Local students get into the groove for music programme  

STUDENTS from three Balbriggan secondary schools took part in a music programme at a local university last week.  

The students learned exciting new performance skills and techniques centred on groove, at the Dublin City University-Berklee College of Music School which returned for its second year. 

DCU, in partnership with Berklee College of Music and Fingal County Council, organised the three-day programme.  

The aim was to give over 90 teenage music aficionados access to some of Ireland’s most highly regarded performers and teachers based in DCU’s School of Music, and faculty from one of the world’s most prestigious schools in the field of contemporary music, Boston-based Berklee College of Music. 

Almost 30 students from DEIS schools were nominated to take part in the programme free of charge. 

Furthermore, students had the opportunity to showcase what they learned at a final day concert and audition for a scholarship to attend Berklee. 

Speaking about this year’s DCU Groove School, Ronan Guilfoyle, Director of the Centre for Jazz Performance at DCU, said they were delighted to partner again with Berklee to deliver three days of wonderful music making opportunities for some of the most talented young musicians in Ireland.

Nicole Martin, a participant of last year’s programme who was also awarded a five-week scholarship to Berklee, said: “I had a brilliant experience last summer at DCU’s Groove School. I learned a lot and met new friends with similar music interests and goals. 

“It gave me an opportunity to meet the lecturers I study under at the moment in the DCU Jazz programme as well as getting a taste of what studying music performance would be like in a university setting. 

“I also felt my technique and approach to playing in an ensemble improved during the three days. 

“It had been a dream of mine to study in Berklee so I was really taken aback when they announced my name as winner of the five-week scholarship in Boston. It was really amazing to meet great teachers over there and to learn from them.”

Loreto Balbriggan, Educate Together Balbriggan and Ardgillan Community School were among the schools that took part in this year’s prgramme. 

The students explored a wide span of musical areas, encompassing theory, ear training, improvisation, ensemble performance and instrumental instruction. 

Lecture sessions enabled the students to learn about various performance skills and techniques centred on groove and style, while ensemble classes will allow them to put everything into practice.