Early Years Training
For our youngest students, we have the following Early Years group training programmes:
- Pre-instrumental group classes (Age 4 - 8)
- Recorder group classes (Age 7 - 12)
- Magic Melodies (Age 6-8) and Junior Choirs (Age 8 - 18)
- Introduction to Piano group classes (Age 6 - 8) (Our introduction to piano classes are now fully booked for 2025/2026. You can contact riamjunior@riam.ie if you would like to be added to the waiting list.)
- Introduction to Violin group classes (Age 6 - 8) (Our introduction to violin classes are now fully booked for 2025/2026. You can contact riamjunior@riam.ie if you would like to be added to the waiting list.)
- Introduction to Brass group classes (Age 6 - 12)
- Introduction to Guitar group classes (Age 7 - 10)
Early years students are accepted into RIAM’s programmes without audition. These classes build and develop the young student's musical skills and awareness, and offer a pathway towards taking individual lessons.
Pre-instrumental classes are aimed at children between the ages of 4 - 8. Children learn through group activities in an enjoyable an stimulating way. The curriculum is based on the Kodaly concept which develops musicianship through singing.
Recorder classes provide a pathway for the beginner who wants to take up a wind, brass or percussion instrument later.
The introductory piano, violin, brass and guitar classes are similarly the starting point for beginners who want to take up a keyboard, string or brass instrument.
Early years students can subsequently apply to one-to-one study once their technical facility and physical stamina have reached the levels required to take up an instrument.
RIAM’s pre-instrumental classes offer the musical building blocks for budding young musicians between the ages of 4 and 7 years. Children learn through group activities in a structured, enjoyable and stimulating way, appropriate to the mental and physical stages of their development.
Our pre-instrumental curriculum follows the Kodaly concept of music education, which develops musicianship through singing. Using their voice has a profound effect upon the child’s physical, social, emotional and intellectual development and is the most direct way of making a musical response.
- The aims of RIAM’s pre-instrumental classes are:
- To awaken the child’s interest in music
- Development of beat and rhythm skills
- Development of aural abilities
- Inner hearing
- Timbre/tone quality
- Musical memory
- Listening skills
- Notation reading/writing
- Performing
- Introduction to instruments
Group levels are:
4 – 5 years; 5 – 6 years; 6 – 7 years; 7 – 8 years
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Duration of Class: 45 minutes
Fee: €835 for the Academic year starting September 2025
Audition is not required for pre-instrumental classes, but all children must audition to move on to individual instrumental tuition.
Recorder classes are designed for 7-12 year old students. These classes are an ideal starting point for anyone intending to progress to wind, brass or percussion instruments.
Class sizes are small, not more than four students. The classes are held each week during the academic year. Students learn the basic techniques of recorder playing, breathing and reading music in a relaxed environment.
Students take part in the RIAM Recorder Ensemble where they get an invaluable grounding in ensemble playing and music making. The RIAM Recorder Ensemble plays at many concerts throughout the year, including the Performing Groups concert at the NCH.
Students will take recorder for two years. They have the option of applying to audition for individual classes in recorder or any other wind, brass or percussion instrument in their second year.
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Fee: €945 for the Academic year starting September 2025
Join one of RIAM's young vocal ensembles to develop the skills of good breathing, posture, intonation and rhythm in the company of your peers:
Magic melodies: age 6-8, suitable for children who have just started an instrument or who are absolute beginners. No audition required.
Junior: age 8 to 11. Entry by audition
Intermediate: age 12 to 14. Entry by audition
Advanced: age 15 to 18. Entry by audition
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Fees: €465 for the Academic year starting September 2025
This 2-year programme is aimed at beginners aged 6 - 8. The aim of the programme is to give enjoyment and love for music to children at an early stage. It is also designed to give all piano beginners a chance to learn the basics above before moving to one-to-one tuition, if they wish.
