Music In The Classroom brings music alive for schoolchildren

Music In The Classroom, a collaborative effort devised by Gearoid Grant and backed by Cathal McCabe of RTE and Sean Hogan of The Irish Times, is an initiative to help give schoolchildren a broader knowledge of classical music. Where previously music lessons might have taken place with a cassette tape and a stereo system, Music In The Classroom brings children to live venues to witness the experience of a concert first hand with the intention of instilling a love of the music for those who may not previously have had the opportunity. The series has always been organised on a not-for-profit basis and at least 10% of seats each year are allocated to children from schools with designated DEIS status.

Both of RTE's concert orchestras - National Symphony and Concert Orchestra - are involved in the series which sees them play 17 concerts per year in Dublin, as well as a five-day tour around the country with as many as 5,000 children attending each day.

"I meet young music teachers now who tell me their first experience of a concert was at Music In The Classroom and it was such a joyful one", said Gearoid Grant. "That's hugely important. Making music come alive and making it interesting for little kids - they're dying to know things about music and if you tell them they're dying to learn. that's magic."

Upcoming dates for Music In The Classroom include:

National Concert Hall, Dublin - 20th November to 13th December
TF Royal Theatre, Mayo - 14th January
Leisureland, Galway - 15th January
University Concert Hall, Limerick - 16th to 17th January
National Concert Hall, Dublin - 18th February to 5th March and 22nd to 23rd April

You can purchase tickets for future Music In The Classroom performances via entertainment.ie/tickets

Story by John Balfe | 09:22 | Tuesday 8th May 2012 | Music News

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