Campa Samhraidh/ Summer Camps

Ballina Arts Centre

Ballina Civic Offices, Arran Place, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

T: 096 73593 E: ballinaartscentre@gmail.net W: www.ballinaartscentre.com

First Steps in Music, with Edel McDonnell

Ballina Arts Centre

Monday 12th July – Friday 16th July

Monday 19th July – Friday 23rd July

 This July, Ballina Arts Centre is presenting this exciting Summer Camp – First Steps in Music.

The camp will cater for a variety of age groups (see below), and offers an opportunity for children to get an introduction to music-making with experienced music teacher Edel McDonnell.

The Camp has three strands:

First Steps in Music: Parents & Children (age 3 & 4) offers a nurturing environment for parents and children to develop a love of music-making. Children attending this workshop will experience activities which will prepare them for the development of accurate rhythmic and singing skills, and sensitivity to the expressive qualities in music - in an enjoyable and stimulating way, through a carefully chosen repertoire of songs and rhymes. The young child’s response to pitch, beat and rhythm develops in a natural way through active experience of these elements. All learning is unconscious at this stage and takes place in a playful manner with the emphasis on music making and enjoyment.

First Steps in Music (age 5 & 6) is built upon the principles advocated by Zoltán Kodály (1882-1967), a Hungarian composer and educationalist. Kodály’s approach to music education was based on teaching, learning and understanding music through the experience of singing, giving direct access to the world of music with the technical problems involved with the use of an instrument. His desire was to see music education built on a philosophy that music is for everyone.

First Steps in Music: Recorder (age 7, 8 & 9) is an extension of the Kodály concept through the use of an instrument. When students are already immersed in a rich vocal environment, recorder is the best first instrument. The recorder will be used interchangeably with the voice in singing games and other musical activities. Students will need to purchase their own 'Aulos' Descant Recorder prior to the commencement of the summer camp.

 Edel McDonnell (MA, BAMus, LRSM, DipMus RIAM) currently lectures in the Musicianship Department at the CIT Cork School of Music and on the BA in Early Childhood Care and Education course and on the BA in Social Care Studies in Cork Institute of Technology. Edel completed a Certificate in Kodály Music Education Concept from Silver Lake College, Wisconsin, USA, in July 2009.  In 2008, she pursued a study tour at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music, Kecskemet, Hungary and also obtained a Professional Development Certificate in Early Childhood Music (Kodály) with the British Kodály Academy, England. She is currently pursuing a part-time Masters of Music EducationDegree (Kodály emphasis) at Silver Lake College, USA. 

Times

10-10:45am First Steps in Music: Parent & Child (age 3 & 4 years, accompanied by parent/guardian)  Cost: €25

 11-12:30pm First Steps in Music (Age 5 & 6 years) Cost: €40

 1-2:30pm First Steps in Music: Recorder (Age 7, 8 & 9 years)Students will need to purchase their own 'Aulos' Descant Recorder (approx €16). These can be purchased from the Axe Shack Music Shop, Ballina (096) 76660 Cost: €40

 Each camp runs for one week (Monday-Friday). Please state which week when booking. Payment must be made in full, in advance of the SummerCamp 

Drama SummerCamp for Children, with Niamh McGrath

Ballina Arts Centre

Monday 9th – Friday 13th August

Interested in drama, having fun and making new friends? Then the Ballina Arts Centre Drama SummerCamp is the place for you.

The Drama SummerCamp for Children is designed to develop children's confidence and creativity and each day they will be lead through creative theatre games, exercises & fun improvisations.

We will look at the composition of scenes which will be shown on the final day.

Niamh McGrath is a professional actress, playwright, director and drama teacher. Niamh has run many drama workshop at Ballina Arts Centre, as well as working in schools and being the Artistic Director of Mayo Youth Theatre.

Times: 5-7 year olds: 10.30am-12.30pm

8-10 year olds: 1.30-3.30pm

Ticket price: €40 for 5 workshops. Pre-booking for all workshops is essential.

Children should wear comfortable clothes and bring a snack and a drink.

Ticket price: €40 for 5 workshops (all courses)

Pre-booking for all workshops is essential.

ÁRAS INIS GLUAIRE

ÁISLEANN BHÉAL AN MHUIRTHEAD, BELMULLET, T: 097 81079

There will be a Summer Camp in Áras Inis Gluaire, from July 12 to 16, for primary school children who are 6 years or over since January 1. During the week, various educational, sporting and cultural activities will be organised.  Participants will be encouraged to speak Irish.  Call 097 81079 for more info.

LINENHALL ARTS CENTRE

Linenhall St, Castlebar, Mayo. 

T: 094 9023733 E: linenhall@anu.ie

ARTCAMP 1: DRAMA & VISUAL ART

Title: Jack and the Beanstalk

Age Group: 7-12 year olds

Dates: Monday 5th July - Friday 9th July

Times: 10.00am - 2.30pm

Description: Jack and the Beanstalk: Give your child the chance to explore their creative side in a week of drama (including drawing, painting and making sets), music and dance. This fun-filled week will culminate in a gigantically amusing musical stage show based on Roald Dahl’s Jack and the Beanstalk. No previous musical or acting experience is necessary, just participants who are full of beans! Jack, our hero and the friendly farm animals defy the Giant's phenomenal sniffing powers (and Jack's mother's murderous way with a vacuum-cleaner) to come out triumphantly rich and squeaky clean.  Facilitators: Maura Flynn and Deirdre Gavin

Cost: €80  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL

ARTCAMP 2: DRAMA & VISUAL ART

Title: Explore, Invent, Create, Perform / Puppet Parade

Age Group: 7-9 year olds

Dates: Monday 12th July - Friday 16th July

Times: 11.00am - 2.30pm

Description:  Explore, Invent, Create, Perform: Learn the tricks of the trade when it comes to performance! Learn how to move on stage. Bring stories to life through role play and improvisation, creating all sorts of characters and picking up some acting skills along the way. We’ll explore legends and fairytales including “Fionn in Search of his Youth”, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “The Tinder Box”. It’s going to be a fun-filled week of adventure!

