Launch of resource website www.IrishMusicEducation.ie

http://www.irishmusiceducation.ie/

Happier days for Brian Cowen at opening of new building
Gerry Godley Lyric fm

 There was a convivial gathering of musicians and educators at an event in the striking  new Tara building at Mary Immaculate College of  Education, Limerick on Fridat 21st January to launch a new resource website http://www.irish.music.education.ie/
  The launch was adressed first by Professor Teresa O Doherty . She was  followed by Ailbhe Kenny who spoke about the overall vision for the project to redress the 'disconnect' that exists in the whole business of music education.


Patricia Flynn of St Patrick's College Dublin, spoke about the specific aims of the website and the sections contained in it. The efforts of Eric Fitzgerald , music journalist in setting up the site were acknowledged. It is important to note that it is Irish Music Education in general and is not a genre specific website

The guest speaker was musician, broadcaster and promoter Gerry Godley who spoke about his own pathway to musicianship , some perspectives gleaned from a career in gig promotion and broadcasting  with some musings on multiculturalism in performance .


  This entertaining and thought provoking adress was followed by the dreaded audience participation number facilitated by composer Elaine Agnew who guided us through an extract from a performance piece  'The Great Learning' by Cardew which made it sound a rather more grand endeavour than it was.  This  was  a bit outside my comfort zone, involving the group  meandering around the room  humming dislocated words according to a set of instructions printed on postcard   but I appeared alone in my lethargy and there was no sloping off to giggle at the back of the class  for this bunch of enthusiasts who tackled the assignmnent cheerfully . The clapping game was  quite fun  and made me nostalgic for those handslapping and skipping games of my Nintendo free youth. The meeting was closed by Michael Finneran,  Dean of Arts and P.E at Mary I College.

I was a guest of MA student  and fiddle player , Karen Vaughan from Clare . The many in attendance included Kathleen Turner , Education Officer with the ICO, Diane Donnelly and John Kelly  musician and CEO of the ICO, Steve Hanks of the Limerick Jazz Soc. Jennifer Moroney Ward, organiser of the Leviathan Political Cabaret, Eric Fitzgerald , music journalist and blogger , Karen Franklin, Principal of Pallas Green NS , Jean Downey of UL , Gwen Moore and Gareth Cox of Mary I. College . One of the topics of conversation centred around new directives on improving literacy and there was some concern that these may impact on time available for music  education.

 (I had the most awful nightmare that night which involved  a 5000 word essay assignment,  missed deadlines and ponderous titles  following my evening in the groves of Academe). Here's hoping the website will be the unifying force envisaged in Irish Education.