Music Generation Director interviewed by The Culture File
September 2011
The Culture File show on RTÉ Lyric FM radio interviewed Rosaleen Molloy, Director of Music Generation. In this podcast, Rosaleen shares her personal memories on the power of music and explains the importance of the Music Generation project. part 1 of 2.
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_culturefile.xml
Music Generation Announces First Round of Music Education Partnerships
Louth, Mayo and Sligo to receive up to €1.6 million in funding
Dublin, 5th May 2011 - Music Generation, the U2 and Ireland Funds supported National Music Education Programme, today announced that Louth, Mayo and Sligo have been selected for participation in the first round of the programme. Over the next three years, Music Generation will award a total of up to €1.6 million to these counties to help children and young people access vocal and instrumental tuition in their local areas.
The programme is enabled by a €5 million donation from U2, with a further €2 million being raised by the Ireland Funds, to support the development of a national music programme providing instrumental and vocal music tuition for children and young people up to 18 years of age. Music Generation was formed to roll out the Music Education Partnership model, which was developed by Music Network in 2003. A Music Education Partnership is an interagency structure that is led by a Local Authority or VEC. Music Generation earlier this year put out a call for applications from local Music Education Partnerships across the country seeking to apply for funding.
A spokesperson for U2 said, “The four members of U2 were fortunate to attend a school where there were great music teachers; many Irish schools have none at all and this imaginative national programme is intended to start to correct that unfair state of affairs in our education system. Children and young people will finally have a much greater chance to access music tuition."
Tony Ó Dálaigh, Chairman of Music Generation said, “These three counties rose straight to the top when an independent panel examined the proposals from around the country. These are regions with a strong track record and commitment to music which was reflected in the high standard of their applications. Music Generation will now offer the opportunity for these counties to build on their development and expand provision to new areas of need.
“The standard of applications we received from the rest of the country was very promising and Music Generation will continue to work with them and with other applicants to prepare for the next round of funding which will be announced during the autumn. An important part of the Music Education Partnership model is that the partnerships selected for funding will work with Music Generation and their neighbouring areas to share best practice through a support network.”
Minister for Education and Skills, Ruari Quinn TD said, “We are very grateful to U2 and The Ireland Funds for their support in promoting this visionary initiative. The Government is committed to continuing the music education partnerships with Exchequer funding in future years, when the Music Generation donations cease. Music education plays an important role in promoting creativity and self expression, and in developing children’s cognitive and affective skills. This initiative will enrich the lives of children and their communities in the areas selected for funding.”
“The Ireland Funds are proud to be associated with U2 in supporting Music Generation. Our participation represents the global Irish family’s belief in Ireland’s young people and a commitment to support Irish culture which defined Irish identity abroad,” said Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO of The Worldwide Ireland Funds.
Music Generation will provide three-year seed funding to establish local services, which will be sustained by Music Education Partnerships on a long-term basis. It is the intention of the Department of Education and Skills that Music Education Partnerships will be continued into the future with Exchequer funding when the Music Generation donations cease. Funding for up to twelve Music Education Partnerships will be awarded on a phased basis from 2011-2015, most likely in three locations at a time. Music Education Partnerships are eligible to apply for 50% funding, up to a maximum of €200,000 per annum over three years.
'Phenomenal' response to U2's musical education initiative
The Irish Times reports that a €7 million initiative funded by U2 and The Ireland Funds to promote musical education in Ireland has attracted a “phenomenal” response.
Music Generation, the national music education programme for young people, received expressions of interest from all 34 local authorities.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0409/1224294302577.html
Music Generation - U2 and The Ireland Funds National Music Education Programme Unveiled
Deadline for Applications March 31st, 2011
Dublin, 17 January 2011 – Music Generation, the U2 and Ireland Funds supported National Music Education Programme for young people, was officially unveiled today. The programme, enabled by a €5 million donation from U2 with a further €2 million being raised by The Ireland Funds, gives children and young people across the country access to music education in their own communities. Initiated by Music Network, the national agency for music development, Music Generation today put out a call for applications from local Music Education Partnerships across the country seeking to apply for funding.
U2 and The Ireland Funds announced in July 2009 that they would provide funding to offer children and young people in Ireland the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and/or avail of vocal tuition. The donation provided by U2 and The Ireland Funds is to ensure the national rollout on a phased basis to 2015.
“Music is – obviously – the world to us and we were lucky enough to have it at school” said U2’s The Edge. “But even if you choose not to make it your job, learning music is proven to have a hugely positive effect on society in general. It’s exciting that thousands of Ireland’s children and young people will have the opportunity for tuition.”
Chairman of Music Generation, Dr. Tony Ó Dálaigh said, “The profoundly generous funds presented to Music Generation by U2 and The Ireland Funds are wholeheartedly appreciated and cherished. It will without doubt change the lives of thousands of children and young people in Ireland.