Puppet Parade: A puppet making workshop designed for older children, during this workshop you’ll get to make at least four different styles of puppets, from hand puppets to shadow puppets, and marionettes to stick puppets. You’ll be very busy coming up with the types of characters you want to create, and our visual art team have lots of tips and advice to help you along the way.

Facilitators: Catherine Simon (drama); Visual Art Team

Cost: €70  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL

ARTCAMP 3: DRAMA & VISUAL ART

Title: Let yourself go…/ Puppet Land

Age Group: 5 - 6 year olds

Dates: Monday 12th July - Friday 16th July

Times: 11.00am - 2.30pm

Description:  Let yourself go…: Prepare to be brought on a memorable journey meeting and exploring colourful characters along the way. Through theatre games and exercises, mime and expression, movement and dance, improvisation and role play we will bring to life fairytales including “Jack and the Beanstalk”, “The Selfish Giant” and “The Mice Wedding”. A fun-filled interactive workshop where your imagination will be encouraged and nourished through the creative world of theatre.

Puppet Land: Make your gloves and socks come alive as you create your own puppet characters! You’ll learn how to stitch on eyes with our child-friendly sewing needles, and there will be lots of different materials at your disposal to create the puppet character of your choice. You’ll be guided by our visual art team who will assist you with your designs and give you some tips along the way. You’ll also create a box theatre in which your puppets can come alive, and paint the world in which your puppets live.  Facilitators: Catherine Simon (drama); Visual Art Team

Cost: €70  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL

ARTCAMP 4: DANCE & VISUAL ART

Title: Discover Dance / Where the Wild Things Are

Age Group: 7-8 year olds

Dates: Monday 19th July - Friday 23rd July

Times: 11.00am - 2.30pm

Description: Discover Dance: A workshop that encourages children to have fun through dance, with an emphasis on performance skills. Learn energetic moves and innovative dance routines comfortably at their own pace. The classes are designed to improve body awareness, foster self-confidence, coordination skills, limbering and muscle tone, under the guidance of professional dancer and choreographer Paula McGurrell

Where the Wild Things Are: In this specially designed mask-making workshops you’ll find out all about the fascinating world of masks: you’ll create a mask based on traditional African designs, basic animal masks, and then make a mask of your own design based on the characters of Maurice Sendak’s story Where the Wild Things Are. Our visual art team will be there to assist you, and you’ll have materials including papier mâché, paint, card, sticks, and fabric to work with.  Facilitators: Paula McGurrell (dance); Visual Art Team

Cost: €70  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL

ARTCAMP 5: DANCE & VISUAL ART

Title: Dance Grooves / Where the Wild Things Are

Age Group: 9-11 year olds

Dates: Monday 19th July - Friday 23rd July

Times: 11.00am - 2.30pm

 Description: Dance Grooves participants will learn energetic moves, innovative dance routines and develop a range of performance skills under the guidance of professional dancer and choreographer Paula McGurrell. The classes are designed to improve body awareness, foster self confidence, co-ordination skills, limbering and muscle tone. By the end of the week, participants will learn complete routines comfortably at their own pace. Get those moves!

Where the Wild Things Are: In this specially designed mask-making workshops you’ll find out all about the fascinating world of masks: you’ll create a mask based on traditional African designs, basic animal masks, and then make a mask of your own design based on the characters of Maurice Sendak’s story Where the Wild Things Are. Our visual art team will be there to assist you, and you’ll have materials including papier mâché, paint, card, sticks, and fabric to work with.  Facilitators: Paula McGurrell (dance); Visual Art Team  Cost: €70  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL

ARTCAMP 6: PARENT AND TODDLER MUSIC

Title: Parent and Toddler First Steps in Music

Age Group: 3-4 year olds

Dates: Monday 26th July - Friday 30th July

Times: 10.00am-10.45am

Description:  Parent and Toddler First Steps in Music Classes create a nurturing environment for parents and children (3 & 4 yrs) to develop a love of music-making together. They experience activities that will prepare the child for the development of accurate rhythmic and singing skills, and sensitivity to the expressive qualities in music - in an enjoyable and stimulating way through a carefully chosen repertoire of songs and rhymes. The workshops are built upon the principles advocated by Zoltán Kodály whose desire was to see music education built on a philosophy that music is for everyone. Facilitator: Edel McDonnell (music) Cost: €25  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL

ARTCAMP 7: MUSIC & VISUAL ART

Title: First Steps in Music  / Painters, Shakers and Melody Makers

Age Group: 5-6 year olds

Dates: Monday 26th July - Friday 30th July

Times: 11.00am - 2.30pm

Description:  First Steps in Music: An engaging introduction to understanding the important elements of music, based on the principles advocated by composer and educationalist Zoltan Kodály. There will be lots of fun activities during the week with a concert on the final day for parents, family and friends. Participants will learn about different musical concepts - pitch, rhythm, melody, dynamics, tempo, character, form and style - in an enjoyable and stimulating way through a carefully chosen repertoire of songs and rhymes.

Painters, Shakers and Melody Makers: In this workshop you’ll be making all sorts of decorated sound making objects, from snake maracas to branch tambourines, and dolled-up drums to wind chimes. You’ll go away with some beautiful looking, and sounding, instruments of your own creation! Facilitators: Edel McDonnell (music); Visual Art Team  Cost: €70  NB: Booking ESSENTIAL