'An abundance of technique should not be a means to an end but a way to allow the heart to expand freely.'
- Pablo Casals
'A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?'
– Albert Einstein
'My daughter has a wonderful violin teacher here. She certainly has the knowledge and expertise but most importantly she knows how to work with children and motivate them to stick with it. We’ll be back.'
– J. O'Donnell
'My violin teacher completely accomodated my ambition to progress quickly in learning the instrument, starting from absolutely no experience.'
– O. Robinson
'I'm a mature student with limited time to play an instrument, and Waltons have been great.... I've had a very encouraging teacher, I'm so glad I took up violin and I plan to continue. Thanks!'
– H.J. Ó Mairtin
Private, Partner & Group Lessons
The New School’s string programme provides specialised training at all levels, from beginner to advanced. Many of our students, whose ages span over half a century, have come here to study entirely for their own pleasure. Others have been prepared for grade examinations, teachers' and performers' diplomas, scholarships and public performances. We have also prepared string students for Junior Cert. Music and Leaving Cert. Music practicals, and string study at the school fulfills the 'personal skill' challenge area for Gaisce - The President's Award.
Weekly private (one-to-one) lessons – 30, 45 or 60 minutes in length – are offered for violin (classical and jazz), viola, cello, double bass, traditional fiddle (Irish and bluegrass), and Irish harp. 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 Intensive Lessons for both individuals and small groups are available for all of these instruments.
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 Fiddle, Introducing Violin for Adults and Introducing Violin for Children, which offer lively introductions to the instrument.
Ensembles & Sessions
The school’s Adult String Ensemble focuses on ensemble skills and developing general musical/string skills but is also an opportunity to meet other string players and make some great music! Rig-a-Jig, the school’s traditional music group, is open to students of all instruments, of at least intermediate standard, and selects, arranges and performs traditional music and song in an innovative and dynamic way. The school’s two Jazz Ensembles introduce students of all instruments to the art of improvisation through the study and performance of blues and jazz. We also run monthly Jazz Jam Sessions and Trad Slow Sessions, open to both New School and external students/players, on Friday evenings at the school.
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.
Theory & Musicianship
Beginning string students should also consider taking Music Fundamentals, designed to supplement private tuition with the basics of music theory, and string students at all levels are encouraged to attend theory classes. Jazz Improvisation Basics, intended for string students with at least one year’s playing experience, is an ideal introduction to improvised music making and is strongly recommended for students intending to take – or while taking – Jazz Ensemble I or II.
Recommended Instruments & Payment Plans
In association with Waltons music shops, we have selected several recommended instruments for string 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.
Faculty
Elena Elioutina (violin, viola, Introducing Violin for Adults / for Children courses)
Catherine Humphreys (violin)
Caroline Kelly (violin)
Beata Kmak (violin, Adult String Ensemble)
Martina Kozhuharov (cello)
Sinéad Madden (fiddle, Introducing Fiddle course)
David Mooney (double bass)
Gloria Mulhall (violin, viola)
Junshi Murakami (Irish harp)
Tara Novak (violin, jazz violin, viola, fiddle)
Suzanne Savage (violin)
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Jazz Violin
'Improvisation, it is a mystery. You can write a book about it, but by the end, no one still knows what it is.'
– Stephane Grappelli
Designed for classical violin students of intermediate level (grade IV) and above, jazz violin lessons will teach you how to step away from the printed page and become more creative and spontaneous in your music making. You will learn about the language of jazz, as well as the range of skills and techniques required to play it, including:
- Playing the pentatonic scale and the circle of fifths
- Improvising both within and ‘outside’ chords
- Exploring bowing patterns
- Jazz phrasing and ‘swing’
You will also listen to, explore and emulate the playing of some of the greats, from Stephane Grapelli’s ‘Hot Club’ style to Clarence Gatemouth Brown’s blues violin to the contemporary sounds of Jean-Luc Ponty, Darol Anger and Mark Feldman. Finally, you will be introduced to a few ‘standards’ of the jazz repertoire – such as ‘Autumn Leaves’, ‘How High the Moon’ and ‘As Time Goes By’ – that are particularly suited to the violin.
Taught by Tara Novak, jazz violin lessons can be taken alone (through 30-, 45- and 60-minute private lessons) or as a supplement to regular violin lessons. Go to Enrolment and Fees.
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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