I’m delighted to have spent a lot of time in lockdown researching and developing programmes for all ages around Social Emotional Learning (SEL). SEL is a tool that allows us to take all the benefits of music – and embed them in every class we teach. It’s not an ‘extra’ thing we need to do – it’s something that we learn, research and understand so that it becomes ‘part’ of what we do at every stage.

I’d direct you to http://www.artsedsel.org for a really great read on all the benefits, but suffice to say – SEL promotes good interaction, self awareness, acceptance, collaboration, problem solving and a deeper empathy and understanding of those around us. There are clearly laid out pillars that focus on Identity, Belonging and Agency, that create a classroom setting where children are responsible and involved in meaningful ways in what is happening in the room. It’s a way to increase emotional intelligence – understaning our emotions and dealing with them in ways that are appropriate and beneficial.

Particularly as we prepare to exit covid related restrictions, we should appreciate every tool we can access to help our children deal with all the emotions and experiences that living through a pandemic can create – especially so young. SEL helps us understand and accept that we are beings of many emotions, and by embedding SEL into our lessons, we can make our students part of the solution in difficult situations, part of their own recovery and create a better school and home community as we do so.

There are many fantastic rescources around SEL, and I’ve created lots of opportunities to embed those important pillars, standards and skills into our music programmes – starting with our early years children through targeted lessons and a new curriculum based on SEL, right through our older children, teens and adults. Programmes that include music, art, movement, songwritng and reflection. At home, at school in the workplace, we can all benefit from a greater emotional intelligence. It’s fast becoming an essential skill, and one that is both rewarding and beneficial to teachers and parents as well as our students.

Let me know if you have any questions for me – I’d be delighted to chat more!

I’ve put together a great schedule of short courses and workshops for the summer – and the great news is that this year – we have music for adults as well as children! You can join us from anywhere around the world for some of our classes (songwriting, ukulele) as they will take place online via zoom. Time to take up a new challenge or hone those skills! See you in class! Bernie xx

In person workshops in The Exchange in Buncrana will be for kids aged 4-7 and 8-12. Indoor and outdoor spaces will be used. .

It’s been a bit of a wait to get together in person, but I can’t wait to get creating with the children again!

All those lovely things we learn when we try new things, employ our amazing decision making skills, collaborate, create and have fun!

Hopefully by the end of the Summer, we can welcome back our babies in person too!

For booking and payment details, pls email themusicboxireland@gmail.com. Places in all courses and workshops will be limited. Revolut and PayPal accepted.

Here’s a full list of our Summer School classes – and below that, you’ll find dates, times and fee details.

Songwriting for Adults (Online)

Songwriting for Children aged 13 – 18 (Online)

Ukulele for Adults/Children aged 6+. This also makes a great family class! (Online)

Instrument Making Workshop 4-7yrs (In Person)

Decorate your room Workshop 4-7yrs (In Person)

Songs & Rhymes & Rhythms 8-12yrs (In Person)

My Story, My Song – Songwriting for Adults

This workshop will be a mix of first time writers, and those who have tried some songwriting before. Bring an instrument if you play one, and we’ll get straight to work creating, talking about song ideas, song structure, how to get started and how to finish! Feel free to come prepared with your own ideas, – stories or experiences from your life, or knowledge gained from everyday living. If you’d prefer, you can work from some song writing challenges throughout the workshop, but either way – we’ll be creating from beginning to end! I’ll email you a songwriting journal that you might find helpful as a resource to complete your work and deal with any bouts of writers block. This is a very relaxed class, so come ready to have a chat and a cuppa and have your pens ready!

4 weeks, 7 July – 28 July, 2021

Wednesdays 6.30 – 8 pm

€90

My Story, My Song – Songwriting for ages 13 – 18.

Using a newly developed songwriting journal, you’ll be guided through the process of creating a song in whatever style you choose. No previous experience is needed, just an interest in either learning a new skill or working on existing skills! You may write some things that you choose to keep private, but we’ll also chose topics for songwriting challenges that we can share in the group. This is a relaxed class so there won’t be any pressure – just an open forum where you’re encouraged to take the challege on, and take it as far as you can in the 4 weeks!

4 weeks, 6 july – 27 July 2021

Tuesdays 7-8pm

€50

Ukulele for Adults/Children aged 6+.

Suitable for absolute beginners, or rusty players who would like to start again! This a practical hands on class where we will quickly move from getting to know our Ukulele, to playing some tunes. The ukulele has endless learning opportunities, but also is very user friendly to the beginner so we’ll be playing songs in no time!

This also makes a great family class!

4 weeks, 5 July – 26th July, 2021

Mondays .7-8pm

€50 (family rate also available).

Instrument Making Workshop 4-7yrs

July 20th & 21st 10am – 12pm

The Exchange Inishowen, Buncrana.

