Bachelor of Arts in Irish Music

MD4101 - Performance 1A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.

MD4091 - Irish World Academy Practicum C1

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MU4001 - Critical Encounters with Irish Music and Dance

Issues addressed in this module will be taken from current research engagements with the native Irish music and dance traditions. These will critically engage historical narratives, conceptual structuring and evolving identities of the traditions in question. Students will be introduced to concepts of research as a creative, scholarly practice.

MU4011 - Critical Encounters with World Music and Dance

In this class students are introduced to diverse music traditions from around the world, including, popular musics of West Africa, the court music of Indonesia, classical musics of India, folk and Celtic musics of Europe, classical music of the Arab Middle East, and traditional musics of Canada and America. Students deepen their knowledge of diverse repertoires and performance practices, develop their scholarly engagement with music and dance, gain a more global view of music and dance, and contextualise their own music and dance practices within the wider world of music and dance.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4102 - Performance 2A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.

MD4111 - Irish World Academy Practicum C2

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MU4012 - Critical Encounters with Western Art Music and Dance

This module explores Western Art music and dance practices in an academic and performative context, providing them with an insight into some of the diversity of music and dance practices within these traditions.

MU4002 - Critical Encounters with Popular Music and Dance

In this class students study various genres of popular music and dance. Students deepen their knowledge of diverse popular repertoires and performance practices, and deepen their knowledge of the role of popular culture in social, political, economic, cultural and artistic life. Students develop a critical view of popular music and dance, and contextualize their own music and dance practices within the wider, commercially mediated world of music and dance.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4103 - Performance 3A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.

MD4092 - Irish World Academy Practicum C2

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MD4081 - Irish Music and Dance Studies 1

This module will more deeply engage issues in Irish traditional music and dance studies and, in this context, to apply cultural theory to Irish music and dance Studies in a deeper and more creative way.  Themes of difference and identity as relevant to traditional musicians in the past and present will be interrogated.  Issues will be focused on in the areas of Irish and English Language Song; the multitude of Irish dance styles as well as instrumental practice. These are to be addressed using a thematic approach which will engage theoretical areas such as identity, ethnicity,globalisation and the meaning of tradition. As such this is a research led module.

MD4113 - Performing Arts Technology

This module will introduce students to professional audio and visual technologies relevant to performers in their field. The professional world around performance practice, performance education, media and other career paths open to students on this programme will be explored. Students will use such technologies in professional contexts generating project work out of the day-to-day life of the Academy, recording concerts, providing technical support to a wide range of performances and generating media appropriate to the world of performing arts.  Students in this module will learn practical technological applications relevant to their performance practice. Students will learn to use and manipulate PAs and lighting rigs, led by professionals in the field and applied in real-world situations. Students will also be introduced to media generating software such as Final-Cut Pro and Logic to produce high level audio and video outputs.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4104 - Performance 4A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.

MD4112 - Irish World Academy Practicum C4

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MD4114 - Critical Encounters with Global Pop

The module content focuses on understanding the volatile dynamics of this field of cultural production through the study of particular examples of pop music throughout the globe. Some of the most important, and well documented, in this regard have been musics from Black America, South America, the Caribbean, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa, Southeast Asia, Native North America, and the Northern Circumpolar regions. Particular issues and concepts key for an understanding of this phenomenon will be addressed in the context of these examples. 

MD4034 - Contextualising and Vocational Studies - Music and Dance Education/ Community Music and Dance

This module is designed to help competent musicians and dancers to come to an understanding of what it means to be involved in music and dance education contexts. There are three main components to this module :Music and Dance Curriculum studies, Professional Studies and School Based Work. The first priority is to help the development of expertise in a variety of educative situations. These range from classroom activities for various age groups and abilities to instrumental teaching, classroom teaching, ensemble, choral, band and orchestral rehearsals, and the passing on of music and dance. There is also an introduction to Community Music and Dance which involves the development of acquired skills in a community music and dance context and as community musicians and dancers

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

Cooperative Education In their 3rd year, Irish World Academy performing arts students go on ‘co-op’, a university-wide module specifically designed for undergraduates to engage in real-world, professional environments. The Cooperative Education division, in consultation with the Academy, helps students to identify working opportunities in a variety of contexts, including arts management, education, performance, media and related fields. Students are encouraged to set up their own six-month placements or to engage in split placements (ideally no more than two placements) in order to explore if their expectations for future careers match the experiences they have during the co-op period. Faculty visits, pre- and post- co-op assessment skills, and final report help students to reflect upon the process, enabling them to critically evaluate their time off campus.

