One in four Longford children engage in music programme

One in four children in Longford have engaged with a musical programme dedicated to enhancing the lives of young people through music.
Music Generation is a national partnership programme aiming to create inspiring experiences for children and young people through music.
At the April meeting of Longford County Council elected members were given an overview of the programme, and details of future plans.

Music Generation provides opportunities for young people to create, play and perform music in their local communities. Funded by LWETB, Longford County Council and Creative Ireland it was launched in 2019.
Their Music Educators are local musicians passionate about playing live music and interested in passing on their skill to the next generation of young musicians.

They offer a nurturing supportive environment to give everyone at every level an opportunity to play original work.
At the local authority meeting councillors heard of the range of programmes the service provides for young people. The first is for preschool children: “We run these for a 28 to 30 week period throughout the academic year,” Mary Jane Sweeney, Music Development Officer with Music Generation Longford said.
In conjunction with the Longford childcare committee Music Generation selected 12 childcare providers where they will run music programmes: “This programme has been running for three years, one of those was online. It has gone from strength to strength and has been hugely successful.”

The second is for young people in 19 primary schools across the county: “We offer songwriting, early years violin, ukulele and African drumming. These are musical experiences that really benefit children.”
The programme provides musical opportunities for every age, and every instrument. Collaborative songwriting encourages young people to work alongside their peers to create music.
“We are always creating pathways and routes for young people,” Ms Sweeney said, adding that music education continues in second level, “This is a combination of small group lessons during school times, after school and transition year programmes. We have six after-school hubs around the county in Drumlish, Ballinalee, Ballymahon, Ballinamuck, Longford town and Lanesboro.”

Ms Sweeney said there is flexibility to the programme: “We work closely with the youth services. We take their lead if they can identify a group who would derive a particular benefit from a term.”
Music Generation works with Lus na Gréine FRC in Granard and Bridgeways FRC in Ballymahon. Statistics suggest that one in four children in the county engage with the programme. There has been an 11% increase in the number of young people who interact with the service.

The Music Development Officer said there is a particular emphasis on young people: “When we engage with children in primary schools they are more open minded. It is important to engage with them because that engagement really pays off.”
Over the summer they celebrate Cruinniú na nÓg on June 15 at libraries across the county with a music bonanza: “We offer workshops in early years ukulele and African drumming. We will also have a harmony and diversity project.”

Summer camps will take place in Drumlish, Ballinalee, Lus na Gréine FRC, and Bridgeways FRC. There will also be an instrumentation week in July.