'A very entertaining day in which the students' creativity and interest were allowed to shine!'
– Ciarán Duffy, Lucan Community College
'Very clear teaching in a relaxed environment.... A thoroughly enjoyable workshop. There were some technophobe students who left feeling like mini-DJs!'
– Mairead Nic Mhathúna, Coláiste Chilliain, Clondalkin
'Provides a very good introduction to music technology and a useful starting point for the Leaving Cert. Music Technology course.'
– Bernard Sexton, Coolmine Community School
'Excellently presented to beginner students – also to produce their own song was very rewarding. Overall they found it very valuable.'
– Karen Morgan, Balbriggan Community College
This one-day workshop (also suitable for Transition Year classes) is designed for students and teachers who would like to better understand the myriad uses of computers and music technology – in the classroom, at third level, and in the world of professional musicians.
Over five hours, we will introduce you to some of the ‘tools of the trade', including:
- Hardware. Computers, MIDI interfaces, synthesiser keyboards, sound modules, mixers, microphones, etc.
- Software. Sequencers, scoring applications (musical word processors), and other compositional tools
Through a combination of demonstration and hands-on activities in the New School’s fully-equipped music technology lab, we will also introduce you to:
- Microphones, audio recording and sound
- MIDI, sequencing and music notation
- Sampling and sound synthesis
This workshop is available by group enrolment only. There is a maximum of sixteen students per course (two students per computer workstation), and teachers are asked to accompany and supervise students. Please contact us for more information on this workshop or on our music technology programme.
Workshop Details
Day Subject to facilitator availability
Duration 5 hours (10 am – 1 pm, 2 – 4 pm suggested)
Location Music Technology Lab, Waltons New School of Music
Class size 16 students maximum (plus teacher)
Fee €320
Materials Instructional handouts
Equipment
High-specification PCs and sound cards
MIDI & sequencing software
Keyboards & other MIDI controllers
Digital mixers, samplers, microphones & other hardware
Rory Pierce, Facilitator
Rory Pierce was trained in Composition, Contemporary Music and Music Technology at the Royal Academy of Music, London. He has written all sorts of music (from string quartets to animation soundtracks and orchestral music to hardcore dance) for such organisations as the BBC, the National Theatre, Aer Lingus, Dublin Youth Orchestra, the BBC Singers and the British Council. In the studio and in performance he specialises in marrying the latest music technology with acoustic instruments – a style he calls 50/50: 50% electronics and 50% real instruments played by human beings. As well as composing, he has also worked as musical director for various stage productions, scriptwriter and presenter for Lyric FM, and music critic – and he has performed and toured nationally and internationally with various bands, playing cello, uilleann pipes, marimba, flute, and percussion.
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