This workshop is jam packed with loads of instruments to make. Supplies and snacks are included. Indoor and outdoor spaces will be used.

€25

Decorate Your Room Workshop 4-7yrs

July 6th & 7th, 10am – 12pm

The Exchange Inishowen, Buncrana

Paper Stars, Bunting, Giant Sweetie Balloons! Simple but beautiful ways to give your room a summer makeover! Indoor and outdoor spaces will be used.

Supplies and snacks included.

€25

Songs & Rhymes & Rhythms 8-12yrs

July 13th & 14th 10am – 12pm

The Exchange Inishowen, Buncrana

Two days to enjoy some socially distanced singing, some musical games and some easy writing games and challenges to introduce songwriting to this age group. Everyone will get their own songwriting journal to help them on their journey. Supplies and snacks provided. Indoor and outdoor spaces will be used.

€25.

‘My Story, My Song’, is a wonderful project I’m undertaking to help you think about your own story – at any age, and be guided through the process of turning it into a song.

Recently, I’ve been working on songwriting – not just my own, but working with others, to help them create their own songs! It’s something that can be done individually or in groups and is a perfect project for this current zoom age.

It’s been a great opportunity for me to hone my skills in sharing the joy of songwriting and also to show others that not only can they achieve this for themselves and their families, but that everyone has a story to tell! Perhaps a story from your own life, a wish for your future, a family member remembered or celebrated, or some local history recalled. It’s a wonderful achievement and something I intend to continue in various projects in the future.

It has started recently as a pilot though a project for my course at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, and it has been a revelation to me how much I’ve enjoyed really reflecting on the importance of music and songwriting, rather than just diving in head first and doing it!

I’m very much looking forward to spreading the songwriting bug and guiding lots of you through the experience in the coming years!

Early yrs Music & Movement, Group Singing/Music & Guitar Academy will remain as hybrid classes even when restrictions are lifted as we’ve really found our sea legs in the world of zoom classes and taken the opportunity to embrace this new experience!! So we’re now officially world wide!

This is such a great decision for our students as we hopefully head back to less restrictions in the coming weeks. It means that the option is still there to work with us on zoom each week, and enjoy our group music classes no matter where you are in the world! We have been able to build our community of musical wonders in Boogie Bugs Music & Movement 3-6yrs, singers aged 4 – 15 and Guitar Academy beyond our locale, to welcome children from various parts of the country. We would be delighted to welcome you too, whether you hope to join in person at some stage, or create with us on zoom from your location!

Moving to virtual classes has been a great challenge for us all – but I decided it was important to take the leap and the children have really settled in so well. I look forward to sharing their company and music every week, sharing a bit of banter and an occasional show and tell 🙂

Materials are shared via email. Zoom links are sent via email or fb messenger/Whatsapp We’ve really found our groove and even managed to record a brilliant song before Christmas! Our singers have plans to record again before Summer. Local students will do so in person if possible, and remote students will do so electronically. Music & Movement children and guitarists will be recording with us too!

Our music classes have always been based on building a life long love of music and giving children the basis of a lifetime of learning – whether you sing, play or just enjoy! There is value in every kind of music so we explore as many eras and genres as possible. We foster confidence and inclusion and put great emphisis on class support and comeraderie – we’re all working at our own levels but as long as we’re progressing – that’s ok (and we are!).

I spent some time at the Old Town School of Folk Music when I lived in Chicago and was taught by the legend Dinny Mc Laughlin here in Inishowen as a child. Both experiences gifted me a great love of live music, of participation at every level of experience, and the knowledge that music is a gift that never stops giving!

And so, we are delighted to throw our doors open to you – Music is so good for us in so many ways, and of course the mental health benefits and the opportunity to meet up with other kids weekly have never been more important. I’m so happy we will be here for you no matter where you are, whatever happens!

Feel free to get in touch any time if you have questions about joining our classes. http://www.facebook.com/themusicboxschool or email themusicboxireland@gmail.com

Current classses are:

Boogie Bugs Music & Movement 3-6yrs – Wednesdays at 4pm

Group Singing 5-15yrs – Wednesdays at 5pm

Guitar Academy (previous experience only at the moment) – Thursdays at 6pm

We’ve all been thrust into a new existance overnight – unprepared, unsure and sometimes hanging on by a thread! One of the last things we have come to accept is that we cannot expect the same outcomes and experiences as we had when we met in person. Whether it’s music, meetings, work, school or any other real life endeavour that we are undertaking virually.

The transition to working and creating online has been a steep learning curve, so accepting that the outcomes as well as the experience will be different is a really healthy goal! The outcomes are not ‘less’, they are just ‘different’.

