FAQ’s
What and where is the Cork ETB School of Music?
The Cork ETB School of Music is a multi-campus Music School operating in local communities in Cork under the auspices of Cork ETB. It has been committed to the musical and cultural development of Cork since the 1950’s by the provision of Music Education for children. Its extensive service operates throughout Cork and plays an important role, not only in the personal benefits it brings to each student but in the overall enhancement of the local communities. Lessons are provided in Brasswind, Classical Guitar, Irish Harp, Percussion, Piano, Recorder, Strings, Traditional Music and Woodwind.
A list of subjects relevant to each geographical area is on the school’s website. Pre-instrumental classes in the form of general music making, windworks (pre-wind instrument class) and brassworks (pre-brass instrument class) are available to support the larger centres. Students may also avail of Junior/Youth Orchestras and Band classes in any of the centres and audition for the Cork ETB Youth Orchestra when they are of a suitable age and standard. Public performance at local, large venue, national and international level is a very important part of the schools’ portfolio and opportunities for liaision with visiting groups in the spirit of collaboration and friendship is actively pursued.
How do I apply?
Interested parents may apply online at www.cetbsm.ie
Once an application is received, it remains on a waiting list until the next registration session, which is normally following re-registration of current students during the early summer.
Prospective students are then contacted re. possible times, days and teachers.
Once a student is registered, the first instalment of the fee is paid, and
students start the following September.
Can I apply for more than one instrument?
Yes, but please note that once a child has been offered a place, their name is removed from other lists.
There is a different pathway to apply for a second instrument. Information is available from the teachers.
Do I have to reapply every year?
Applications will be stored until a child is placed.
What instruments do you offer?
Differing subjects are available in the different centres and these are all listed on www.cetbsm.ie/applications/
What is distinction between keyboard and piano?
Aside from centres where keyboard is offered as a specific subject, the teachers at Cork ETB School of Music are piano teachers. We do not have provision for teaching keyboards (i.e. electrically operated piano-type instruments).
Students with keyboards may be accepted for enrolment however, once they are clear about the distinctions between pianos and keyboards. Keyboards may be acceptable as starter instruments, but we must emphasise that a piano is compulsory after the beginner stage to ensure progression.
What type of guitar lessons do you offer?
There is a distiction between Classical Guitar and Leisure Guitar. If students wish to learn strumming for the purposes of accompanying songs, we categorise this as Leisure Guitar.
How many lessons in the school year?
All programmes operate from September to May in accordance with the standardised school year.
What types of lessons are available?
Tuition programmes take place in individual or group formats. Some of our partner schools have access to whole class participation.
– Individual lessons for beginners/intermediate students are 20/30
minutes in duration and may increase to 40/50/60 mins according to
student progress etc.
– Group classes consist of students of similar musical experience/age.
What are the recommended ages to take up an instrument?
(6-9 for Strings and Piano)
(6-9 for Recorder)
(6-9 for Traditional Music)
(9-11 for Brass and Woodwind)
(9-11 for Saxophone)
What happens when I am offered a place?
Cork ETB School of Music will offer a place on a certain time/with a certain teacher/duration according to the vacancies that arise.
We regret that we are unable to accommodate requests for alternative days/times/teachers.
What happens if I am unable to take up an offer of a place?
Your application remains on the system until another place becomes available.
What styles of Music do students experience?
We operate tuition programmes which focus predominately on Classical and Irish Traditional Music.
Popular and Jazz music is also featured.
Can I change my mind about the instrument/centre on my application?
You will need to submit a new online application.
What are the fees?
The school operates an online registration fee, which registers the student with the school and allows access to the following services as available to their level and in their centre.
A weekly group/individual lesson as per the standardised school year
Ensemble opportunities in band / orchestra / chamber music
Exam Entry and related accompanist rehearsals
A full list of the Registration Fees for individual and group classes is listed under Fee Information. A 50% discount is applicable for 3 rd and subsequent children. There is no reduction for a second instrument.
Fees are payable online in two equal instalments (Second instalment is due in January of each calendar year). A €5 school levy which contributes to school running costs including the Student handbook is also payable.
Do I have to have an instrument?
Instruments can be purchased in advance, but we would recommend that you get expert advice from the teacher before you buy. The school operates a hire service for a limited number of the larger instruments for the first year of tuition at a cost of €50 per annum.
What else does a student need?
Students will need Music Books appropriate to their level. All students also use a Student or Group Handbook. These are available from the Teaching Staff. The school levy of €5 per annum covers the cost of this.
What ensembles do you have?
Many of the centres have orchestra, traditional groups and bands and students are expected to join an ensemble to enhance their progress at an appropriate age and grade. Students are welcome to join any ensemble in any centre at no additional charge. Larger groups such as the Cork ETB Orchestras and Chamber Music ensembles have specific entry pathways and charges, details which are available from the teachers.
Our ensembles provide invaluable experience in team-work (an essential skill for all performers) and enable students from the different disciplines to interact and have fun through performance.
What extra-curricular work do you do?
All students are encouraged to participate in local concerts organised by the teachers during the year. Larger Cluster Concerts for the region are also calendarised. Our ensembles perform very regularly for charity functions, ETB functions and as invited guests at other schools and music schools. Public performance at local level, large venue level (City Hall and Opera House),
national level (National Concert Hall) and international level is prioritised and opportunities for liaison with visiting groups in the spirit of collaboration and friendship is actively pursued.
Our concerts and festivals provide unrivalled opportunities to develop public performance ability and stagecraft. To further encourage the aspiring musician, several school awards are competed for at key stages of development.
What examinations do you offer?
Our school has its own syllabi, collated by our teaching staff after many years of collaboration and discussions. Examinations take place once a year in May. A highly specialised team of examiners are invited to the school for this purpose.
There is currently no additional charge for this service.
Do I have to do exams?
Students at Cork ETB School of Music are offered a very clear and defined ‘path of progress’ from the moment they first enter the school. Using a variety of internationally recognised methods of pedagogy and assessment, both internal and external, students are constantly evaluated and monitored to ensure that they are developing to their fullest potential.
Do you offer Junior and Leaving Cert music?
No. Cork ETB School of Music recommends that students take music as a subject at their own school. The practical component of the state exams (25% Junior Cert and 50% Leaving Cert) is well supported by access to our instrumental classes from a young age.
Where can I find out more about The Cork ETB School of Music?
Please refer to the home page of the website www.cetbsm.ie for access to all information about Cork ETB School of Music.
Hear the music
Feel the music
Be the music
