Dr Aidan O’Donnell is one of those music teachers who sees talent and nurtures it – no matter who the student is, or what their musical goals are.
A native of Co Donegal, he is a professional traditional violinist, has a PhD in musicology from Ulster University and has spent years helping shape young musical minds as a teacher.
Late start
If you ask, Aidan will say he had a late start in music. Starting off with keyboard lessons at age 10; he moved to the fiddle at 12 and very quickly progressed; winning the Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 2007 and then, in 2010, being named the TG4 Young Musician of the Year. He is perhaps best known as a member of the critically acclaimed Celtic group Fidil.
“There was no music in my family, though my grandfather played a bit for his own enjoyment,” Aidan tells Irish Country Living. “In our house, neither of my parents played [an instrument], so when a keyboard suddenly landed from Santa, my brother and I went to local music lessons. That’s how I started the fiddle – kind of by accident.
“The teacher pulled my father aside and said, ‘See that young fella? You should really change him to the fiddle.’ He was talking about my brother! My dad said, ‘And what about the other fella?’ The teacher said, ‘Well - if you’re changing one, you might as well change the other.’ I was a complete afterthought,” he laughs.
Now, Aidan lives in Tipperary with his wife, Áine, who teaches at a local school and is a talented musician in her own right, and their three daughters Aoibhinn (6), Aisling (4) and Siún (3) – all little musicians in the making.
L-R Aisling (4), Siún (3) and Aoibhinn (6) O'Donnell / Philip Doyle
“With the girls, we don’t force it at all,” he says. “But it’s part of their daily experience. It’s the same as going to the local football pitch, if you have a parent who plays – you go off to training, toddling around and kicking the ball. That kind of daily experience has an effect from a young age.”
Music Generation
Aidan’s latest gig is working as music development officer at Music Generation Tipperary. Music Generation is Ireland’s national music education programme. It was founded in 2011; initiated by Music Network, and is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and the Department of Education and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs), in which Education and Training Boards and local authorities play a lead role.
Through this programme, young musicians have access to experienced teachers, professional musicians, performance opportunities and the chance to explore creativity through music. Lessons are affordable and there are also options for instrument rentals.
Aidan and his team of educators reach aspiring young musicians through their hubs (which can currently be found in Clonmel, Thurles, Nenagh, Newport and Killenaule), and also through their school programmes, where they offer specialised primary and secondary (non-curricular) programmes for students in a classroom setting.
Natural progression
When Aidan first moved to Tipperary in 2014, he was still touring as a professional musician and also had a music school back in Donegal. He says he never intended on teaching in Tipperary as he felt the area was already well covered for music lessons.
Aidan's approach to music education is relaxed; he feels it's important for students to enjoy what they're doing / Philip Doyle
“I was aware there was already a lot of music going on, locally,” he says. “I think it was just word of mouth, once I moved down a few of my wife’s friends had children wanting lessons and I ended up taking one lesson on - and then word got out and another person rang, and then another.”
Having built up a student base without advertising, Aidan realised there was an additional need for a music teacher in Thurles. As a result, he started his own music school.
“[At the time] there were lots of really great teachers locally - and there still are - but there wasn’t anyone in the town of Thurles itself,” he says. “I was conscious of not stepping on anybody’s toes, but it turned out, I wasn’t.”
In 2019, Music Generation Tipperary was established and Aidan was offered the chance to lead the county’s programme. He jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back.
“I got the position as music development officer for the county and I was delighted, because I was aware of Music Generation in other counties,” Aidan says. “My friend, Rosa Flannery, is the music development officer in Co Laois and is running a fantastic programme there. I had already done some work with Music Generation Laois and other Music Generations as a guest tutor or an adjudicator, so I had a fairly good idea of what it was about. I was excited to be part of that in a Tipperary context.”
Multi-faceted
Though Aidan has made his living as a traditional performance artist, Music Generation is a multi-genre, multi-instrumental programme.They experiment with global sounds as well as fiddles, tin whistles and accordions, and also teach rock and pop styles.
“Thurles is turning into a very much trad-oriented hub, where Clonmel and Killenaule are more rock and pop; it’s what the different areas are looking for,” he explains. “We’re starting new hubs, now, in Carrick on Suir and we hope to soon launch in Tipperary town. As we grow, we’ll hopefully also grow our team of educators to cater for that.”
