Lessons

Did you know how to drive before starting driving lessons? Did you know how to speak French before starting French classes? Did you know how to do a headstand before going to yoga? You don't need to know how to read music in order to start music lessons. We are here to guide and support you literally from the very beginning. If you have played by ear before and are nervous about not being able to read those tiny black dots, fear not.

There are only 7 notes to learn: A, B, C, D, E, F and G, plus a few funny signs like sharp, flat and natural. One student even renamed the sharp sign (#) a hashtag.

YES! YES! The answer is absolutely yes: you can still take lessons at the Munster Music Academy. Our teachers are ready to encourage, guide, and inspire you no matter what your musical aspirations are. Beyonce, Bach, Burt Bacharach or the Beatles, we can teach everything. Our teachers are unanimous in that exams are not the learning path for everyone. Whilst exams are wonderful markers and goals for some students to work towards, we believe in tailoring a programme of learning most suited to each student's strengths and learning methods.

To quote the famous tennis player Arthur Ashe: "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome."

In March 2020 all our classes moved online, both 1-2-1 instrument and group theory classes. We didn't miss one single class when the first lockdown was announced in Ireland. Overnight we seamlessly migrated to a digital music learning platform for all our students, parents, and teachers. We successfully taught over 3,800 Zoom music lessons over sixteen months, a staggering statistic of which we are very proud.

Some of our students prefer the online learning experience as it suits their location/schedule/lifestyle/commuting/family commitments better. We are delighted to offer our students the choice of online music lessons rather than attending lessons at our premises in Killaloe, Co Clare. Kindly contact the office if you wish to avail of this option. In September 2021 we launched our innovative and dynamic Munster Music Digital Academy.

You can live in Killaloe, Kilkenny, Korea, or Kuwait and learn online with our international team of dedicated, sensitive, highly experienced teachers from the comfort of your own home. Enquire today by completing our enquiry form.

You may be laughing but we really do get asked this question. You absolutely do need an instrument on which you can practise between your lessons. Music is 99% practice and 1% theory. We can guide you on where to source the instrument most suited to your budget and level. Just enquire when submitting your enquiry form.

Music is 99% practice and 1% theory. I may have taken a little liberty marrying a yoga aphorism with music but its essential meaning applies to music, yoga and many other areas of our lives. Music is not a hobby whereby one goes training once a week like with a team sport. Music is an incredibly specialised field of learning on a one-to-one basis. It involves and deeply engages all our faculties from the very first lesson.

For each student, adult or child, to fully benefit from their personalised music programme and, more importantly, to enjoy their lessons and musical experience, regular practising is 100% advised and encouraged. Your teacher will advise the student and/or parent on the recommended practice time relevant to your age/ability/grade/pieces and musical intentions.

We gently encourage all our students to perform in the concerts both for themselves, their peers, families, and teachers. Our concerts are a non-competitive, non-judgemental supportive environment where we applaud each student's performance whether it is a scale or a sonata. Ask any of our current students. There is nothing to fear except fear itself. We encourage every student to play their first concert as soon as possible.

FACT. The longer a new student leaves it to perform in their first concert, the harder it becomes for them. A mini musical molehill gradually becomes Mont Blanc. Fear not, we are the musical sherpas.

The majority of our teachers have experience and/or professional qualifications facilitating them to teach student's with learning challenges. On our enquiry and enrolment forms we kindly ask parents/students to complete this section knowing that this information is treated with utmost privacy. It is very important that our teachers are made aware of any challenges your child/student may have in their education journey and learning experience.

No matter what challenges these may be we sensitively ask you to share these with us, so that we may in turn be able to assist your child/student to the best of our ability ensuring their musical journey is one that is enjoyable and fulfilling for them. We will contact you directly in relation to any information you share with us before speaking with any of our teachers.

We support buying local and happily recommend Savins Music shop in Limerick city. You can either order online or over the phone and they will post out your order. If they do not have the books in stock, they will order them for you. They stock all Trinity College London examination books. Ask for the sheet music department on 061 414 095 or visit www.savins.ie

Munster Music Academy implements a strict policy to protect our teachers' livelihoods and time whereby lessons are NON-TRANSFERABLE. Your teacher needs to be paid even if you cancel. It is each student's responsibility to attend their allocated lesson time. If a student is unable to attend, this lesson will NOT be made up by their teacher. Kindly do not request this directly of your teacher.

If a teacher is unable to teach due to illness and/or concert/professional engagement, this lesson will be made up before the end of the respective term. Only in the case of COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms, relating to the teacher or student, will online lessons be accommodated or requested.

We do not accept payment for lessons on a weekly basis. Each term of lessons is due for payment in full in advance without exception. All students are issued invoices via email two weeks before the beginning of term. All lessons must be paid for within 14 days from the date of invoice. If payment is overdue by two weeks, Munster Music Academy’s Director reserves the right to cancel future lessons until payment has been received in full.

Check out the fees section above for more details.

Should you wish to discontinue lessons at MMA, two weeks' notice without exception is required in writing to the Director at info@munstermusicacademy.com; otherwise lessons will be charged for without exception.

Our premises are fully equipped with all necessary protective equipment to equally safeguard our students, teachers, families, and community. Each room has a portable 6-foot screen, a full sanitising station, a second piano/keyboard for the teacher to use, and extra music stands.