ABOUT US

An Outline of the Cork Academy of Music

The Cork Academy of Music was established as a voluntary initiative in 1994 based in the North side of the recognition that there was, and still is a need for a music institute in the North side of the city, an area which has been shown for a number of decades to be economically, socially and culturally disadvantaged. This part of the city has a long history of musicality. This initiative was set up to give marginalized adults and young people the opportunity to learn music using this is a way to encourage them to access further education and to improve their skills for employment opportunities.

The objective of the Cork Academy of Music is to improve access to music education for disadvantaged people of all ages in the North side of Cork City. The Academy accomplishes this objective by teaching student’s music notation and how to play instruments through certified qualifications. The Academy complements this teaching by supporting the student with personal development and professional skills such as computer skills, interpersonal skills etc, with the aim of encouraging them to progress to further education or employment.

Since 1994 of the 700 students that have taken music grade exams, over 40 students have progressed to, and successfully completed third-level education in various institutes throughout Ireland and abroad. This year, 9 of the 22 students who completed our foundation and access course were accepted to third level institutes. In addition to this, many of the people who completed this programme have been employed in the music industry. A number of other students have gone into teaching music in their own communities. The Academy proposes to expand this program to reach more people in the local community.

The Academy provides music education in a flexible community setting and its approach to teaching students is holistic. The Academy helps further by supporting students in all aspects of their lives. Many of our students would have difficulties and barriers that they need to overcome and we endeavour to help them overcome these obstacles while socially including students by giving them support in their personal lives. This approach has been the key to students being able to move on to third level education. By the time the students want to progress they are prepared to confront this challenge. This community, flexible and holistic approach is crucial in achieving a successful and sustainable outcome that gives the student the confidence to progress. We have always adhered to these aims and objectives. The work that we carry out has not been done before. This human centred approach combined with a solid music education has made this initiative a model of success in tackling social exclusion and has been replicated in the South of Cork City and Galway. It has also been visited and researched by organisations in Northern Ireland and ROI.

Over the years we have worked with community organisations and groups that support people with disabilities, elderly people, schools and youth at risk. This year the Academy has also initiated a full-time music course for fifteen young people at risk with the support of the RAPID programme (Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development) and the Department of Social Protection, which will further develop our tried and tested model.

We have now achieved a quality assurance agreement with FETAC and are now a registered FETAC centre and have been running certified courses on useful skills for students (Computers, Communications etc).

The Cork Academy of Music has actively promoted its own model of music and education by supporting the initiation and development of the Togher Music Project, established in 1994, the Galway Access Music Project, established in the 90’s. Many other National, European and even International organisations have visited our school and used our model as an example to create similar initiatives.