WHAT IS MUSIC MATTERS?
Music Generation Louth first launched MUSIC Matters in 2012 to support the development of music in early years settings. Since then, with the support of Louth County Childcare Committee and Louth Leader Partnership, over fifteen hundred children and over seventy teachers have successfully participated in the programme.

Our philosophy is that all children are born with inherent musical ability and have the right to a high quality musical education that ideally starts in the early years when solid musical foundations are most effectively laid.Research shows that music can play an important role in the overall development of young children. The Music Matters programme encompasses the principles of Síolta and demonstrates the great enjoyment that music can bring to young children. It also shows how music can be a very effective vehicle for the delivery of Aistear, Ireland’s new Early Childhood Curriculum Framework.

PROGRAMME OUTLINE
MUSIC Matters is grounded in the approaches of Kodaly and Dalcroze Eurhythmics in which young children’s natural ability is developed through singing and games. The programme is delivered by a team of specialist early years musicians and aims to build confidence and expertise within childcare staff so that musical activity can continue after participation in the programme is completed.

TRAINING
MUSIC Matters provides: A half-day practical training session for staff from participating childcare services giving ideas, resources and tips to become a positive role model for young children.

MUSICIANS IN RESIDENCY
Each participating childcare service is assigned a specialist musician. The musician will visit the service to spend one hour each week for six weeks working with children along with childcare staff.

SUPPORTING RESOURCES
Each participating childcare service is provided with a box of resources to enable staff to continue on with the musical games and activities themselves.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED?
The 2014 series of MUSIC Matters in childcare settings has now been completed. Please get in touch with us if you would like to be added to the mailing list to receive information on future series.

Email: musicgeneration@lmetb.ie
Tel: +353 (0)42 93 64635

Building on the success of MUSIC Matters in childcare settings, with th support of Louth Leader Parntership, Music Generation Louth has been able to extend Music Matters into the following Primary Schools:

• Redeemer Girls’ National School, Dundalk
• Redeemer Boy’s’ National School, Dundalk
• St Joseph’s National School, Dundalk
• Marymount Girls’ National School, Drogheda
• St John’s National School, Drogheda
• St Brigid’s National School, Drogheda
• St Patrick’s National School, Drogheda

The programme has grown to include both junior and senior infant classes and their teachers in each school. The most recent Music Matters + series reached 800 children.

”The programme is brilliantly organised, planned and delivered and we look forward to being involved in the future”. – Marcella O Conluain, Principal of St Joseph’s National School, Dundalk.

‘This is our second year funding the MUSIC Matters programme in schools. The evidence cearly shows that music can have a very positive effect on a chlidren’ learning. The programme was available to junior infant classes in the participating schools last year but feedback was superb, so we decided o expand it to Senior Infants classes during 2013/14. It isa good fit with our overall early intervention strategy when working inout target areas.” – Hugh Doogan, Education Coordinator at Louth Leader Partnership.

Let’s Sing is a 16-week primary school programme for 3rd to 5th year classes. It has been devised to build an interest in choral singing and in time to build a community youth choir locally.

It is delivered in a fun and accessible way, enabling children to become more confident at singing and reading music. The project has proven to be of great benefit to class teachers who gain valuable experience, resources and new skills working alongside one of our expert choral tutors. Sessions combine preparation of a varied choral programme of world songs with a range of musical games and activities so that the children are simultaneously developing their aural skills and musical literacy.

At the end of the programme, groups have the opportunity to come together for a mass choral evening performance with other participating schools in their area and the Music Generation Louth ensemble at a local venue. A fantastic experience for children to join together in their local community for a musical celebration attended by family and friends.

Participating Schools in 2013/14 series:
• Muchgrange National School, Cooley
• Monksland National School, Cooley
• St Oliver’s National School, Carlingford
• St Malachy’s Boys’ National School, Dundalk
• St Joseph’s National School, Dundalk
• St Peter’s National School, Dromiskin
• Monastery National School, Ardee
• Scoil Mhuire Na Trocaire
• Ballapousta National School
• St Joseph’s CBS Primary, Sunday’s Gate, Drogheda
• Marymount National School, Drogheda
• St Mary’s Parish Primary, Drogheda

Booking inquiries to: Gemma Murray, Coordinator.
Email: gmurray@lmetb.ie

As part of our portfolio of initiatives for primary schools we have developed a very successful introduction to orchestral strings programme, aimed at 2nd and/or 3rd class children.

The Introducing Strings programme provides grounding in musicianship through singing activities and musical games; it also gives children an exciting opportunity to play a range of orchestral stringed instruments – violin, viola, cello and double bass in a whole-class environment. The sessions are delivered by a team of two tutors (with expertise in both upper and lower stringed instruments). A set of stringed instruments is provided on loan to each participating school for the duration of the programme so that every child has his/her own instrument to play during the sessions.

The aim is vey much to have fun playing the instruments and to spark an interest in musical learning through an ensemble approach. There is no pressure to practice or drill outside the session; the instruments remain in the school for the duration of the programme and are not taken home by the children. Introducing Strings is ideal for schools that may be interested in setting up an orchestra and offering a progression route within the school for further instrumental learning after the programme has finished.

It also works equally well for schools that would like simply like to engage with a service that can enhance the delivery of the music curriculum and offer their students a new positive musical learning experience.

Schools currently participating in Introducing Strings:
• Redeemer Girls’ National School, Dundalk
• Realt na Mara National School, Dundalk
• Scoil Naomh Lorcan, Omeath
• St John’s National School, Drogheda
• St Paul’s National School, Drogheda

Booking inquiries to: Gemma Murray, Coordinator.
Email: gmurray@lmetb.ie

Music Generation Louth provides the option for schools (both primary and post primary) to offer students weekly music lessons in small groups of 5/6 students during the school day. Lessons are delivered by one of our specialist instrumental tutors.

The following instruments are available: Violin/Viola, Fiddle, Cello/Double bass, Guitar, Harp, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet. This has proven to be a very popular choice; parents find it very convenient and children have great fun learning music with the peers. Instrument hire is available through Music Generation Louth to allow children to continue their practice at home. For more expensive instruments Music Generation Louth can provide the loan of a set of instruments to the school for use during lessons and to accommodate supervised practice.

Schools Participating in Small Group Instrumental Programme:
• St Joseph’s CBS, Sundays Gate, Drogheda
• St Joseph’s National School, Mell, Drogheda
• Callystown National School, Clogherhead
• Scoil Naomh Lorcan, Omeath
• Redeemer Girls’ National School, Dundalk
• St Louis Secondary School, Dundalk

Booking inquiries to: Gemma Murray, Coordinator.
Email: gmurray@lmetb.ie

As a new initiative for 2014/15 we are offering a whole class recorder programme for primary schools delivered by one of our specialist wind tutors.

Suitable for 2nd class upwards, Blown Away covers the fundamental techniques required for playing any wind instrument (breathing and articulation). Children develop aural skills and musical literacy delivered through fun tunes and musical games. Third term offers the opportunity to introduce children to a range of different wind instruments.

Blown Away is ideal for schools that are interested in developing recorder ensembles and/or those interested in offering a progression route within the school for children to learn a wind/brass instrument.

It also works equally well for schools that would like simply like to engage with a service that can enhance the delivery of the music curriculum and offer their students a new positive musical learning experience.

Booking inquiries to: Gemma Murray, Coordinator.
Email: gmurray@lmetb.ie