MD4105 - Performance 5A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.

MD4116 - Irish World Academy Practicum C4

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MU4106 - Arts and Health

This module is designed to enable music and dance students to develop awareness and understanding of the impact of the arts on health and well-being. The module aims to develop well-rounded music and dance graduates who are aware of the role of the arts in various contexts (such as hospital, community healthcare and mental health) and the impact of their own health and well-being on their own arts performance. The role of arts in society will be examined as well as the wide variety of approaches to creative engagement and the value of art.

MU4013 - Research Skills: Ethnomusicology/ Ethnochoreology/ Arts Practice

This module will introduce students to the important contextualising disciplines of ethnomusicology and ethnochoreology and their main principles and orientations as well as the practical application of fieldwork and the production of ethnographic representations.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4106 - Performance 6A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.  Students will also begin to develop their 45 minute final performance.

MD4147 - Irish World Academy Practicum C6

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MD4157 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 1

This module is intended students in the first semester of their fourth year, preparing to embark on an extended research project which will be presented in a 10,000 word thesis or equivalent. The student will agree on the subject of the project with the course director and will be introduced to a number of sample research projects and methodologies.

MU4007 - Professional Skills for the Performing Arts

This module will examine issues pertinent to the lives of professional musicians and dancers. Issues such as promotion, effective communication, industry structures, touring, dealing with statutory arts bodies and funding structures will be practically engaged. Classes may feature professionals working in these fields and regularly faculty with relevant experience. This aspect of the module is supported by a lecture series and assessed through attendance and written assignments in the form of professional portfolios and resources.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

MD4107 - Performance 7A

Here students will develop core skills with one-on-one instrumental classes, classes with visiting performers, theory and keyboard classes.  Students will also begin to develop their 45 minute final performance.

MD4128 - Irish World Academy Practicum C7

Here students will engage in ensemble work with in-house and visiting tutors well  as have the opportunity to select other collaborative performance practices in other folk, world and popular music and dance traditions.

MD4138 - Irish World Academy Final Year Project 2

This is the second of the two Irish World Academy modules for the FYP. The student works in a one on one context with supervisor in this module while receiving certain skills training to enable them to fill out the structure of the FYP started in the previous semester. Students will produce their own unique piece of research in an genre and disciplinary approach to the performing arts of their own choosing.

MU4008 - Special Topics in Ethnomusicology

This module is designed to give advanced undergraduate students the opportunity to explore a particular topic in an in-depth way not possible in introductory or survey modules. Specific topics will be chosen by the faculty member coordinating the module and will generally be research based. It is intended to serve as a recruitment stepping stone taking 4th year undergraduates into considering post-graduate studies in the international field of ethnomusicology.

Electives

In addition to their core modules, each year students choose from a large number of elective modules in dance and music, and other subjects outside of the performing arts. These elective modules offer students the opportunity to enhance their educational experience, and broaden their artistic and academic horizons. Elective options vary from year to year but typically students can choose from  range of vocal and instrumental ensembles (from Academy choir to Irish traditional music ensemble), songwriting classes, lectures in country music, courses in choreography, North American percussive dance, Irish folklore and history, and various languages, including Irish.

You need to have experience in performing Irish music as an instrumentalist or singer before embarking on this course.  We look for a level of competency and stylistic engagement in the performance auditions.

No. In the case of Irish music you need to show proficiency in that area.  However, an open mind and a willingness to engage with other genres and disciplines is also a requirement.  

You do take academic and vocationally focused modules with students from the other BA programmes (both dancers and musicians) and you have the opportunity to choose to engage in other performance genres apart from Irish music in a performance module every semester on campus.  

Each student receives weekly classes from highly accomplished musicians with extensive teaching and performance experience for their main performance area.  

Master classes are also provided by visiting professional musicians throughout each semester 

Yes. Each student is given the option of studying at a number of institutions around the world for semester 6, i.e. semester 2 of 3rd year. 

No, you will also engage in academic classes. Performance and academic studies are equally important. This gives you more career opportunities upon completing the course. 

Auditions normally take place at the beginning of April or in mid-July for late applicants and ‘change-of-mind’ applications although the Academy is flexible if applicants have difficulty with these dates. In auditions students should show a good standard of performance.  We require our traditional musicians to perform three sets or pieces of their own choosing and musicians must perform reels. We require traditional singers to perform three songs of their own choosing.