The classes will cover:
- Basic piano technique – hand position, relaxation, posture
- Reading pitches and rhythms in piano music
- Playing easy piano repertoire
- Playing easy piano duets with classmates and teacher
- Scales and broken chords
- All about the piano as an instrument
Students will have an opportunity to participate in class and Keyboard Faculty Concerts.
The teacher may advise students who are in the second year of the programme to apply to audition for individual lessons for the forthcoming Academic year. The skills learnt on this 2-year programme can be used as valuable preparation for further musical study on not only the piano, but on other instruments.
No audition is required for this introductory class.
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Duration of Class: 60 minutes
Class Size: maximum of 3 per class
Fee: €945 for the Academic year starting September 2025
This 2-year programme is aimed at beginners aged 6 - 8. This introductory class is designed to give all violin beginners a chance to learn the basics in a group environment, where they will also build listening, social and communication skills. The classes are scheduled to allow time for set-up and post class questions within the hour.
The classes will cover:
- Basic violin technique — bowing technique, fingering, relaxation, posture
- Basic music theory — pitch, rhythm, key, time signature, dynamics, intervals
- Playing easy violin repertoire
- Playing easy violin duets with classmates and teacher
- Scales and arpeggios
Music theory is fully integrated into the course alongside fun repertoire, technical exercises, duet and ensemble playing.
The teacher may advise students who are in the second year of the programme to apply to audition for individual lessons for the forthcoming Academic year. The skills learnt on this 2-year programme can be used as valuable preparation for further musical study on not only the violin, but on any stringed instrument.
No audition is required for this introductory class.
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Duration of Class: 60 minutes
Class Size: maximum of 3 per class
Fee: €945 for the Academic year starting September 2025
This 2-year programme is aimed at beginners aged 6 - 12. This introductory class is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of brass playing in an encouraging group environment, where they will also build listening, social and communication skills. The classes are scheduled to allow time for set-up and post class questions within the hour.
The classes will cover:
- Basic brass technique — buzzing, breath control, relaxation, posture
- Basic music theory — pitch, rhythm, key, time signature, dynamics, intervals
- Playing introductory brass repertoire
- Playing introductory brass duets with classmates and teacher
- Scales and arpeggios
Music theory is fully integrated into the course alongside fun repertoire, technical exercises, duet and ensemble playing.
The teacher may advise students who are in the second year of the programme to apply to audition for individual lessons for the forthcoming Academic year. The skills learnt on this 2-year programme can be used as valuable preparation for further musical study.
No audition is required for this introductory class.
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Duration of Class: 60 minutes
Fee: €945 for the Academic year starting September 2025
This 2-year programme is aimed at beginners aged 7 - 10. This introductory class is designed to give all guitar beginners a chance to learn the basics in a group environment, where they will also build listening, social and communication skills. The classes are scheduled to allow time for set-up and post class questions within the hour.
The classes will cover:
- Basic guitar technique — picking, fingering, relaxation, posture
- Basic music theory — pitch, rhythm, key, time signature, dynamics, intervals
- Playing introductory guitar repertoire
- Playing introductory guitar duets with classmates and teacher
- Scales and arpeggios
Music theory is fully integrated into the course alongside fun repertoire, technical exercises, duet and ensemble playing.
The teacher may advise students who are in the second year of the programme to apply to audition for individual lessons for the forthcoming Academic year. The skills learnt on this 2-year programme can be used as valuable preparation for further musical study.
No audition is required for this introductory class.
No of Weeks per Year: 30 Weeks per Academic Year
Duration of Class: 60 minutes
Class Size: maximum of 4 per class
Fee: €945 for the Academic year starting September 2025
For more information email riamjunior@riam.ie
APPLY FOR EARLY YEARS TRAINING ON OUR HOW TO APPLY PAGE
APPLY FOR EARLY YEARS TRAINING ON OUR HOW TO APPLY PAGE
Parents or minders of children who are not quite ready to enter our pre-instrumental group classes or introductory programmes may be interested in our pre-junior courses, Ditties for Dotes or Tunes for Toddlers for babies and toddlers up to age 4 and run in shorter 6-week increments.