The most recent music industry report commissioned by IMRO recommended that there should be more educational opportunities for music professionals. Before musicians get to that point though, where a career is a potential, it's the early years of education that mould the music minds of the future through the learning the the fundamentals in primary and secondary education.
Beyond the classroom, it is practical and inclusive experience that matters most before the learning of abstract theory and advancing levels becomes too much like hard work. Not every parent is willing or able to pay for extra-curricular activities.
Bridging the gap in 12 regions of Ireland is Music Generation, an initiative piloted by Music Network, kickstarted by a philanthropic donation in 2009 to the tune of €7 million, €2 million from the Ireland Funds (a global fundraising network for people of Irish ancestry, with headquarters in Boston) and €5 million from U2. With the success of the initiative, the government, through the Local Music Education Partnerships (MEPs) agreed to fund 50 per cent of the cost in the past six years.
Music Generation offers local programmes for young people up to 18 years of age in Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Laois, Limerick, Louth, Mayo, Offaly/Westmeath, Sligo, and Wicklow. The program can include singing, rock and pop groups, harp ensembles, hip-hop, composition, choirs, orchestras, brass bands, percussion troupes, jazz bands, trad and more.
“What we want to do is really simple, we just want to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, gets access to music tuition,” Bono has said of the scheme.
“The primary and post-primary music curriculum provides an excellent framework for ‘general’ music education which is taught by classroom teachers,” says Music Generation Director Rosaleen Molloy. “But Music Generation is concerned with performance music education – that is vocal and instrumental tuition, encompassing all music genres and all types of instruments and vocal styles which are delivered by skilled professional musicians.”
Music Generation programmes now provide access and musical experience to 26,000 children a year and employs 330 people, 300 of which are professional musicians.
Molloy herself has a background in music with a formal education with the Wexford School of Music and University College Cork. She specialises in choral music education.
“If music is your passion, the natural thing is to want to pass it on, and that’s what is at the heart of music education.”
Realistic creative experiences
The recent Soundwaves pop-up summer project in Letterkenny by the Donegal Music Education Partnership was brokered by Music Generation. With funding from the Arts Council, the project offered lots of practical and creative experience to students.
The participants formed bands and were given access to recording facilities. They were encouraged to write original material. Beyond that, they were pushed to promote themselves through video and social media.
Students were incentivised by awards under the categories: composition, lyrics, music video, social media, innovation, achievement and an overall artist of the year award. The result was a realistic and all-encompassing approach to musicmaking that better reflects what being an artist is like in 2015.
"The Soundwaves project in this summer was a very good example of that," says Molloy. "As was the Bold as Brass jazz extravaganza in Cork back in June, and we have another five projects starting up shortly – everything from a big choral residency involving thousands of children in Offaly/Westmeath, to composition/songwriting projects in Mayo and Wicklow, and a rock-band development project in Carlow."
Sustainability
Music Generation is aiming to be sustainable once the initial philanthropic funds run out in January 2016. The money for initiatives will come from funding split 50 per cent each between the Department of Education and Skills (DES) and MEPs. This week, U2 announced six concerts: two in Belfast and four in Dublin, and along with this run, they announced that €2 million from the gigs will go towards Music Generation, a donation that will allow Music Generation to expand beyond the 12 areas it currently operates.
“This donation, say Molloy, will help Music Generation “to achieve a sustainable outcome that would live beyond the term of the gift – and not become another arts education project that was only as good as the money lasted.”
Engaging with passion
"Children and young people are interested in engaging with inspiring, passionate musicians who motivate and enthuse them about getting involved in making music," says Molloy.
Music Generation is pointing young people in the right direction, as well as pointing a way forward for government-funding music education for music professionals.
“Growing up with music, so many people encouraged me – my parents, grandparents, schoolteachers – my amazing teachers at the Wexford School of Music – all of these people have been my influential mentors.”
“But having mentors is not just confined to the ‘young’ musician; you need them throughout your musical journey, and certainly, to be an effective leader in music education, ongoing mentorship is an important part of professional development and learning.”
“Our hope is that the children and young people will continue to have music in their lives. While some may choose to make music their career, this is not our sole purpose – it’s about giving children and young people the choice of access and the chance to participate. It’s about recognising the role that music plays in the holistic development of children and young people and its potential to transform lives in so many ways – socially, cognitively and emotionally.”
