Dara Black - Music Teacher

Dara Black is an experienced and innovative music teacher working in Dublin and Wicklow. During school terms Dara teaches Leaving and Junior Cert. Music, Piano, Recorder, Music Theory, Leaving Cert. Music Technology and Glee Club. During school breaks Dara runs teacher education workshops and Song and Writing workshops.
This website aims to be helpful to Leaving and Junior Cert. Music students, piano students and their parents. Comments, suggestions, etc. are very welcome.

News in short:

I'm working on a redesign of this website. A new, more shiny site is on the way!

Find out about Wicklow Glee Club Summer Camps for kids and teens, 26th-30th July!

Are you interested in lessons, a course or grinds? Click here for more information.

Photos from Wicklow Glee Club Summer Camp 2010. Click any image to see a bigger version. Visit Glee Club Summer Camp page for more photos.

The benefits of studying music

Music instruction and study can help with other areas of life including:

Self-regulation and independence
Practice makes perfect! I encourage all of my students to take charge of their practice from a very early stage which helps them to self-regulate and be independent. These skills are especially advantageous to their education and will become especially useful should they go to college!

Maths
There is a strong link between music and maths. I encourage my students to looks for features and patterns in music. In theory students learn how music is organised and the relationships different musical features have with each other. These skills are also used in maths.

Confidence
Learning to play an instrument and performing that instrument for an audience improves self-confidence. I visit St. Colman's Hospital once a month with a group of my students to play for the residents. The experience is enjoyable and rewarding for all involved. I also encourage students to enter exams and competitions.

My approach to teaching is to encourage students to enjoy learning as much as possible. I explain the purpose of every exercise to them. My students all have a desire to improve, become more skilled and I encourage them to take pride in weekly, monthly and yearly achievements.