NEW FULL-TIME course for musicians who want to pursue a professional career begins next September at Newpark Music Centre in Blackrock, Co Dublin. It is specifically designed to prepare musicians to go into the non classical areas of music, in particular jazz, blues and rock.

Hilda Milner, administrator of the course, says that it will be aimed at people who want to go on to some of the international music schools as well as those working within the industry who want to increase their knowledge and flexibility within the industry. She explains that the course has been set up in response to a growing interest in the area among school children and adults. An increasing number of students already attending classes at the centre are joining bands and becoming interested in blues and jazz. Although there are a great deal of sound engineering courses on offer at colleges around the country, Milner says that this is not what everybody wants. Some people want a professional career in music they want to play instruments.

Auditions for the course will be held in May. Applicants should have "some sort of background in music". For those who don't read music, there will be a six week introductory period at the beginning of the course. Applicants will be expected to give as much detail as possible about their previous music education and experience.

"We hope to encourage people who may want to get into the industry, but have no formal training," she says. The course will focus, in particular, on jazz, blues and rock.

She says about music as a career "I know as a practising musician myself that it's not well paid but there's always employment ... There are so many avenues that you can explore. This will give them a foundation."

The centre is currently calling on its extensive contacts within the jazz industry booth at home and abroad ink order to structure a syllabus. Tuition and assessment will be structured according to international standards. The course is currently awaiting notification of its City and Guilds accreditation.

The Professional Musician Training course, under the directorship of Ronan Guilfoyle, will be full time, structured around three teaching terms. It is expected to cost something in the region of £1,000 per student. There is no age requirement.

As well as ten teaching hours per week, students will also have instrumental practice. Training will include instrumental teaching, composition, harmony and ear training, jazz improvisation, technology tuition and International Association of Schools of Jazz workshops. Assignments and practical examinations will be ongoing throughout the course.

The Newpark Music Centre was established in 1979 to provide music school facilities in south Dublin. It started with four teachers. Today it has a staff of 40 and almost 900 students attending its music classes, and the centre is a member of the International Association of Schools of Jazz.