Lead Department
Music and Performing Arts, MTU Cork School of Music
Coordinated by
David Hayes (David.Hayes@mtu.ie)
Active Members
The Learning Community currently consists of a small but engaged group of students and staff passionate about keyboard performance, industry best practices, and professional development.
Purpose
This Learning Community aims to foster collaboration among keyboard players, focusing on industry insights, best practices, and performance techniques. Through knowledge-sharing, workshops, and interactive sessions with industry professionals, the community seeks to enhance students' and staff members' understanding of keyboard musicianship in live and studio settings. Initially established during the COVID-19 lockdown, the community operated through a WhatsApp group, sharing resources such as performance techniques, repertoire, concert opportunities, and industry insights. As in-person activities resumed, membership has grown, with students and staff actively participating in workshops and collaborative events.
Summary of Activities
- Learning Community Activities 2023-24
- The community transitioned from a WhatsApp-based resource-sharing platform to in-person events.
- Hosted a specialist workshop featuring renowned keyboardist and saxophonist Padraig Kilbride.
- The session, attended by six students and David Hayes, focused on insider knowledge, performance techniques, and live sound execution.
- Participants had multiple opportunities to perform and apply insights in real-time, gaining hands-on experience in delivering authentic string performances on keyboards.
- Several students were inspired to purchase specific volume pedals with "long throw" calibration for enhanced control based on workshop insights.
- Learning Community Staff Impact 2023-24
- Expected impact: Between 1-5 staff members directly engaged.
- Learning Community Student Impact 2023-24
- Expected impact: Between 1-25 students benefitting from workshops and resource-sharing.
- Learning Community Outputs 2023-24
- Increased knowledge-sharing among students and staff.
- Hands-on industry-led workshop expanding technical and stylistic proficiency.
- Strengthened connections with industry professionals for future collaborations.
- Learning Community Update 2024-25
- The Learning Community aims to continue and expand on its previous activities.
- Plans to invite additional industry professionals for interactive workshops and knowledge-sharing.
- Potential for Learning Community members to attend external performances or masterclasses.
