Teacher Training 8th-12th July 2024 in National Concert Hall

A group of 13 people with WhistleBlast's Mary Curran in the front pose smiling and holding up WhistleBlast Quartet booklets. The background is a corridor with dusky pink walls and white detailing on pillars. Some of the group are holding instruments.

A Department of Education and Skills approved summer course for primary school and SEN teachers (approved for EPV days).  

Course facilitator: Mary Curran 

Aligned with the primary school music curriculum, this course will encourage and equip teachers with or without a musical background to deliver imaginative, active and educational music sessions in the classroom. The course will deliver practical, hands-on experience in rhythm, percussion, song, composition, “Creative Orchestra”, different instruments, music history, performance and class management; all in an enjoyable and engaging way.  

Mary Curran is director and French hornist with the WhistleBlast Quartet which she founded in 2004. She is a freelance professional musician, workshop curator and facilitator.  

Mary performs with RTÉ and other groups, creating a busy career devising and presenting musical workshops for all ages, both on her own and as part of the WhistleBlast Quartet.  She also a UL graduate with an MA in Festive Arts. 

This teacher training course is devised and facilitated by Mary, based on the WhistleBlast Quartet’s own publication A Whistle and a Blast for Your Class. The course has been delivered nationwide since 2009 and is presented in an innovative, humorous, educational and structured format while also providing flexible space for creativity. 

All course materials provided.  

Music in the Primary Classroom

 

This course is approved by the Department of Education and has been rolled out in multiple national locations including the National Concert Hall since 2010.

We offer a 5-day music Summer Course for Primary School teachers from mainstream and special needs school. The course, based on the Quartet's publication 'A Whistle and a Blast for Your Class', will be both active and relaxing. WhistleBlast Director Mary facilitates the course with her hands-on approach that has been moulded over 20 years experience of working with children in the classroom and music education training.

Participants will receive live performances of relevant pieces and learn how to write 'raps and songs'. Mary will show you how to stimulate an appreciation of music through rhythmic games and constructing effective sessions in the classroom. Also included are sessions on digital music, guiding you how to teach for the future. As part of the week one other Quartet member will join Mary for a special private live performance for attending teachers.

This course will be educational, but above all, good fun and interactive. No previous experience is necessary, suitable for primary mainstream and all special needs education. So please come along and enjoy the high calibre of professional music facilitation, provided by individuals with vast musical experience who have performed with multiple organisations and groups including the RTE Orchestras.

What is included:

  • Lunch each day & final concert will be provided.

  • A free copy of A Whistle and a Blast for Your Class.

  • The course allows teachers to qualify for 3 EPV days.

  • An opportunity for your school to consider WhistleBlast’s schools programmes/concerts which will involve the children themselves in a live performance with the Quartet.

You can find tons of music workshop information in our booklet here.

More information about the 2023 course here.

The WhistleBlast Quartet’s course is approved by the Department of Education.