Imagine if every child and young person in Ireland could grow up as part of a community where they could experience inclusion, creativity, diversity and empowerment through music.
It is a fact that all children have a fundamental right to participate in the arts and cultural life as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Music Generation is a national partnership programme whose mission is to create inspiring experiences for children and young people through music, and it is making significant inroads in its efforts to make this a reality throughout Ireland. The notable advancement of the Music Generation programme across Galway in recent times is also seen as hugely positive.
More than 200 programmes and 80,000 opportunities are presented to children and young people each week across 29 regions (nationally ) enabling young performers to create, play and perform music in their own communities through Music Generation. Each Music Generation region works closely with multiple partners across its own region to deliver opportunities to children and young people (from 0 to 18 years ) on a weekly basis. Music Generation endeavours to respond to local need and ultimately makes a real difference in the lives of children and young people.
As lead partner for Music Generation in Galway county, Galway city and Roscommon, and the employer of the music development officers, musician educators and administrative staff attached to each, Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board plays a vital role in Music Generation's sustainability and ongoing development as a publicly supported system of local performance music provision. GRETB continues to collaborate with a variety of local and national partners (including Galway County Council ) to inspire children and young people to realise their full life potential through the power of music-making and learning.
Each week across Galway and Roscommon more than 10,000 children and young people experience accessible and inclusive high quality performance music education (delivered and managed by GRETB/Music Generation ) that is diverse, creative and artistically ambitious.
Music Generation’s primary work is carried out within educational and community settings and through its many programmes that facilitate pathways to development.
Music Generation's work within local communities sees children and young people attend Music Hubs where children and young people take part in music making with like-minded individuals and where they are offered group tuition and the opportunity to form musical groups/ensembles. The numbers of these Music Hubs and the numbers participating in these programmes are continually growing.
Eric Cunningham, music development officer for Music Generation Galway County, oversees the development of this large-scale programme across Co Galway and he explained his plans where these community music hubs are concerned:
“As an organisation Music Generation believes that children and young people deserve to experience accessible and inclusive high quality performance music education that is diverse, creative and offers pathways to development. As a Music Generation region, Galway County presents many challenges where accessibility is concerned given its size and its many remote areas, but equally the potential within the region is vast and as a consequence the numbers of venues, partners and learners we are engaging with is growing significantly over time. We are very focused on ensuring that access to instrumental and vocal tuition is not impeded by geographical challenges of for financial reasons, and we will continue our mission to break down the barriers to access and participation and to raise awareness of the value of performance music education in the lives of children and young people. Ultimately it is my hope that as we strive to transform children and young people’s lives and the communities where they live, every child and young person in Galway will have access to a Music Generation Music Hub within 20 minutes of their home. This is in addition to our vast provision within the school and youth service network.”
Judging by the marked expansion of the Music Generation programme in recent times, Cunningham has every intention of making this a reality. In response to the growth of Music Generation in the region, the vast numbers now receiving tuition from Music Generation in Galway on a weekly basis clearly demonstrates that the Music Generation offering is striking a chord with many and is ensuring that local needs are identified, understood and met comprehensively.
Music Generation’s programmes are multi-genre and multi-perspective and in addition to its provision as part of its after-school Music Hub network, the number of children and young people who engage with its programmes in educational settings across the county on a weekly basis is in the thousands and growing. As part of its Pathways to Development strategy, Galway Traditional Orchestra, Galway Ukulele Orchestra and Galway Schools’ Choir (among other ensembles ) are also managed by Music Generation Galway County while its many summer camps, workshops, masterclasses and performance opportunities in local communities ensure that children and young people are not excluded from equitable participation for financial or geographic reasons.
Initiated by its parent company, Music Network, Music Generation is now Ireland’s national music education programme, co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and local music education partnerships. Galway and Roscommon Education and Training Board and Galway County Council are the lead funding partners of Music Generation Galway County. Additional support is provided by a number of other county-based partners.
For further details or to register your interest email music [email protected], see www.MusicGeneration GalwayCounty.ie, or phone 091 874 557.
