Instruments Taught

We offer tuition in the following instruments:

• African Percussion
• Banjo (Irish/4-String Banjo, Bluegrass/5-String Banjo)
• Bodhrán
• Concertina
• Fiddle (Irish, Bluegrass)
• Irish (Wooden) Flute
• Guitar (Trad, Folk, Blues)
• Gypsy Violin
• Harmonica (Diatonic, Chromatic)
• Irish Harp
• Low Whistle
• Mandolin
• Tin Whistle
• Traditional/Folk Singing
• Uilleann Pipes
• Ukulele

Traditional and folk instrument tuition can also include preparation for Junior Cert. Music and Leaving Cert. Music practicals, and instrumental study at the school counts as the ‘personal skill’ challenge area for Gaisce – The President’s Award. (For more information on Gaisce, see the Gaisce – The President’s Award tab on our Tuition Options page.)

Questions about our traditional, folk
& world instruments tuition?

CONTACT US

or call us on (01) 478 1884.

In-School & Online Tuition

We offer both in-school tuition, which takes place in the New School, and online tuition, which takes place in your own home.

In-School Tuition

We have made a number of changes to the school, its equipment and our policies to make in-school tuition as safe as possible during the time of COVID-19. These include:

• Perspex screens in every classroom.
• Installation of HEPA air filtration/purification units where necessary.
• Antiseptic dispensers available throughout the school.
• Cleaning and disinfection of both classroom instruments and furniture between lessons and classes.
• Regular cleaning of public spaces.

See our COVID-19 Safety Policy page for more information on what we have done, as well as the protocols we expect all in-school students and visitors to follow.

Online Tuition

Online tuition is taught by the same expert teachers as our in-school tuition and takes place where you are, anywhere in Ireland or around the world.

For online tuition, you will need:

• An instrument for tuition and practice (except for voice, theory, songwriting and music technology tuition).
• An internet-connected laptop, computer, tablet or smartphone. (A laptop or computer with webcam and microphone is recommended, as it will have the largest picture.)
• Ideally, internet speed at least 1.5Mb per second. (You can test your speed using Measurement Lab’s Speed Test.)
• Headphones or earbuds, if possible.¹
• Free Zoom software or app.²

1. Waltons Music has Zoom headphones and microphones that are ideal for online music tuition and are available at 5% discounts for enrolled New School students. If you would like to obtain a discount, please contact Waltons with your instrument choice and include a scan or photo of your course payment receipt.
2. If you haven’t learned music with Zoom before, please see our printable Zoom for Students information sheet for information on how to download and set up Zoom for music tuition.

See our Online Tuition page for more information on online tuition with the New School, as well as the instruments, subjects and courses we offer online.

Tuition Options

Our options for traditional, folk and world instrument tuition, both in-school and online, include:

• Weekly private lessons, 30, 45 or 60 minutes in length.
• Weekly partner lessons and small group lessons, designed for students at the same level of proficiency who enrol together, and available as 30- 45- or 60-minute partner lessons, 45- or 60-minute small group lessons for 3 students and 60-minute small group lessons for 4 students. Online partner and small group lessons are possible both for students in the same location and for students in different locations.
• Single 1- or 2-hour Intensive Lessons.
• Seven group courses for beginners – Introducing 5-String Banjo, Introducing Bodhrán, Introducing Harmonica, Introducing Irish Fiddle, Introducing Tin Whistle, Introducing Ukulele and Introducing World Drumming. (See Group Courses for Beginners tab.)
• Two group guitar courses for intermediate students – Acoustic Blues Guitar Basics and Trad Guitar Basics. (See Intermediate Courses tab.)

Group Courses for Beginners

We offer several acclaimed instrumental courses for absolute beginners:

• Introducing 5-String Banjo
• Introducing Bodhrán
• Introducing Harmonica
• Introducing Irish Fiddle
• Introducing Tin Whistle
• Summer Tin Whistle
• Introducing Ukulele for Adults
• Summer Ukulele for Adults
• Introducing Ukulele for Children
• Introducing World Drumming

No previous music experience or the ability to read music is required to take part in these courses.

