** NEW FOR 2011/12 **

SPECIAL OFFERS
We have great offers for CHOIR and SHANTICeol which could be great presents for a family member or friend. It might be something that grandparents could buy their grandchildren - a gift that keeps on giving!!

CHOIR will run each Thursday from 5.30 to 6.30 at just €7 per class. However, you can avail of a great discount by booking 10 classes for only €50 - great value!! Please ring 0404 42244 to enrol.

SHANTICeol covers ages from 2 to 3.5 years and will run each Saturday morning from 10am for approx. 40 minutes.

ShantiCeol will be held over 26 weeks throughout the school year 2011/12 but we know how hard it is to commit to such a long time when young children are involved so this year we are running ShantiCeol on a "drop-in basis". No need to pre-book, just turn up with a small blanket and a teddy! An adult must accomapny each child.

The cost for this class is €7 but you can book a set of 10 classes for the great price of €50 - a MASSIVE SAVING of €20!! You will be given a Loyalty Card and need to bring this to each class. There is no need to attend all 10 classes in a row either!

The dates for ShantiCeol in Wicklow are;
Sep - 24th
Oct - 1st, 8th, 15th & 22nd
Nov - 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th
Dec - 3rd & 17th
Jan - 14th, 21st & 28th
Feb - 4th, 11th & 25th
Mar - 3rd, 10th, 24th & 31st
Apr - 21st & 28th
May - 5th, 12th & 26th

And to make a great offer even better you can use your Loyalty Card in our sister school, Greystones School of Music & Drama Kinder classes on a Friday at 10am for children aged 3months to 2 years or at 10.30am for children aged 2 years to 5years.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Mock Exams
The WSMD will offer the opportunity for all junior piano students taking an RIAM exam to undertake a preparatory mock exam. The aim for these exams are to put students at ease and build confidence in an exam setting. These are conducted by Rachel Factor (MA Mus, BA Perf, ARIAM Piano Diploma) who is an experienced examiner with the RIAM.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Workshops
Rachel Factor will present a one hour workshop on Tonal Colour and Musical Expression.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Junior Certificate Music Theory
Alison Rothwell teaches Music Theory for the Junior Certificate 2012 on Tuesdays from 4.30pm to 6.00pm. This is a group class and class numbers are limited. Please ring the office on 0404 42244 for more information.

Leaving Certificate Music Theory
Alison is available to teach Music Theory for the Leaving Certificate 2012 on a Thursday at 4.30pm until 6.00pm. This is a group class and class numbers are limited. Please ring the office on 0404 42244 for more information.

Advanced Theory
The Advanced Theory takes place each Tuesday night at 7.00pm until 8.00pm and is Grade 2 & higher ABRSM Curriculum. The Advanced Theory class is free to enrolled students.

Don't forget Music at higher level is a great way to inflate your aggregate score!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Violin This year Sheila Benney, one of the directors of the "Suzuki Education Institute of Ireland", the organisation designated by Dr. Suzuki to uphold training and teaching standards in Ireland, will continue with us each Wednesday for classes. Suzuki is a highly effective method of training very young children in Violin and incorporates group classes.

The Suzuki method requires parental/guardian attendance; monthly ensemble work and membership to Suzuki Ireland. The school requires all parents co-operation and understanding before commencing violin tuition with WSMD.For more about the method visit www.suzukiireland.net.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

STAFF CHANGE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Keith Pogue has joined the WSMD in place of Dave Hingerty.
Rachel Briscoe is filling in for Rachel Factor while she is on maternity leave.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AWARDS

Nominations for Awards May 2010

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New Course:

ShantiCeol© 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.

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.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Kodaly Society of Ireland
www.kodalyireland.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.





---------------------------------------------------------------------------------



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

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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!

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Useful Links

www.musicnetwork.ie

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