Born to make you happy

It's a case of all change at the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama, which has converted its four-year bachelor in music performance course into a bachelor of music programme. The main difference between the new and the old course is that students can now choose to major in either performance, instrumental/vocal teaching, composition or Irish traditional music. Meanwhile, the DIT's three-year teaching diploma has been phased out and is now incorporated into the new degree programme.

"There have been major developments in music education in recent years," explains Dr Eibhlis Farrell, who is the conservatory's head. "We want our students to have an integrated course of study, with options that will lead to employment." In the past, Farrell notes, students who had a particular interest in composition were often lost to the course. Similarly, many students were asking for a course in Irish music.

"It's the first undergraduate programme in the State to offer a specialist undergraduate degree in Irish traditional performance," according to course leader Roy Holmes. "The course is designed for music students seeking a full-time programme which will train them to a professional level as classical or traditional Irish music performers, instrumental or vocal teachers and composers," he says. "All students participate in a diverse programme of recitals, concerts and opera performances."

All students take first and second years. Core subjects include composition techniques, aural awareness and analysis, history of music, musicianship, music technology and a second musical instrument. Whether students play orchestral or keyboard instruments, sing or play Irish traditional music, they all study the Alexander Technique - the posture training that is vital to musicians. They study, too, a language: Italian, French or German for singers - it varies from year to year - while those students opting for traditional Irish music study the Irish language.

In years three and four, students follow their programme options - performance, teaching, composition or traditional Irish music. They study a number of core subjects including style and interpretation, accounting and marketing for musicians and analysis and criticism. Among the elective subjects on offer are technology-based composition, technology in music education and recording, editing and production.

Up to 40 places are available. Entry to the course is via the CAO. However, all applicants are also required to do both an entrance test and an audition. Under the old system, candidates were auditioned first, and depending on how well they performed, were then called for the entry test. Under the new system, people first do the entry test, which involves written and aural work, and then audition.

At the DIT, they're understandably excited about the new programme. In the past, Farrell observes, anyone wanting to study composition, for example, had to go abroad. Now they can do it here at home. "There's a lot of openings for young composers - in film, theatre and the wider media," she says. "It's important that composition is linked to performance and that students learn how performers are thinking and working and how to interact with them."

DIT's Conservatory of Music and Drama boasts a state-of-the-art computer music lab and project room, performance spaces, practice rooms and film and television studios.

About one-third of the students embarking on the music degree programme are pupils of the DIT's junior music school. Some 1,400 part-time students, aged from five years upwards, study music at the DIT and many students who are studying music at the universities also attend the DIT to perfect their performance skills, Farrell says.