‘I can’t speak too highly of Waltons New School of Music and of Paddy Kiernan’s tuition for the banjo. I love what I am learning and go away from each lesson more motivated to learn.’ [Introducing 5-String Banjo]
– M. O’Keeffe

‘Great teacher, full of knowledge, who made the classes fun and incorporated extra teaching tools to go above and beyond.’ [Introducing Bodhrán]
– T. Stephenson

‘This is a well-designed course where progress is nearly guaranteed (as long as you practice enough). Michael McInerney knows what he is talking about, and he definitely has the skills to bring you to the next level.’ [Introducing Harmonica]
– J. Steegmueller

‘The [Introducing Irish Fiddle] course was great. The 10 weeks flew by, and I can’t believe how much we learnt in that time.’
– D. Robertson

‘The [Introducing Tin Whistle] classes are the highlight of my week. I tried other instruments but always gave up, never found one that I could enjoy as much as I do the tin whistle. So much of it is thanks to Harry, who is a brilliant, expert teacher, finding the perfect pace to develop and always encouraging the group.’
– A. Boda

‘Fantastic course [Introducing Ukulele for Adults] and great teacher. Learned far more than I expected to in 10 weeks!’
– R. O’Sullivan

‘I had been looking for a course like this [Introducing World Drumming] and am so glad I found it. Exceeded my expectations.’
– E. Donohue

Intermediate Courses

Our ‘Basics’ courses for guitar provide thorough introductions to the styles for players with some previous experience:

• Acoustic Blues Guitar Basics
• Trad Guitar Basics

‘I learned more from this 10-week course [Acoustic Blues Guitar Basics] than from trying to teach myself acoustic blues for over 10 years!’
– D. Farrelly

‘Good atmosphere, enthusiastic and supportive teacher, and small class size. This course helped me take another important step towards becoming a better guitar player.’ [Trad Guitar Basics]
– F. MacCárthaigh

Other Courses

Although traditional music is often learned by ear, learning to read music allows developing musicians to explore a huge range of repertoire, and students should consider supplementing their tuition with Music Fundamentals, a 10-week online course introducing the essentials of reading and writing musical notation, as well as elementary musical grammar, for music-reading beginners.

Introducing Music Technology is a practical, hands-on online course designed to teach absolute beginners how a computer or laptop and free music production software can be used to produce professional-quality recordings at home.

Our Songwriting Workshop will help you to develop your creative ideas – in any musical style – and turn them into finished songs.

The Art & Craft of Songwriting is an acclaimed summer workshop that takes participants through different approaches to the songwriting process, integrating the craft’s many skills into a seamless artistic whole.

Facilitated by hit songwriter Luan Parle and designed for participants who have previously taken a songwriting course or workshop with the New School (for example, our Songwriting Workshop or The Art & Craft of Songwriting) or elsewhere, or who have already written the music and/or lyrics to one or more songs, our Collaborative Songcamp is an exciting new concept in songwriting tuition.

‘This course [Music Fundamentals] is perfect for anyone with an interest in music. It starts with the very basics of theory and the information is made easy to understand. There is a good atmosphere in the class, being with people who share your passion for music.’
– I. Colgan

‘I have wanted to do a music technology course for years, but the opportunity didn’t come up until I saw that Waltons were offering an online version of their Introducing Music Technology course. Signing up was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, and I thoroughly enjoyed the course. My zero experience in recording music was no problem because it is tailored for beginners, and looking back on how much I learned in such a short space of time is incredible! The teacher is very friendly, helpful, and explains things in a clear and concise way. I would highly recommend this course to anyone with an interest in the subject!’
– A. Hickey

‘This course [Songwriting Workshop] gave me great confidence in songwriting, and to have the guidance of a professional songwriter was so helpful. The course helped me both lyrically and musically to realise my songwriting potential, and I am now constantly writing new material.’
– A. Bradley

‘I thoroughly enjoyed The Art & Craft of Songwriting workshop with Melanie O’Reilly. I found the content very interesting and informative and I’m continuously putting it into practice in my writing. Melanie is a brilliant teacher, enjoyable and fun to listen to. She has so much knowledge and experience, and the course has helped me to get a grasp on how to go about writing a song with a structure. It was also a lovely way of meeting people with similar interests, and we still keep in touch. I would highly recommend the course.’
– C. Horan

Rig-a-Jig
Irish Traditional Music Group

Under the direction of the renowned whistle player, teacher and Irish music scholar Harry Long, Rig-a-Jig is a lively ensemble that selects, arranges and performs traditional music and song in an innovative and dynamic way. In addition to the vast repertoire of Irish music and song, some material from other traditions (such as those of Brittany, Galicia, Scotland, Newfoundland etc.) may be selected. The group will be encouraged to discuss and experiment with musical arrangements, and the possibilities for composition of new music and song in a traditional style will also be explored.

