Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann’s TTCT Teacher Training Course has over 800 graduates throughout Ireland and overseas. The course which has been in existence since 1980 has been specifically designed to equip teachers of Irish traditional music to teach more effectively in a wide variety of community settings. This residential course is highly subscribed and applications are received from candidates both nationally and internationally.

Amongst the subject areas included in this intensive course are:

· Irish traditional music and traditional music education and pedagogy

· Instrument methodology

· Musical literacy and analysis

· Accompaniment

· General principles of education, teaching and transmission

· Teaching and learning styles

· Class management & preparation

· Special Educational Needs and Irish Traditional Music

· Slow Airs

· SCT as a teaching/learning framework and slow airs as part of the traditional repository

· CCÉ Child Protection Guidelines

· Planning for the CCÉ Branch Music Education Programme & Core Branch Repertoire

· Teaching practice sessions which are mentored and comprise a significant part of the course

 

Within the practical teaching practice sessions which are monitored, the ratio of assessors/tutors to candidate allows for very significant levels of staff support.

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TTCT graduates have gone on to: Adjudicate at Fleadhanna Cheoil at County, Provincial and All-Ireland level, Tutor at Scoil Éigse and Perform on Comhaltas Tours.

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The TTCT course is ideal for:

· Musicians who, having mastered their instrument would like to continue their traditional music development.

· Musicians who want to develop their music-teaching skills.

· Musicians who would look like to study specific areas of traditional music, such as slow airs and accompaniment.

· An applicant who specialises in one of the following; fiddle/flute/whistle/concertina/button accordion/piano accordion/harp/banjo/uilleann pipes.

The following applicant requirements have been specified by the TTCT:

· Traditional musicians with attested skills as a teacher

· Who display a competent standard of technique and style with a minimum of 100 hours of teaching experience (from beginners to advanced levels)

· Must be 20 years of age or over at the time of taking the course.

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The teaching experience can include hours of mentored and supported teaching at Branch level and all other relevant formal and informal teaching contex

ts.

Queries in relation to eligibility are forwarded to the Director of the TTCT Majella Barley for consideration at majella@comhaltas.ie

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Successful applicants who have received a Distinction at Grade-8 of the SCT Traditional Irish Music Examinations will not be required to Audition.

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Course fee is €650, which includes onsite food and board for the full course week. Comhairle na Mumhan CCÉ will be making part-scholarships available to Munster applicants (who are members of a Munster CCÉ Branch) towards the course fees.

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