15 young Stampede Drummers from Scoil Pius X, Ballacolla in County Laois raised the roof at the 2017 Arts in Education Portal National Day in Dublin on Saturday, 6 May with a rousing performance of Samba-inspired music led by professional musician-tutor, Eddie O’Neill.
The students from 4th, 5th and 6th classes at Scoil Pius X are all participants in Music Generation Laois’ highly successful Stampede Drumming (world drumming) Programme, which has been running in the school since the programme was first established in April 2012. School Principal Kieran Byrne and Classroom Teacher Frances Theloke welcome Eddie into the school to work with the young musicians each Thursday morning.
Through this sustained level of engagement the senior classes at Scoil Pius X have progressed significantly over the past five years and their skills were showcased in spectacular fashion at the Arts in Education Portal National Day, an annual gathering of arts-in-education professionals, noted academics, practitioners and government representatives.
You can watch their performance back online on our YouTube channel:
This remarkable Stampede Drumming group from Scoil Pius X is one of many ensembles who participate year-round in Music Generation Laois' initiatives and events. The programme works with schools and in centres across the county, with a focus on six strands of performance music education.
In addition, Music Generation was represented at the conference by National Director Rosaleen Molloy, who made a presentation to delegates on the outcomes of a landmark research document, ‘Possible Selves in Music’. This national research, developed by Music Generation in partnership with St. Patrick’s College DCU, presents a framework to guide the future thinking and direction of the programme as it continues to support and promote the highest standards in teaching and learning of performance music education.
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For further informaion on Stampede Drumming and other initiatives at Music Generation Laois, contact:
Music Generation Laois, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise, County Laois
t: +353 57 8664176
e: musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie
musicgenerationlaois.ie
About Music Generation Laois
Music Generation Laois is a performance music education programme which provides access to high quality performance music education at subsidised costs to children and young people in their own area. It is part of Music Generation, Ireland’s national music education programme, co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills, and Local Music Education Partnerships. Locally, Music Generation Laois is co-funded by Laois County Council (lead partner), Laois-Offaly ETB and Laois Partnership Company.
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