Removing barriers
The core ethos of Music Generation, which is to remove any traditional barriers to music performance and education, is one in which Aidan has always personally believed and adhered to.
“I think people forget this all the time: that music education is more than about becoming successful,” he says. “Music is part of the social nature of your community - it’s very important to be involved in music, because that’s how we enjoy ourselves as a community.
Aidan's approach to music education is relaxed; he feels it's important for students to enjoy what they're doing / Philip Doyle
“Going back, people didn’t learn a song to be Pavarotti,” he continues. “They learned it to have a bit of fun with their friends at a party, or to entertain each other. It’s more important that young people have loads of fun while learning. Even if they don’t want to perform - they just want to play - that’s ok. Then, if they want to strive for excellence, we also accommodate for that. It’s about understanding those layers of context.”
“What we want to do is help young people find their creative selves,” he adds.
More about Music Generation
Irish Country Living reached out to Music Generation’s National Director, Rosaleen Molloy, to learn about the programme’s national goals.
Rosaleen says that, since its genesis in 2011, Music Generation has strived to ensure young people across Ireland can access high quality performance music education – regardless of where they live or their background.
“With programmes beginning in just three counties, we have grown sustainably and are on the cusp of national reach, with a presence in 29 towns and cities across 26 counties,” she says.
“We believe that through the joy of creating, learning, and performing music together, children and young people’s artistic, educational, social and personal development is enriched. To date we have delivered over 490,000 hours of music tuition, placing quality of experience for children and young people at the core of our provision.”
Aidan says his parents weren't musical and he learned to play "almost by accident" / Philip Doyle
This development includes learning self-expression, building confidence and forming friendships.
“Throughout our journey, through collaborating with our partners, we have been able to create memorable experiences for programme participants locally, nationally, and internationally,” Rosaleen explains. “Some have taken part in unforgettable moments such as composing new hip-hop music for Ireland’s World Children’s Day celebrations or performing with U2’s The Edge in the Sistine Chapel.
Our mission is ultimately to empower children and young people to realise their full potential through access to, and participation in, performance music education.”
Read more
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Damien O’Reilly: the home-base will always be in Castleknock
Dr Aidan O’Donnell is one of those music teachers who sees talent and nurtures it – no matter who the student is, or what their musical goals are.
A native of Co Donegal, he is a professional traditional violinist, has a PhD in musicology from Ulster University and has spent years helping shape young musical minds as a teacher.
Late start
If you ask, Aidan will say he had a late start in music. Starting off with keyboard lessons at age 10; he moved to the fiddle at 12 and very quickly progressed; winning the Oireachtas na Gaeilge in 2007 and then, in 2010, being named the TG4 Young Musician of the Year. He is perhaps best known as a member of the critically acclaimed Celtic group Fidil.
“There was no music in my family, though my grandfather played a bit for his own enjoyment,” Aidan tells Irish Country Living. “In our house, neither of my parents played [an instrument], so when a keyboard suddenly landed from Santa, my brother and I went to local music lessons. That’s how I started the fiddle – kind of by accident.
“The teacher pulled my father aside and said, ‘See that young fella? You should really change him to the fiddle.’ He was talking about my brother! My dad said, ‘And what about the other fella?’ The teacher said, ‘Well - if you’re changing one, you might as well change the other.’ I was a complete afterthought,” he laughs.
Now, Aidan lives in Tipperary with his wife, Áine, who teaches at a local school and is a talented musician in her own right, and their three daughters Aoibhinn (6), Aisling (4) and Siún (3) – all little musicians in the making.
L-R Aisling (4), Siún (3) and Aoibhinn (6) O'Donnell / Philip Doyle
“With the girls, we don’t force it at all,” he says. “But it’s part of their daily experience. It’s the same as going to the local football pitch, if you have a parent who plays – you go off to training, toddling around and kicking the ball. That kind of daily experience has an effect from a young age.”
Music Generation
Aidan’s latest gig is working as music development officer at Music Generation Tipperary. Music Generation is Ireland’s national music education programme. It was founded in 2011; initiated by Music Network, and is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds and the Department of Education and Local Music Education Partnerships (LMEPs), in which Education and Training Boards and local authorities play a lead role.
Through this programme, young musicians have access to experienced teachers, professional musicians, performance opportunities and the chance to explore creativity through music. Lessons are affordable and there are also options for instrument rentals.