“Simply put this scheme would never have seen the light of day without U2 and The Ireland Funds.
“Cutbacks did not allow the promise of the pilot schemes to be realised and a significant opportunity for a breakthrough in music education in Ireland seemed lost.
“However, U2's vision and commitment have now made Music Generation a reality and young Irish musicians will be the beneficiaries.
“Their generosity will enhance and enrich quality of life, nurture the careers of musicians, empower the musical life of communities and energise partnerships among the public, private, community and voluntary sectors in the spirit of making music education happen throughout Ireland,” he concluded.
“Music Generation is a splendid example of philanthropy at work,” said Kieran McLoughlin, President & CEO - The Worldwide Ireland Funds. “Through the donations of U2 and our donors, young people across Ireland will be provided with the best in music education. It’s all about investing in the next generation, in our heritage and in access and excellence.”
Rosaleen Molloy, Music Generation Director commented, “This is a wonderful opportunity for thousands of children and young people to access music education. Therefore, we are calling on Music Education Partnerships to come forward and apply for funding to create opportunities for musicians, children and young people alike.”
The Music Education Partnership model, developed by Music Network, has been successfully piloted in Donegal and Dublin. Funding for up to twelve Music Education Partnerships will be awarded on a phased basis from 2011-2015, most likely in three locations at a time. Music Education Partnerships are eligible to apply for 50% funding, up to a maximum of €200,000 per annum over three years.
The closing date for Round 1 applications is Thursday, March 31st, 2011.
Music Generation will provide three-year seed funding to establish local services, which will be sustained by Music Education Partnerships on a long-term basis. It is the intention of the Department of Education & Skills that Music Education Partnerships will be continued into the future with Exchequer funding when the Music Generation donations cease.
 Detailed guidelines and all application details are available on www.musicgeneration.ie.
For further information please contact:
Martin Mackin/Alison Mills
Q4 Public Relations
Tel: 00 353 1 475 1444
Mob: 00 353 86 851 2890
Note to Editors:
• A Music Education Partnership is a local or regional group established to develop and improve the infrastructure for music education at local level. It is made up of expert groups and must include at least one statutory agency such as a VEC or a Local Authority. The Music Education Partnership works to plan for a music education service in its locality, establish networks and an efficient administrative structure, identify funding and other types of support and manage the development of the service.
Background to the development of Music Generation:
• In May 2001 the Departments of Arts, Sport and Tourism and Education and Science commissioned Music Network (a non-profit music development organisation established by the Arts Council) to produce a feasibility study to examine how an enhanced national system of publicly-supported music education might be provided in Ireland .
• The report recognises the existing gaps within music education provision in Ireland, particularly with regard to children’s access to instrumental and vocal tuition. In Ireland, only about 1% of children of secondary school age receive tuition in instrumental or vocal performance: in other European countries, the norm is 6 – 8% .
• The report recommends a pragmatic model of cost-effective local service provision to address those gaps. The model involves the creation of a national system of local music education services, which are publicly supported, socially inclusive, community focused, multi-genre, and of high quality, to complement the teaching and learning of music in the classroom.
• In September 2003, Music Network made a presentation of the Report’s findings to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism. The following year the Department of Education and Skills provided funds to pilot implementation models in Co. Donegal and Dublin City VECs. These programmes continue to be funded by the Department.
• Reports from the Arts Council and Local Authorities indicate that the scheme has broad acceptance from institutional interests, and a seminar held by Music Network in 2007 reported on the success of the two pilot schemes . An independent evaluation of these pilot schemes, published in April 2009, concluded that “this partnership model provides a workable and replicable framework for development of music education services … on a wider scale throughout Ireland”.
• It was announced in July 2009 that a National Music Education Programme would be implemented with the support of donations from U2 and The Ireland Funds in the early years of development, with the intention that the music education partnerships would be continued into the future with Exchequer funding when the donations ceased.
***
U2 AND THE IRELAND FUNDS TO FINANCE NATIONAL MUSIC TUITION PROGRAMME
Dublin, Monday 20th July 2009
U2 and The Ireland Funds announced July 20th that they will finance a scheme to offer children and young people in Ireland the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and/or avail of vocal tuition. U2 will provide €5m to ensure the national rollout of the instrumental and vocal tuition elements on a phased basis to 2015.
The Ireland Funds will begin a campaign to raise a further €2 million. Music Network, a non-profit music services organisation will administer the scheme, which will be introduced nationwide on a phased basis from 2010 – 2015. The scheme will support local education authorities throughout the country to engage music teachers to provide instrumental and vocal tuition to children and young people. The programme will be rolled out nationally and is based on two successful pilot schemes which have been running since 2004 by local Vocational Education Authorities in Donegal and Dublin.
