ABOUT US

Music Playschool was founded by Niamh O Donnell in 2020. Growing up, Niamh's home house was steeped in Irish Traditional Music. She was curious and enjoyed learning tunes by ear on any instrument she could lay her hands on. But when it came to the weekly piano lesson it was a different story. She was not allowed to use her well trained ear during piano lessons but instead was punished for using what she had worked so hard on! As a result, she came to dread sight-reading and saw very little connection between piano lessons and all the 'other' music she played in social settings. 

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While studying Music Education at the University of Limerick, Niamh devoured the teaching philosophies of early music educators such as Dalcroze, Kodély and Orff. Their methodologies provide a natural and fun way of thinking about music teaching and noticeably different from the 'traditional' way of teaching piano.

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Niamh adopted their philosophies in her teaching. While studying in the University of Limerick, Niamh received a scholarship from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance to facilitate 'Sing Out With Strings' (SOS) in conjunction with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The SOS programme utilises aspects of the Suzuki method which Niamh still uses in her classroom today.

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As an Irish traditional musician who always learnt by ear, Niamh found similarities in the way Irish traditional musicians learn by ear and the way the Suzuki method highlights the importance of singing and the use of the inner ear to hear the music internally before ever touching the violin. 

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After graduating with an MA in Community Music from the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, Niamh taught post-primary music for 10 years in Limerick city. Niamh also currently works as an examiner for the State Exams Commission and is a Music Associate for the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST).

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In 2019, with a one year old baby and a 4 year old nephew, she began looking for a music class that contained the philosophies and methodologies she had learned while in college but there wasn't one that implemented the holistic approach to enable children to become confident natural musicians.

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Niamh began constructing her own programme which incorporates solfège, ear training, piano skills, note reading and classical music study in a playful class setting. Niamh offered the first Music Playschool taster programme at the 2020 Shannonside Winter Music Weekend. Due to it's great success she set up the Music Playschool Programme and Music Playschool Online Community. 

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Niamh O Donnell works and lives in Co. Clare and operates the business with the sincere hope that it will be bring the joy of music into the lives of children and ideally that they will continue to enjoy and play music into their teenage years and adulthood.