Resources

Check out our YouTube channel

We have developed several resources to support the teaching and learning of Irish traditional music. From instrument banks, tune books, and a holistic primary school curriculum, we share multiple tools for learners of all ages to practice traditional music in a way that suits them. Below also shares related research and important policy documents that informs our practice.

Instrument Banks

Club Ceoil Blarney and Knocknaheeny both created and manage their own instrument banks. We established rental schemes to better support learners and families to access traditional instruments. Our bank of flutes, fiddles, concertinas, button accordions, bodhrán, banjos, and mandolins are made available to as many families as possible depending on need and availability.

Acknowledgements: Club Ceoil Knocknaheeny’s instrument bank was established in 2014, with support from Music Generation Cork City and Cork City Council. Club Ceoil Blarney’s instrument bank was established in 2019 with support from Cork City Council, Cork County Council and donations from local families.

Donations always wanted! Get in touch if you would like to donate an instrument to the cause.

 

Tune books

In 2021, we published a book for the members of Club Ceoil called ‘Tunes for Practice.’ The book shares practice tips, fingering charts, ABC and staff notation of our favourite tunes, along with free online playlists listen, learn and play by ear.

 

Research & Curricula

Creative Tradition’s school and community programmes are based on Dr Jessica Cawley’s research at UCC. Her book Becoming an Irish Traditional Musician (2021) highlights the importance of informal, social learning experiences in the home, institutions, groups, and in the wider community. Creative Tradition was designed to provide a holistic learning experience through a spectrum of activities for people of all ages.

In 2015, Jessie developed her academic research into a primary school curricula for musicians and teachers to use in the classroom. To this day, we use, evaluate and update this document to add the best material and methods tried and tested in the music laboratories (i.e. our music classes in the northside of Cork City).

See the Policy & Documents section below for links to more research and resources.

 
 

Policy & Documents

All of Creative Tradition’s projects are governed by an ethos of social inclusion, respect, and dignity. Various policies and documents are shared below for our students, members, schools and families.

 
 

  • Creative Tradition tutors are fully vetted and trained in Child Protect. You can access our full policy here.

  • For a history of the Creative Tradition project and our approach to partnership see this peer-reviewed article.