discount off the sale of recommended books and accessories including metronomes, music stands, foot stools, manuscript, instruments and more…Order forms are available - goods delivered to the school to save you the trek to Dublin!

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Other Useful Links

www.musicnetwork.ie

www.nch.ie
Check out the Children's Outreach Programme