The group is open to students of all instruments, of at least intermediate standard (with or without experience playing Irish music).

Irish Music Tasters

Designed for absolute beginners of all ages and running since 1999, our Irish Music Tasters for individuals and groups – and now available in both in-school and online versions – are brief immersions in the world of Irish traditional music and have introduced thousands of people from all over the world to its beautiful melodies and infectious rhythms. We offer the following options for both individuals and groups:

• Bodhrán Taster (1 hour)
• Tin Whistle Taster (1 hour)
• Introduction to Irish Music (a talk/demonstration, 1 hour)
• Combined Bodhrán + Tin Whistle Taster (2 hours)
• Bodhrán Taster + Introduction (2 hours)
• Tin Whistle Taster + Introduction (2 hours)
• Combined Taster + Introduction (3 hours)

We offer both in-school Tasters, which take place in the New School, and online Tasters, which take place wherever you are, anywhere in the world.

See Irish Music Tasters for more information.

‘You really develop an appreciation of the Irish tradition and culture. The teacher was great.’
– A. Malin

‘Fantastic way to spend an hour learning something new. Relaxed atmosphere. Informal but very informative. Easy to book and very friendly.’
– S. Muggleton

Trad Slow Sessions

Our Trad Slow Sessions are traditional Irish music sessions in all ways except one: the tempo. We play the session tunes at a slower than normal pace (usually less than half the speed), so that beginning and intermediate players can more easily learn the tunes and join in the session. More experienced players who wish to refine their techniques at a slower pace are also very welcome. Trad Slow Sessions, open to both New School and external students/players, take place once a month on Friday evenings.

See our Trad Slow Sessions page for more information, a list of tunes, sheet music and 2022-2023 dates.

Traditional • Folk • World Instruments Faculty

• Giulio Bryant • Irish harp
• Éamonn Galldubh • uilleann pipes, Irish flute, tin whistle, low whistle, bodhrán, guitar, ukulele, Irish Music Tasters
• Paddy Kiernan • bluegrass/5-string banjo, Irish/4-string banjo, mandolin, Introducing 5-String Banjo
• Harry Long • tin whistle, low whistle, bodhrán, Introducing Tin Whistle, Rig-a-Jig Irish traditional music group, Irish Music Tasters
• Cathy McEvoy • bluegrass fiddle, Irish fiddle
• Michael McInerney • harmonica, acoustic blues & fingerstyle guitar, Introducing Harmonica
• Ian McTigue • Sounds Irish & Drumming Around the World outreach workshops
• George Mercer • ukulele, Introducing Ukulele for Adults, Introducing Ukulele for Children, ukulele outreach courses
• Naoise Ó Briain • Irish Flute
• Oleg Ponomarev • Gypsy violin
• Conal Rae • Irish/4-string banjo, ukulele
• Katie Scully • Irish flute, tin whistle, low whistle, Introducing Tin Whistle
• Rebecca Sutton • Irish fiddle, concertina, tin whistle, Introducing Irish Fiddle
• John Sweeney • bodhrán, tin whistle, trad guitar, Introducing Bodhrán, Trad Guitar Basics, Irish Music Tasters, bodhrán & tin whistle outreach courses

New School Stage System

Traditional, folk and world instruments tuition at the New School is designed to work within our Stage System, a comprehensive methodology for assessing student progress, from absolute beginner to a professional qualification (diploma).

New School Stages, ten in all, are roughly equivalent to the ‘grades’ of graded music exams offered by widely recognised exam boards (ABRSM, RIAM, Trinity Guildhall, Rockschool, etc.) and progress from beginner to performing or teaching diploma level. Stages and their grade equivalents are:

• Stage 1 (1 term of lessons or an Introducing group course for beginners, equivalent to Preliminary Grade)
• Stage 2 (1 year of lessons, equivalent to Grade 1)
• Stage 3 (equivalent to Grade 2 or an intermediate group course)
• Stage 4 (equivalent to Grade 3)
• Stage 5 (equivalent to Grade 4)
• Stage 6 (equivalent to Grade 5)
• Stage 7 (equivalent to Grade 6)
• Stage 8 (equivalent to Grade 7)
• Stage 9 (equivalent to Grade 8)
• Stage 10 (equivalent to a Performing or Teaching Diploma)

Students who successfully complete a stage can be issued with a certificate of completion. Please let the school office know if you would like this certificate.

