Music Network CPD Programme

Create Louth welcome applications from musicians and composers who wish to participate in Music Network’s Continuing Professional Development programme.  interested applications should apply under the Arts Act Grants – deadline September 24th.

Music Network’s Continuing Professional Development Training Programme aims to provide Irish and Ireland-based professional musicians and composers with the appropriate skills, resources and materials to deliver high-quality, interactive musical experiences in a range of outreach settings including:

  • schools (primary and post-primary)
  • community groups (e.g. active retirement groups or youth groups),
  • healthcare settings (e.g. mental healthcare or older people in residential care)
  • early years music (working with children from 18 months)

The Programme recognises each course participant as a resource and with the aid of skilled, specialised Facilitators, encourages course participants to share these valuable resources in order to develop the standard of music outreach practice in Ireland.

Course Details:

The 2010-2011 Programme will be delivered in a series of two, residential course weekends:

  • Course Weekend 1

5 – 7 November 2010

Marino Conference Centre, Marino, Dublin 9

  • Course Weekend 2

25 – 27 February 2011

Waterford Healing Arts Trust, Waterford Regional Hospital, Waterford City

Each course weekend will focus on the importance of developing solid musicianship skills, in particular, in the areas of improvisation and vocal skills and how these skills can be adapted to a range of different aspects of community outreach work.  The course will also address :

  • professional practice (e.g. putting a Child Protection Policy together and putting it into practice)
  • reflection and evaluation (getting feedback from participants and the importance of reflection)
  • accessing sources of funding (presentations by Arts Council staff and other relevant bodies)
  • resources and supports
  • cross-disciplinary work (e.g. dance, theatre, visual art)

Elaine Agnew, recognised as Ireland’s leading music educationalist, is the Artistic Advisor to this course and she will be joined by a team of specialists from Ireland and the UK to deliver this Programme. The course weekends are delivered in a workshop style, creating an interactive and engaging learning environment. The workshops will provide course participants with a range of skills, resources and materials to allow them to develop their own skills and the scope of their outreach work.

The 2010/11 Facilitation Team will include:

  • Elaine Agnew (Artistic Advisor & Lead Facilitator formal and non-formal education scenarios, healthcare, prison and other institutions)
  • Jenny Elliot (Healthcare: Using music & movement with clients with physical and learning disabilities)
  • Lucy Champion (Song as Resource)
  • Paul Roe (Reflection & Evaluative Practice)
  • Naheed Cruickshank (Early Years Music – Working with very young children)
  • Nico Brown (Working in schools and working with children)

Course participants are required to attend both course weekends in full, without condition.

Bursary Support:

Course participants must be supported by a bursary from their Local Authority Arts Office, a Professional Performing Organisation (e.g. the Irish Chamber Orchestra or the National Chamber Choir, RTÉ Performing Group) or other relevant body. Music Network  has, since 2007, offered Local Authority Arts Officers the facility to partner with Music Network by offering bursaries to local professional musicians that would benefit from this training.   Music Network would like to extend this offer to further Local Authorities in 2010/2011 as a means of assisting local Arts Officers to provide affordable, high quality, specialist professional development opportunities to musicians living and working in their locality.

The bursary for each course participant in this programme will be €500, payable by the Local Authority Arts Office or other supporting body in February 2011. This contribution to the costs involved in the Continuing Professional Development Training Programme will assist Music Network to provide:

  • The highest standards of Facilitation
  • Training in a comprehensive range of outreach scenarios
  • Networking opportunities with musicians working in other counties and genres
  • Support, resources and materials
  • Appropriate standards of accommodation, meals etc to support the residential aspect of the course.

Supporting bodies may  like to consider including stipends for travel expenses for musicians participating in the programme.

Application Procedure:

Each applicant must complete the Music Network CPD Training Programme Application Form (Supporting bodies may wish to incorporate this or attach it to any standard application forms already in use). Click here for a copy.

All applications should be submitted to Music Network on or before Friday 8th October at 5pm.

All applicants will be invited to participate in a course selection day in Dublin on Saturday 16th October. The Selection Day will involve some taster sessions for the applicants as well as an opportunity to ascertain the expectations of the course and plans to put these new resources and skills into action once the course has been completed. Each applicant will be assessed by the Selection Panel on the following criteria:

  • Ability to engage with a group
  • Demonstrated musical ability
  • Demonstrated commitment to outreach work
  • Demonstrated commitment to this training programme
  • Inter-personal and communication skills

If the panel feels that an applicant does not demonstrate one of the above criteria, they may not be selected to participate in the Programme, equally any applicant may decide to withdraw from the programme, if they feel that it will not provide the support that they require.

Music Network will inform all of the applicants of the outcome of the Selection Panel meetings directly and each Local Authority Arts Office or other sponsoring body of these successful candidates will be informed simultaneously.

Follow-Up:

Local Authority Arts Offices providing bursaries for this Programme are informed of the details of each upcoming course weekend and of the feedback from course weekends and Programme Evaluation Reports.

For further information, please contact:

Aisling Roche, Development Programmes Manager, Music Network,

The Coach House, Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Tel: 01 6719429 Fax: 01 6719430 Email: development@musicnetwork.ie

Filed Under: Louth County Arts, Music