The Edge, speaking on behalf of U2, says, “Being around music at a young age was important for us and we were lucky to have it at school. We had been looking for some time for a way to get involved in an initiative in music education in Ireland. After talking to various people in Ireland about what to do, we came to the conclusion that the Music Network scheme is really well thought out and that we, in partnership with The Ireland Funds, should just get behind it.”
Loretta Brennan Glucksman, Chair of The American Ireland Fund says, “Our goal is to stimulate philanthropy in Ireland and the scheme falls under two of our funding priorities – education and culture. We are thrilled to be part of a project which will bring the Music Network Scheme nationwide as it is a proven success and has wide-ranging support from Government as well as the music education establishment. We believe that the programme will make a huge contribution to music education in Ireland.”
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O’Keeffe TD, says, “I’m delighted that U2 and The Ireland Funds have agreed to join us as partners in progressing the music agenda in Ireland. We recognised the gaps in music education in 2001 when a feasibility study was commissioned to examine how a national system of publicly supported local music schools might be provided. The pilot schemes which Government has funded since 2004 will now provide the model to roll the scheme out nationally. We are very grateful for the support of U2 and The Ireland Funds for the programme over the next six years. It has the potential to create a true legacy for music education in Ireland."
Deirdre McCrea, Chief Executive of Music Network says, “The study that we carried out in 2003 identified serious gaps in Irish musical education and we have been working since then to advocate for a practical solution to address these gaps. The pilot schemes, run in Donegal and Dublin over the last four years with Department of Education & Science support, have demonstrated that our model is a viable one and we now look forward to rolling out the scheme successfully on a nationwide basis."
As well as acting as co-funders, The Ireland Funds will administer the philanthropic gift.
Details of the rollout of the Music Education Scheme:
- a. it will provide music teachers throughout the country, sometimes in fixed locations, sometimes operating on a peripatetic basis in a local area (not limited to county boundaries).
- b. it will be rolled out on a phased basis, in a number of new locations each year, beginning in 2010; all kinds of musical performance will be served – classical, jazz, traditional and popular music.
- c. it will be administered centrally by Music Network, which has a proven track record in running different music development initiatives (including , for example, a capital scheme to provide for instrument purchase) they will provide central services, coordination and quality assurance, and will be responsible for the governance of the scheme.
- d. it will be offered on the basis of competitive tender: local interests (for example one or more local VECs and/or local authorities, local private music schools, parents groups etc.) will be invited to bid for a three-year subsidy to provide for the costs of teachers and local administration; they must show how they will generate matching resources locally, and how they will plan to make the scheme sustainable in the longer term.
- e. local administrative and infrastructural resources (e.g. classrooms, insurances etc), fees from participants and the non-exchequer funds provided by the donors respectively are each expected to make up one-third of the costs of delivering the scheme over the next five years.
Note to Editors:
Background to Development of Music Network Scheme:
- In May 2001 the Arts Council and the Department of Education commissioned Music Network (a non-profit music development organisation established by the Arts Council) to produce a feasibility study to examine how an enhanced national system of publicly-supported music education might be provided in Ireland.(1)
- The report recognises the existing gaps within music education provision in Ireland, particularly with regard to childrens’ access to instrumental and vocal music education. The Irish education system simply does not include any formal provision for instrumental music education. As a result, it remains largely the preserve of wealthier families, with access to urban centres of tuition: in Ireland, only about 1% of children of secondary school age receive tuition in instrumental or vocal performance: in other European countries, the norm is 6 – 8%.(2) The report recommends a pragmatic model of cost-effective local service provision to address those gaps. The model involves the creation of a national system of local music education services, publicly supported, socially inclusive, community focused, of high quality, to complement the teaching and learning of music in the classroom.
- In September 2003, Music Network made a presentation of the Report’s findings to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport and Tourism, and the following year proposals for a pilot model were made to the Department of Education and Science, with funding of €360,000 currently made available to pilot implementation schemes in Donegal and Dublin. Reports from the Arts Council (3) and from County Arts Officers (4) indicate that the scheme has broad acceptance from institutional interests, and a seminar held by Music Network in 2007 reported on the success of the two pilot schemes. (5) An independent evaluation of these pilot schemes, published in April 2009, concluded that “this partnership model provides a workable and replicable framework for development of music education services … on a wider scale throughout Ireland”. (6)
1. A National System of Local Music Education Services (Music Network, 2003)
see http://www.musicnetwork.ie/myc/cms/pages/advocacy/index.php
2. Statistical data are regularly updated on the website of the European Music Schools Union
see http://www.musicschoolunion.eu/emu-statistics/
3. Partnership for the Arts in Practice, (Arts Council, December 2005)
4. Local Authorities and Music: Knowing the Score (St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, March 2009)
5. Striking the right note (Report on a Seminar, Music Network) see http://www.musicnetwork.ie/myc/cms/pages/advocacy/index.php
6. Karen Thompson Consulting Ltd Report of the Evaluation of the Music Education Partnerships in County Donegal and City of Dublin (Music Network, 2009). |
