'In the beginning was noise. And noise begat rhythm. And rhythm begat everything else.'
– Mickey Hart
'My teacher made it very easy to learn the drums, as he broke each skill down into its elements. Also, the drum kit here is fantastic.'
– G. Gunn
'Great teacher, with great patience, who tries to get the best from my son at every lesson, while making it fun.'
– A. Gannon
Private, Partner & Group Lessons
The New School offers lessons for beginner, intermediate and advanced students in drum kit (all styles, from beginner to diploma level, see Drum Tuition FAQs), Irish percussion (bodhrán, bones and spoons) and Latin percussion (congas, bongos, timbales, etc.). Drum tuition can also include preparation for graded music exams as well as Junior Cert. Music and Leaving Cert. Music practicals, and counts as the 'personal skill' challenge area for Gaisce - The President's Award. Weekly private (one-to-one) lessons are 30, 45 or 60 minutes in length. Group lessons, designed for students at the same level of proficiency who enrol together, are available as 30-, 45- or 60-minute ‘partner’ lessons, as well as 60-minute lessons for 3 or 4 students. Single 1- or 2-hour bodhrán or drum kit Intensive Lessons for both individuals and small groups are also available.
Go to Tuition Options for more information on private, partner and group lessons, and Enrolment & Fees for tuition fees and enrolment forms.
Group Courses for Beginners
Beginning students may join Introducing Bodhrán, which offers an in-depth introduction to this popular instrument, as well as Introducing Latin Percussion, which combines instruction in several instruments with ensemble playing in traditional and contemporary Latin rhythms and styles. Both courses are followed by courses for intermediate and advanced groups (subject to minimum enrolment).
Ensembles
Drum kit students may be interested in joining one of our Jazz Ensembles.
Friday Casual Concerts
The New School’s Friday Casual Concerts are a great opportunity for students of all instruments (and all musical styles) to play in public, in a relaxed and supportive setting, before friends, family and other students. These brief concerts, which take place once a month on Friday evenings at 7.30 pm in the school, allow individual students and ensembles to perform in public, show off their skills and learn how to cope with nerves. They are also highly recommended for students preparing for grade exams.
Outreach
Drumming Around the World, Sounds African and Sounds Samba are exciting one-hour workshops combining dynamic live demonstrations with fun and fascinating activities designed to help young people develop their musical awareness through the exploration of rhythms and percussion instruments from Latin America or Africa.
Recommended Instruments & Payment Plans
In association with Waltons music shops, we have selected several recommended acoustic and electronic drum kits, bodhráns and congas for drum and percussion students at the New School. Because the cost of instruments shouldn’t deter students from starting lessons, we have also created payment plans for instruments priced €150 or more that allow students to purchase beginners' instruments or upgrade their existing instruments without a large financial outlay. Payment plans consist of an initial deposit and six monthly payments made by post-dated cheques or credit/Laser card payments. Go to Recommended Instruments for more information.
Drum Kit Practice
The New School’s drum kits are available for limited practice rental by currently-enrolled students only. Go to Practice Facilities for more information.
Faculty
Ciara Byrne (Sounds Samba outreach workshop)
Brian Fleming (Sounds African outreach workshop)
Evelio Galán (Drumming Around the World outreach workshop)
Solomon Ijigade (Drumming Around the World and Sounds African outreach workshops)
Jim Magill (drum kit)
Eddie McGinn (Latin percussion, Introducing Latin Percussion course, Sounds Samba outreach workshop)
Ian McTigue (drum kit, bodhrán, Drumming Around the World outreach workshop)
Hugh O'Byrne (drum kit)
Kevin O'Hare (Irish percussion, Introducing Bodhrán course)
Located in Dublin city centre, Waltons New School of Music offers tuition in the broadest range of instruments (including voice) and subjects of any music school in Ireland, for students of all ages, levels and abilities.
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