Specifically for our experience playing music, singing and working through all the fun and educational benefits of our early years music, not being physically together is challenging. There are mechanical elements to breathing and posture in singing, to holding guitars and making chords correctly, and following the actions of new songs and activities. In person, we could discuss more deeply, working around the group from person to person to see up close who is stuck, who is struggling, who is thriving this week. In our virual classroom, being singled out can seem more exposing, struggling with new material can be harder – even keeping your camera on can be uncomfortable. That’s all ok – we can work around it all!

When I started moving various workshops online, I was so unsure it would work. I was reminded by the first group hiring me to run my songwriting workshops online that this is new to us all – we are all trying and failing and suceeding as we move through the process. We need to remember our goals and outcomes cannot be the same now. For me those goals have become about creating, responding and creating with the children in my classes. Keeping music in their lives. Moving forward in our progress without pressure, keeping confidence growing, responding to the awkardness and difficulty children are dealing with as they too are propelled into this virual reality.

We start back to classes this week, and though I’m always anxious to see results, to perform, to make plans and record and schedule concerts and push the children to test their own limits, I will remember that I have three main responsibilities this season – Create – Respond – Connect. I think if we manage that we will be in good shape when we come out the other side.

Pls get in touch with any questions! themusicboxireland@gmail.com or http://www.facebook.com/themusicboxschool

Be safe out there!

Bernie xxx

We are delighted to be able to continue some of our classes online from JANUARY 12th. Having done some great work and recording before Christmas, a couple of our classes have undergone a bit of a redesign to get the most benefit and enjoyment from this online platform. We are also delighted to open the doors to new as well as returning students. Join us for a great season of song and music exploration. A perfect way to bring the joy of music to your home ❤

Taking part in classes via Zoom can seem daunting to begin with, but you will very quickly settle in to our relaxed and supportive atmosphere. These are new experiences for us all, but the gifts of the arts to our educational, social and mental well being are well worth the effort. ❤

GROUP SINGING/MUSIC: Our Singing group for ages 6 – 14 is themed this year to give us something to celebrate each week! Working and doing school work at home can be tough, so we’ve decided to keep things positive! Focussing on uplifting, fun, upbeat and inspiring songs, we’ll sing our hearts out celebrating life and our own amazing selves! As always, lessons will include singing & breathing techniques, group work, collaboration, solo work and harmony. We hope to fit in another recording later this year depending on restrictions, and have decided on the really empowering song ‘The Power in Me’, by Rebecca Lawerence, who is really looking forward to hearing our take on her song! We will also be looking at different music genre, musical terms and expression in our performance. We will look at other performers to explore these themes. This class is a combination of two previously in-person groups – The Music Box Singers & The Sliabh Sneacht Singers – but it also includes students from outside our immediate location – one of the perks of having classes online!! We welcome you all – it’s been a great opportunity to share songs together ❤

SINGING SCHEDULE: Wednesdays 5pm

REGISTRATION/FEE PAYMENTS:

Registration couldn’t be easier – just pop me a message on our FB page – http://www.facebook.com/themusicboxschool OR use the contact form on our website OR email: themusicboxireland@gmail.com

Fee Payments – classes this term are charged as follows:

Guitar Academy – €5 per class – payable at the start of each month via PayPal or Revolut

Boogie Bugs Music & Movement – €5 per class – payable at the start of each month via PayPal or Revolut

Group Singing – €4 per class – payable at the start of each month via PayPal or Revolut

paypal.me/berniedohertymusic / Revolut 0863068655

ONLINE CLASSES LAST 45 MINUTES AND TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM.

OUR CLASSES RUN THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDING MID TERMS, BUT CLOSE FOR SUMMER & CHRISTMAS.

We are delighted to be able to continue some of our classes online from JANUARY 12th. Having done some great work and recording before Christmas, a couple of our classes have undergone a bit of a redesign to get the most benefit and enjoyment from this online platform. We are also delighted to open the doors to new as well as returning students.

Taking part in classes via Zoom can seem daunting to begin with, but you will very quickly settle in to our relaxed and supportive atmosphere. These are new experiences for us all, but the gifts of the arts to our educational, social and mental well being are well worth the effort. ❤

GUITAR ACADEMY: Guitar classes will continue at a pace to suit each group, sourcing new material from students as well as myself – we have some good suggestions and requests in already! These classes will be a mix of new skills and songs taught, as well as individual work undertaken by each student. Classes currently are for students with some previous playing experience and we are happy to accept new or returning students with some guitar knowledge to our online community. For beginners in guitar or ukulele, pls see note below*.

GUITAR SCHEDULE: Advanced Guitar – Wednesdays 6pm. Improvers – Thursdays at 5pm.

