Dynamics (County Louth)

• Every human being has the right to a life of dignity and contribution, filled with beauty.
• Every child can learn to experience and express music and art deeply, can receive its many benefits, and can make different critical life choices as a result of this learning.
• Effective education is based on love, approval, joy, and consistently successful experiences within a high-functioning, aspiring, nurturing community.
• Every child has limitless possibilities and the ability to strive for excellence. The ‘Trust the young’ principle informs every aspect of the work.
• Learning organisations never arrive but are always becoming – striving to include: more students, deeper impact, greater musical excellence, better teaching, improved tools, more joy. Thus, flexibility, experimentation, risk-taking, and collegial exchange are inherent aspects of every program.

The programme is led by fully qualified, experienced professional violin tutor, Marieclaire Brodie. Marieclaire focuses on providing each child with essential skills needed to accelerate their personal development.

Marieclaire graduated with a Masters in Classical String Performance from The University of Limerick in 2018 under the guidance of Katherine Hunka, leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She was awarded the RTE Lyric FM String Scholarship to complete her studies.

In 2012 she graduated from the Cork School of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Honours) under the guidance of renowned violinist Ruxandra Petcu-Colan. She has also completed postgraduate studies in violin performance with the DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.

She is currently studying violin with Raquel Castro in Barcelona, Spain. Marieclaire has participated in many solo and chamber master classes with violinists Baiba Skride, Catherine Leonard, Debbie Diamond, the Vanburgh Quartet, Aoife Nic Athlaoich, Robin Panter, Rita Manning and the RTE Con Tempo Quartet.

Marieclaire is 1st violinist with the Amoroso Quartet and as a former member of the CBOI has always had a keen interest in orchestral playing. Most recently she has played with the Irish Chamber Orchestra during their 2018 December tour. She led the Esker Festival Orchestra on their 2017 tour. Marieclaire has played and toured extensively with many orchestras in Ireland including the Hibernian Orchestra, Fishamble Sinfonia, SinfoNua and the Academos ensemble with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. As a session violinist Marieclaire has recorded and performed with many artists such as Lisa Hannigan, Hermitage Green, We Lived in Cities, I Am Niamh and FIELDS. Marieclaire has a great interest in teaching and has been on staff with the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s ‘Sing Out With Strings’ programme.

She is currently also teaching the CBOI Dynamic Strings project.

The Dynamics String Orchestra is a junior ensemble launched by CBOI for all children who have participated in the Dynamics programme since it began in 2018.

At a later stage, these young violinists can progress to become members of the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland.

The Dynamics String Orchestra (DSO) rehearses on one Sunday per month in Coláiste Chu Chulainn, Dundalk. The rehearsals are facilitated by Louth Meath Education and Training Board, and Tomás Sharkey, Principal at Coláiste Chu Chulainn who generously support the Cross Border Orchestra of Ireland and all of our education programmes.

Children who joined the Dynamics programme in 2020 and 2021 will be eligible to join the Dynamics Orchestra in September 2022.

“My foster son Liam was very excited when he learned that he was going to be learning music and going to get to play a violin. To have this opportunity every day was truly fantastic. He enjoyed every minute and has achieved so much in the year that the end of term concert was a big surprise to me and all who attended. It was such for fun him. Wouldn’t it be truly amazing to be able to continue this on. Many many thanks to all involved. Just Brilliant!”

Ann

“Charlie, has really enjoyed the violin programme, and it has ignited a real passion for music in him. The daily exposure to lessons has made all the difference as he’s made progress quickly and the group set up means it’s also a fun exercise for their age group. Well done to all involved, it’s such a great idea and opportunity for the children.”

Caoimhe

“Sarah thoroughly enjoys her involvement with dynamics music. She has developed an interest in an instrument that she may never have considered and her confidence has flourished. I was struck by how quickly she learned to play the violin and amazed when I witnessed the whole group of children play together. It has been a wonderful experience for Sarah and extremely worthwhile. Many thanks to dynamics music and Marieclaire!”

Roisin

“The Dynamics programme has provided a wonderful opportunity for children in Cooley. Located in a rural area, it makes music lessons much more accessible and it is giving our children a marvellous experience as they are learning the violin in such an enjoyable way by learning alongside their peers each day. As a parent, I can see how the violin lessons are building self-esteem and confidence in my child. She has loved the lessons and has enjoyed learning the violin so much so that she has asked for a violin so that she can continue practising. We would really love to see the lessons continue next year.”

Lorraine

“We are so pleased that Fiona is getting an hour lesson each day on violin. As a violin teacher myself, I would say as a result of the daily playing she has come on so quickly and has done two years’ work in the space of one. She has also invited friends from her class to our house for ‘violin playdates’ which shows that they all have responded so enthusiastically! We are so appreciative of this initiative and hope it will continue next year.”

Zoë

“What a fantastic opportunity for the children of Mullaghbouy NS. My daughter Chloe really enjoys her daily violin class and speaks so highly of her teacher Marieclaire. It has done wonders for her confidence. Thank you to all involved.”

Annmarie

“Aibhlínn, Joseph and Aoife really enjoyed the violin lessons that they received at Mullaghbuoy National School from their teacher Marieclaire. You could see their confidence grow over the year and they always looked forward to their class with Marieclaire. The end of year recital was great for all the children to showcase all that they had learned.”

Kathy

“Saoirse really LOVES learning the violin. She told us about the concert as soon as she knew and told us not to miss it.”

Anonymous

“As Ahmid is a new child in the class, the violin lesson helped him to grow in confidence and settle into the classroom. I was surprised at how fast he picked up the violin as now he can play the songs the same as the other children who have been learning for a few months.”

Anonymous

“My child did private lesson for six months last year and didn’t enjoy them liked he enjoyed this. He loved his school violin lessons.”

Anonymous

“As grandparents, we are very proud of him. It is wonderful that he had this opportunity. We are buying him his own violin to practice at home.”

Anonymous

“I liked the violin because it is fun and it makes really nice music. There are a lot of different songs you can play with it.”

“We are learning to play and read music. It is fun.”

“We get to play games and do the train. It is very fun.”

“It is very important for us to learn something about music for when we are older and it sounds really good, even for children.”

“It is a joy in St. Joseph’s to hear the little ones taking their violin lesson each morning before school. It has brought a whole new dimension to the concept of playful learning and has filtered out to and enhanced other classrooms, assemblies and school events.”

“It has helped us as a school to re-envisage the teaching of music in every classroom.”

“Skills developed and enhanced during these lessons are concentration, group work, discipline, numeracy, literacy, listening skills, fine motor skills, independence and responsibility.”

“The benefits of preforming together and in front of other classes and parents are apparent in building their confidence, self-esteem and developing their creativity.”

“It has created new pathways to connecting with children, their families and the school community.”

“It is an amazing opportunity for these children to learn the violin on a daily basis. Some of these children would never have been exposed to instrumental music lesson otherwise. What a fantastic programme!”