Music Generation Longford’s Easter Programmes invite young people from across Longford to get involved with songwriting and trad music.
Try Trad Music
Following a very successful Try the Uilleann Pipes Day, Music Generation Longford is welcoming all budding young musicians to the “Try Trad” day in Granard Library on Wednesday, April 5th.
The workshop will offer an array of trad instruments for people to try including Bodhrán, Banjo, Fiddle, Harp, Concertina and Whistle. Angelina and Noel Carberry will again be available, alongside well-known whistle player and singer Teresa Costello and Harpist Elisabeth Affolter. The workshops are free, with no sign-up required.
Four-Day Songwriting Programme
The Music Generation Longford is also launching an Easter Songwriting Programme for 7 – 18 year-olds which will run from Monday, April 3rd to Thursday, April 6th from 10 am to 2pm daily in Longford College of Further Education. This is a unique opportunity for our young musicians to further their skills and gain some incredible mentorship alongside very experienced, well-known musicians.
The young musicians will work alongside the Music Generation Music Educators and two special musician mentors from Brave Giant. Brave Giant has been one of Ireland’s most successful bands in recent years, releasing an EP, and an album, playing many festivals, including the 3Arena and selling out the 3Olympia Theatre. Their songs have garnered millions of listeners across streaming platforms. Their unique approach to songwriting led to their massive success and their locality to Longford makes them the perfect mentors to young budding musicians.
In addition to the songwriting programme, there is an exciting opportunity for our youngest music makers. We’ve decided to open our Easter songwriting programme to all ages and will have a very special songwriting programme for 4 – 6 year-olds.
The young music makers will work on writing a group song which they will perform to parents at the end of the week. The programme will run from Monday to Wednesday 10 am – 12pm in Longford College of Further Education, and on Thursday we will be in BeWell Yoga studio on the Athlone Road from from 1pm, with parents invited to come along at 2pm for the performance.
During both four-day programmes, each person will be encouraged to craft their lyrics, putting them to music. Every musician will be nurtured to find their voice. There is a place for every age, and every instrument as collaborative songwriting will be encouraged to work alongside their peers to finalise their pieces. Existing bands from Longford Sounds can work together to create their band song but individuals will also be paired accordingly with the aim that by Thursday everyone has contributed to a finished song.
To end the Thursday, they will host an open mic afternoon in BeWell Longford at 2pm, for parents of both groups to come along and enjoy tea and a tune as the young musicians perform their pieces. It is a nurturing supportive environment to give everyone at every level an opportunity to play their original work.
This is a massive chance for everyone to develop as musicians and we really encourage everyone to take part. Young musicians from across the county are invited to register but a level of musicianship must be present. It is open to all levels but not suitable for complete beginners.
The programme is priced at €20 plus booking fee for HUM 4 – 6 year-olds and €40 plus booking fee for the 7+ group and must be registered and paid for in advance. Sign up for HUM 4 – 6 year-olds here and songwriting for 7+-year-olds here.
If you have any questions, get in touch.
Music Generation Longford is locally managed by Longford Music Education Partnership, led by Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board and Longford County Council.