Opportunity

Kids’ Classics is facilitating a five-day introductory workshop for musicians in County Louth and Meath (guitarists / harpists / accordionists) interested in exploring the idea of bringing music into healthcare and community spaces with a focus on geriatric settings. The course includes practical placements in local settings and will take place from 23-27 July 2018.
Kids Classics CLG is a non-profit organisation that designs, manages and delivers professional music projects and programmes in healthcare, educational and community settings around Ireland. In 2013, Kids’ Classics expanded its practice to include ‘Training Notes’, an initiative to provide training and mentoring for musicians as well as medical professionals in the Irish Healthcare Sector.
Create Louth, the Arts Service of Louth County Council, Music Generation and Meath County Council Arts Office, in partnership with Kids’ Classics, is delivering this ‘Training Notes’ programme. The training will be delivered by European qualified trainers with national and international experience, Gráinne Hope and Liam Merriman, both of whom have undertaken extensive training with Musique et Santé as part of a pioneering European ‘Train the Trainers’ programme led by Musique et Santé (France) in association with Music Network (Ireland), Turku University of Applied Sciences (Finland) and the Royal Northern College of Music (UK).
Both Music-in-Healthcare trainers have delivered music in many settings including Paediatric ICU, Neo-natal Special Care, Oncology, Renal Dialysis, Acquired Brain Injury, Alzheimer’s and Dementia as well as Acute and Chronic Psychiatry.
The objectives of the ‘Training Notes’ Introductory Programme:
- Understanding the role of a healthcare musician and the appropriate placement of music in sensitive settings.
- Exploring the skill set and best practice methods necessary to deliver quality interactions in Hospitals and Nursing Homes.
The programme content will include:
- The approach and methods required for successful musical interactions in hospital and care home environments
- Vocal and instrumental repertoire and improvisation
- Challenges of working in a team within a clinical space
- Ethics and confidentiality
- Practical music placements in local healthcare settings
Criteria for selection
- Louth or Meath Based Musicians
- Guitar / Harp /Accordion player with the ability to use their voice
- Knowledge of varied Repertoire (Folk/ Popular/ Old-Time Tunes)
- Instrumental ability (accompanying, instrumental lead)
- Creative ability (improvisation, listening & creative response to groups/individuals)
- Suitable communication skills
- Suitable interpersonal skills
- A desire to learn
Closing Date: 6 July 2018
Training Venues: DKIT & local healthcare settings in Dundalk & Navan.
We are able to offer the five-day course including musical visits to local health settings for €100; this fee is heavily subsidised by Create Louth, the arts service of Louth County Council, and Meath County Council Arts Office.
As places are limited, professional musicians should apply in writing with:
- A completed application form
- A biography and CV
For an application form please contact info@kidsclassics.ie
All application materials should be returned to: trainingnotes@kidsclassics.ie
Places will be offered at the discretion of Create Louth, MCC Arts Office and Kids’ Classics CLG.