See About Our Stage System for more information.

Enrolment • Booking

Enrolment for tuition with Waltons New School of Music requires a completed enrolment form and, except for those students using payment plans, full payment of tuition fees. Intensive Lesson and Irish Music Taster booking requires a completed booking form and deposit.

Lessons & Ensembles
First – Third Terms

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Group Courses & Workshops
First – Third Terms

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Lessons, Courses & Workshops
Summer Term

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Intensive Lessons

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Irish Music Tasters

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Gift Certificates

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Questions About
Enrolment & Booking?

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Your Feedback

Have you learned – or are you learning – a traditional, folk or world music instrument with the New School? We would appreciate it if you could take a few moments to give us your feedback in a brief online questionnaire about your experience. Thank you!

FEEDBACK

We would also appreciate your Google review, which will help to spread the word about the quality of our tuition.

GOOGLE REVIEWS

Martin A. Walton Memorial Scholarships

Running since 1995 and taking place in late May / early June each year, the New School’s annual Martin A. Walton Memorial Scholarship Competition offers the most generous scholarship opportunities of any music school in Ireland. The Competition awards full-year tuition scholarships in three categories:

• Young Student of the Year (students aged 18 and under)
• Mature Student of the Year (students aged 19 and over)
• Most Promising Beginner (students who came to the school as beginners on their instruments)

New School Ensemble Prize

This prize is awarded for the best performance in our Scholarship Competition by an instrumental, vocal or mixed ensemble/group made up of two or more students, as well as for progress over the school year.

Songwriting • Composition Prize

This prize is is awarded for the most creative original composition or song for solo instrument, voice or ensemble, performed by the composer/songwriter alone or with a group.

See Scholarships • Prizes for more information.

Friday Casual Concerts

Our Friday Casual Concerts are a great opportunity for students to perform in public, in a relaxed and supportive setting, before friends, family and other students. These brief concerts take place around once a month on Friday evenings at 7 pm in the school and allow individual students and ensembles to show off their skills and learn how to cope with nerves. They are also highly recommended for students preparing for exams.

End-of-Year Concert

Our End-of-Year Student Concert takes place in the National Concert Hall’s John Field Room each June and showcases some of our best students and ensembles, of all ages and in all music genres, as well as scholarship and prize winners in our Scholarship Competition. Performers are selected by their teachers and the school administration.

See School Concerts for more information.

Student Benefits

Currently-enrolled students (and parents of students) are entitled to several useful benefits, including:

• Discounts on Waltons World Masters Series events
• Discounts from Waltons Music
• Discounts on ensembles, sessions and music theory courses
• Discounts on practice facilities
• Discounts on city-centre parking

See Student Benefits for more information.

Outreach Workshops

Our Drumming Around the World workshop combines dynamic live demonstrations with a variety of fun activities, offering participants an enjoyable and positive introduction to music and rhythm in a multicultural context, as well as ‘hands-on’ experience with a wide range of percussion instruments.

Based on our popular Irish Music Tasters, which have been running since 1999 and taught hundreds of people from all over the world about Irish traditional music, our Irish Music Taster workshops provide engaging introductions to the beautiful melodies and infectious rhythms of Irish traditional music. We offer Bodhrán Tasters, Tin Whistle Tasters, a fascinating one-hour Introduction to Irish Music and Combined Bodhrán or Tin Whistle Tasters and Introduction. See Irish Music Tasters for more information.

Our Sounds Irish workshop is designed to open participants’ ears to the rich tapestry that is our music, our history, and our heritage. The workshop features dynamic live demonstrations and allows participants to develop their musical awareness through the hands-on exploration (using both bodhráns and fiddles) of the forms, rhythms and instruments of Irish traditional music.

See Outreach Workshops for general information on the workshops we offer.

Outreach Courses

Our Outreach Programme includes several curricular and extra-curricular music courses to primary schools, post-primary schools and youth centres. We offer Bodhrán, Irish Fiddle, Tin Whistle and Songwriting courses as part of the programme. See Outreach Courses for more information.

Music at Work Programme

Music at Work is a unique programme that provides convenient and affordable music courses in Dublin-area workplaces. We offer Bodhrán, Irish Fiddle, Tin Whistle and Songwriting courses as part of the programme. See Music at Work Programme for more information.