Instruments
You can learn to play regardless of talent or age
Benefits of Leanring Music
Playing a Musical Instrument Makes You Smarter: Recent research suggests early musical training helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning. Exposure to music also benefits a child's reading age, IQ, and spacial intelligence. Adults can benefit from learning to play an instrument too because it helps the mind to be alert and remain active eventually helping to sharpen the memory.
Music Students Do Better In School: Many studies have been conducted on the effects of music to the brain which have clearly indicated that children who are exposed to music, or those who play an instrument, do better in school than those who don't.
It Teaches Discipline: Learning to play an instrument is like learning to speak another language and it can be challenging at times. One of the qualities musicians possess is discipline. You have to be disciplined in order to master playing your instrument. You have to set time each day to practice, practice and practice some more. Through music study, students learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work.
Craftsmanship: Students of music learn craftsmanship as they study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work. These standards, when applied to a student's own work, demand a new level of excellence and require students to stretch their inner resources.
Teamwork: Music study enhances teamwork skills and discipline. In order for a group of musicians to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.
Self-Confidence: Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and something that will occur often in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later. Risk-taking is essential if a child is to fully develop his or her potential.
Self-Expression: Music provides children with a means of self-expression. Everyone needs to be in touch at some time in his life with his core, with what she is and what she feels. Self-esteem is a by-product of this self-expression.
Reduces Stress: In order to play and practice a musical instrumental you have to learn to focus your mind, and concentrate completely on what you are doing. When you do this all your other worries are left behind you for the duration. Regular practice therefore results in regular shots of stress relief.
Creative Thinking: When learning a new instrument there is a great development of creative thinking as music entails not only logical thinking, but the use of intuition and spontaneity helping develop decision-making skills and enhanced abilities to problem solving.
Fun: There's great satisfaction to be gained from playing a musical instrument, not only in the music itself, but also from the social pleasure of sharing music with other musicians and an audience.
Graded Examinations
Grades are necessary if you are thinking of taking further education in music post Leaving Cert. Some Institutes and Universities require a minimum of Grade 5 to gain entry to their course. Some require all 8 grades.
All of our students who took part in the exams to date have been highly successful with the vast majority achieving the highest award of distinction, and a zero failure rate.
As part of the learning journey students have the option of taking graded examinations. While grades are not compulsory in WAMA we do encourage students to consider taking them. Here's why:
Grades are very good at motivating students to practice, giving them a definite goal to work towards. There's nothing like a deadline to focus the mind as they say! Taking an exam with an impartial stranger can make a student push his/herself further than he/she might do so otherwise.
Grades are structured. They are designed to enable you to realise your full potential on the instrument and have the opportunity of gaining an internationally recognised qualification. Should the student opt to get through all 8 grades, a high musical level would be achieved.
Concerts
Each year, we give all of our students the opportunity to play in a concert, either in-house or at outreach events and festivals. These concerts contain an eclectic array of music, ranging from pop and rock, to classical, Jazz and folk.
Preparing for such an event is an integral part of the student's growth, both as a musician, but also as a person. It gives the student a definite goal to work towards, bringing focus and purpose to their studies, as well as building their confidence and giving them a real sense of achievement when completed. They also learn key life skills, such as how to work together as a team, and about how discipline and good work ethic are the keys to success.