Aidan and his team of educators reach aspiring young musicians through their hubs (which can currently be found in Clonmel, Thurles, Nenagh, Newport and Killenaule), and also through their school programmes, where they offer specialised primary and secondary (non-curricular) programmes for students in a classroom setting.
Natural progression
When Aidan first moved to Tipperary in 2014, he was still touring as a professional musician and also had a music school back in Donegal. He says he never intended on teaching in Tipperary as he felt the area was already well covered for music lessons.
Aidan's approach to music education is relaxed; he feels it's important for students to enjoy what they're doing / Philip Doyle
“I was aware there was already a lot of music going on, locally,” he says. “I think it was just word of mouth, once I moved down a few of my wife’s friends had children wanting lessons and I ended up taking one lesson on - and then word got out and another person rang, and then another.”
Having built up a student base without advertising, Aidan realised there was an additional need for a music teacher in Thurles. As a result, he started his own music school.
“[At the time] there were lots of really great teachers locally - and there still are - but there wasn’t anyone in the town of Thurles itself,” he says. “I was conscious of not stepping on anybody’s toes, but it turned out, I wasn’t.”
In 2019, Music Generation Tipperary was established and Aidan was offered the chance to lead the county’s programme. He jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back.
“I got the position as music development officer for the county and I was delighted, because I was aware of Music Generation in other counties,” Aidan says. “My friend, Rosa Flannery, is the music development officer in Co Laois and is running a fantastic programme there. I had already done some work with Music Generation Laois and other Music Generations as a guest tutor or an adjudicator, so I had a fairly good idea of what it was about. I was excited to be part of that in a Tipperary context.”
Multi-faceted
Though Aidan has made his living as a traditional performance artist, Music Generation is a multi-genre, multi-instrumental programme.They experiment with global sounds as well as fiddles, tin whistles and accordions, and also teach rock and pop styles.
“Thurles is turning into a very much trad-oriented hub, where Clonmel and Killenaule are more rock and pop; it’s what the different areas are looking for,” he explains. “We’re starting new hubs, now, in Carrick on Suir and we hope to soon launch in Tipperary town. As we grow, we’ll hopefully also grow our team of educators to cater for that.”
Removing barriers
The core ethos of Music Generation, which is to remove any traditional barriers to music performance and education, is one in which Aidan has always personally believed and adhered to.
“I think people forget this all the time: that music education is more than about becoming successful,” he says. “Music is part of the social nature of your community - it’s very important to be involved in music, because that’s how we enjoy ourselves as a community.
Aidan's approach to music education is relaxed; he feels it's important for students to enjoy what they're doing / Philip Doyle
“Going back, people didn’t learn a song to be Pavarotti,” he continues. “They learned it to have a bit of fun with their friends at a party, or to entertain each other. It’s more important that young people have loads of fun while learning. Even if they don’t want to perform - they just want to play - that’s ok. Then, if they want to strive for excellence, we also accommodate for that. It’s about understanding those layers of context.”
“What we want to do is help young people find their creative selves,” he adds.
More about Music Generation
Irish Country Living reached out to Music Generation’s National Director, Rosaleen Molloy, to learn about the programme’s national goals.
Rosaleen says that, since its genesis in 2011, Music Generation has strived to ensure young people across Ireland can access high quality performance music education – regardless of where they live or their background.
“With programmes beginning in just three counties, we have grown sustainably and are on the cusp of national reach, with a presence in 29 towns and cities across 26 counties,” she says.
“We believe that through the joy of creating, learning, and performing music together, children and young people’s artistic, educational, social and personal development is enriched. To date we have delivered over 490,000 hours of music tuition, placing quality of experience for children and young people at the core of our provision.”
Aidan says his parents weren't musical and he learned to play "almost by accident" / Philip Doyle
This development includes learning self-expression, building confidence and forming friendships.
“Throughout our journey, through collaborating with our partners, we have been able to create memorable experiences for programme participants locally, nationally, and internationally,” Rosaleen explains. “Some have taken part in unforgettable moments such as composing new hip-hop music for Ireland’s World Children’s Day celebrations or performing with U2’s The Edge in the Sistine Chapel.
Our mission is ultimately to empower children and young people to realise their full potential through access to, and participation in, performance music education.”
Read more
Musician Liz Doherty on Fleadhfest 2021 and her new trad platform
Damien O’Reilly: the home-base will always be in Castleknock
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