BOOGIE BUGS EARLY YRS MUSIC & MOVEMENT 3-6YRS: This class has had some fun new elements added, as I’ve collaborated and trained over Christmas with collegues around the world working in the early years field. This class is a great mix of song and dance, educational games and activities and always contains my own original songs as well the work of others – there’s always something new and fun and it’s full of sound, colour and great songs, friendships and sounds.

BOOGIE BUGS SCHEDULE: Wednesdays at 4pm

GROUP SINGING: Our Singing group for ages 6 – 14 is themed this year to give us something to celebrate each week! Working and doing school work at home can be tough, so we’ve decided to keep things positive! Focussing on uplifting, fun, upbeat and inspiring songs, we’ll sing our hearts out celebrating life and our own amazing selves! As always, lessons will include singing & breathing techniques, group work, collaboration, solo work and harmony. We hope to fit in another recording later this year depending on restrictions, and have decided on the really empowering song ‘The Power in Me’, by Rebecca Lawerence, who is really looking forward to hearing our take on her song! This class is a combination of two previously in-person groups – The Music Box Singers & The Sliabh Sneacht Singers – but it also includes students from outside our immediate location – one of the perks of having classes online!! We welcome you all – it’s been a great opportunity to share songs together ❤

SINGING SCHEDULE: Wednesdays 5pm

*BEGINNER GUITAR/UKULELE – a list is in operation to assertain if these classes can begin on Zoom or will wait for in person sessions to resume. Please get in touch to add your name and we’ll let you know if these groups will progress.

REGISTRATION/FEE PAYMENTS:

Registration couldn’t be easier – just pop me a message on our FB page – http://www.facebook.com/themusicboxschool OR use the contact form on our website OR email: themusicboxireland@gmail.com

Fee Payments – classes this term are charged as follows:

Guitar Academy – €5 per class – payable at the start of each month via PayPal or Revolut

Boogie Bugs Music & Movement – €5 per class – payable at the start of each month via PayPal or Revolut

Group Singing – €4 per class – payable at the start of each month via PayPal or Revolut

paypal.me/berniedohertymusic / Revolut 0863068655

ONLINE CLASSES LAST 45 MINUTES AND TAKE PLACE VIA ZOOM.

OUR CLASSES RUN THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR INCLUDING MID TERMS, BUT CLOSE FOR SUMMER & CHRISTMAS.

Did you know that I frequently travel to schools, clubs and even workplaces to deliver workshops? Of course most of this is happening online now, but it’s still a great way to introduce music or new concepts and opportunities in music. I really do believe anyone can write a song, and I love getting the chance to show how achievable it is! From stand alone workshops, to a series of workshops run over a few weeks, these workshops are suitable from age 7 right through secondary school and beyond! They can really open your eyes to new possibilities and create a wonderful sense of challenge and achievement.

Singing is a great way to lift the spirits, and while we may have to wait a while for our group singing to come back – when it does we’ll be ready! Whether you’re working towards a particular event, or engaging in focussed work learning songs and improving technique – I can help you improve collaboration, increase comeraderie, introduce harmony and solos, and perhaps even consider a performance! Both the Songwriting and the Singing workshops are perfect for adults as well as children – the benefits of music don’t expire with age!

I’m happy to chat or answer any questions – so ask away!

Email: themusicboxireland@gmail.com. Facebook: The Music Box. Ph:0863068655

Hi there,
I’m Delighted to share ‘Christmastime Again’ with you. You can view it any time at this link:

It’s a perfect Christmas song with a wonderful story in a year where we need all the cheer we can get!This song was written by two Buncrana men 40 years ago.  Neil Doherty & the late Colm Smith.  They have played music and sung and directed going back to the early showbands and throughout their lives were always involved in local music.  Colm was in the local Pantomime Orchestra and Neil was the director of it for decades.  Phil Coulter actually wrote the closing song for Buncrana’s panto during their tenure, a gorgeous song entitled ‘Best Wishes’.  

This song was recorded back when it was written, but then faded into history until Neil gave me one of his CD’s last year and mentioned there was an old Christmas song on it, I couldn’t believe how lovely it was and I taught it to lots of local children last year.  It was a special moment when Neil and his wife Helen came to hear it performed for the first time in decades.  The children were so proud.  

Despite covid, we were determined to bring it back to life, so with careful social distancing, children from our Community Music school – The Music Box,  recorded it this year with Derry producer Eamonn Karran. Local photographer Donal Kearney made a gorgeous video featuring old and and new Christmas photos from local residents as well as some beautiful local wintery scenes.  

It’s a real Christmas Card from Donegal, and the song is full of the spirit of Christmas for people everywhere with it’s lovely nostalgic sound and catchy chorus.Please make it part of your offerings this year, I really think it will be loved far and wide and spread some much needed warmth in a tough time.