Music Network has curated three new online series of its professional development training programme for professional musicians, titled Taking Charge of Your Performance Career.

The edition focuses on making music with children, delving into the creative process and developing essential skills. Taking Charge of Your Performance Career 2022 is just one of the ways Music Network offers support to artists year-round.

The first course, Making Music Accessible for Children with Special Educational Needs, is due to take place on October 22nd and 29th.

Delivered by Dr. Denise White, a leading expert in music education and intellectual disability, this series of four Zoom workshops will provide professional musicians with the tools to inspire children through music, exploring new, creative and fully inclusive approaches.

Dr. Denise White FRSA is a multi-award-winning special needs and music educator with 30 years’ experience in early years, primary, post-primary, special educational needs, and further and higher education. She is known for her innovative and creative teaching methods and is the founder of the scientifically proven music invention “Conductology” – a universal gesture system for real-time music-making.

Tickets are €20 per workshop or €60 for all four workshops; places are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.

Dr Denise White (a leading expert in music education and intellectual disability) who is leading the October programme.

Later this autumn, Music Network will present two further professional development courses, offering musicians the opportunity to engage with leading performers and industry experts.

From 14th to 29th November, Taking Charge of Your Performance Career: Inside the Creative Process will consist of six interactive Zoom sessions delivered by NEA Jazz Master Dave Liebman, renowned conductor and soprano Barbara Hannigan, and award-winning bluegrass musician Béla Fleck.

Exploring such themes as authentic music-making, musical re-invention and successful collaboration, these acclaimed presenters will help musicians identify the tools which can be used to unlock fresh and creative approaches to their art

Tickets are €25 for 2 sessions; places are limited and are offered on a first come first served basis.

Béla Fleck by William Matthews.

From 12th to 14th December, Taking Charge of Your Performance Career: Developing Essential Skills will be delivered by violinist Tasmin Little, senior arts manager Eibhlín Gleeson and stage director John Ramster.

This free three-part Zoom series will focus on the critical areas of developing resilience, perfecting your networking skills and improving stage presence and communication. Tickets are free but registration is required.

“We are very pleased to announce the latest editions of Taking Charge of Your Performance Career for the coming autumn," CEO of Music Network, Sharon Rollston, said of the announcements.

"These span a range of engaging topics led by inspiring and highly experienced musicians and industry specialists. We are excited to have such an incredible array of top experts joining us, all keen to share their knowledge and help professional musicians to develop new skills that will help them advance their careers.”

Music Network is Ireland’s national music touring and development organisation, founded by the Arts Council. Its mission is to make high quality live music accessible to communities throughout Ireland and to help musicians to develop fulfilling careers.

For more information or to book your place on any of the above, visit musicnetwork.ie.