DCU Music School finds its Groove

Over 90 secondary school students will learn exciting new performance skills and techniques centred on groove, as the Dublin City University-Berklee College of Music returns for its second year. 

Organised by DCU in partnership with Berklee College of Music and Fingal County Council, the three-day programme aims to give teenage music aficionados access to some of Ireland’s most highly regarded performers and teachers based in DCU’s School of Music, and faculty from one of the world’s most prestigious schools in the field of contemporary music, Boston-based Berklee College of Music. Almost 30 students from DEIS schools have been nominated to take part in the programme free of charge. 

Furthermore, students will have an opportunity to showcase what they’ve learned at a final day concert and audition for a scholarship to attend Berklee. 

Speaking about this year’s DCU Groove School, Ronan Guilfoyle, Director of the Centre for Jazz Performance at DCU, said:

‘We’re delighted to be partnering again with Berklee to deliver three days of wonderful music making opportunities for some of the most talented young musicians in Ireland. The students will have an opportunity to work with great teachers, access lots of useful musical information, and of course will meet and play with their peers from all over the country in the environment of DCU’s wonderful music facility. They will also get to interact with DCU and Berklee renowned faculty members, and perform together in a public concert at the end of the programme.”

Participant of last year’s programme who was also awarded a 5-week scholarship to Berklee, Nicole Martin, said:

“I had a brilliant experience last summer at DCU’s groove school. I learned a lot and met new friends with similar music interests and goals. 

It gave me an opportunity to meet the lecturers I study under at the moment in the DCU Jazz programme as well as getting a taste of what studying music performance would be like in a university setting. I also felt my technique and approach to playing in an ensemble improved during the three days. 

It had been a dream of mine to study in Berklee so I was really taken aback when they announced my name as winner of the 5-week scholarship in Boston. It was really amazing to meet great teachers over there and to learn from them.”

Students taking part this year are from: Loreto Balbriggan; Educate Together Balbriggan; Alexandra College (Milltown); Ardgillan Community School (Balbriggan); Newpark Comprehensive (Blackrock); Coláiste Chilliain (Clondalkin), and Rockjam’s renowned music programme.

These students will explore a wide span of musical areas, encompassing theory, ear training, improvisation, ensemble performance and instrumental instruction. Lecture sessions will enable students to learn about various performance skills and techniques centred on groove and style, while ensemble classes will allow them to put everything  into practice. 

DCU Berklee Groove School takes place from 31 July – 2 August on the DCU St Patrick’s Campus.