Simply Music delivers music workshops, which combine interactive technology and live music performance with percussion, through a fun-filled and engaging process.
A professional musician works alongside the workshop participants to bring the experience of live music-making and performance to your school / venue.

Simply Music is Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland and has been piloted by the “Learn and Explore” Programme of the National Concert Hall.  In addition Simply Music, supported by the NCH, has also designed and delivered In-Service Teacher Training Workshops in The National Concert Hall for primary teachers.  This programme forms part of the Department of Education & Science's In-Service Programme for Teachers.

Simply Music will bring its music technology workshops to your school and will work with you to ensure the optimum experience for your pupils. (3rd to 6th class)

The Simply Music programme has been delivered extensively over the last 4 years as an arts-in-education initiative within mainstream education.  We cater for all school communities and have a wide ranging experience in providing workshops as part of School Completion Programmes and for those operating within disadvantaged areas.  The learning outcomes are determined in advance with the internal school management to suit the needs of those participating in the programme.

The workshop content is based on the three strands (listening, performing and composing) of the Primary Curriculum for Music and enhances learning through interaction and engagement and culminates in a live performance for the wider school community.

We have just piloted a junior Simply Music programme and hope to roll this out in 2010. Additionally we are about to commence, for the first time, 5 No. 2-day Gaelscoileanna workshops.

Take your pupils on a journey of musical learning and discovery!

Simply Music designs and delivers In-Service Teacher Training Workshops in music-teaching. These workshops form part of the Department of Education & Science's In-Service Programme for Teachers.  Workshops are held annually during the summer recess period and to date have been supported by the National Concert Hall.  Check out the National Concert Hall website at www.nch.ie and our calendar of events for upcoming sessions Events and Workshop Schedule.

Simply Music is delighted to receive support for its initiatives from our partner agencies and organsiations.  Those bodies with whom Simply Music has collaborated to date are as follows:

1. Interactive Technology Music Education / Performance Workshops for students as an arts-in-education initiative
2. In Service Teacher Training Workshops for primary teachers, Summers 2007, 2008 and 2009 –approved by the Department of Education & Science

NCTE (National Centre for Technology in Education) | Simply Music has developed a working relationship with the Digital Content department of the NCTE. We are currently at the pre-planning stage of development of a series of workshops to support the combination of music and technology within the school environment.  

Music Network | Simply Music was showcased at Music Network's Music Education Seminar “Striking the Right Note” in 2007 as part of the CDVEC Music Education Partnership Pilot In Larkin Community College in Dublin. Music Network has recommended our programme to support further development of music in schools.
» www.musicnetwork.ie

Our team is led by Paul Maher  who is a  Professional Percussionist / Digital Media Designer. After many years performing live music workshops in the school environment Paul embarked upon a journey into the use of technology to support learning in music education. This led him to develop software “Combining Music and Interactive Technology” for teachers, pupils and arts organisations.

Paul is a professional orchestral percussionist with over 20 years experience in the classical music industry including 13 years as Sub-principal Percussionist with the National Symphony Orchestra.

Paul is currently undertaking an M.Sc. in Education and Training Management (e-learning) in D.C.U. to further his knowledge and skills in incorporating new e-learning technologies to improve teaching and learning.

Karan Thompson provides support for the development of curriculum related content for Simply Music.  Karan was formerly a music teacher at secondary level and a lecturer in Music Teaching at the Froebel College of Education.  Additionally, she was the Events and Operations Manager at the National Concert Hall until 2000 and since this time has operated a successful independent consultancy practice for the Arts and Cultural sector in Ireland.  Karan holds an | M.A. in Cultural Policy, HDE and HDAA from University College Dublin.

Síle Daly is a regular addition to the Simply Music team.  Síle is a freelance orchestral oboist who has worked alongside Paul on music education projects for many years with both the National Concert Hall’s Education & Outreach team and the RTE Orchestras.  She provides support for our In-Service Teacher Training Workshops as well as being involved in the development of new and upcoming projects.

• NCH / DDA Docklands Project
• NCH / Children’s Music Workshops
• NCH / Enable Ireland Workshops
• Simply Music Interactive Percussion Workshops

Each member of our team of musicians has undergone training in working with children as part of the Music Network Continuing Professional Development Programme and each is committed to the development of the musical education of children on as wide as scale as possible.

Read further details of Our Team

Simply Music believes that this innovative workshop incorporating technology with performance and designed to support the primary music curriculum provides an excellent opportunity to enhance music education for the children of Ireland.  Our programme is both socially and geographically inclusive and does not rely on a previous level of musical knowledge in order to achieve the fullest engagement within the workshop process.  We operate in a fun-filled and enticing manner which involves the entire school community.  We bring the music to you so that you can continue to enhance the audiences and performers of the future.