Marco DiMarzio - 1st Prize Adult Category
Francesca Keane - 2nd Prize Under 15

Katy Curran, Joan Prendergast, Patricia Quigley, Eileen Brinley, Fr Frank Sammon, John Butler, Karl Ganter, Emma Boylan, Linda Tapley, Michael Bevan, John Kellet, Anne Downey, Anne Marie Dillon, Mark Duffy, Carmel Fleming, Ailish Garrity, David Boylan, Marco Di Marzio.

Francesca Keane wins the first prize in the Under 14 Category of the 53rd Kilcoole Music Festival. In addition she placed 3rd also in the Under 16. Congratulations Francesca!

Elva McCabe- 2nd Prize U14, Marco DiMarzio- 2nd Prize Adult, David Boylan- 3rd Prize Adult

Anne Downey, Jane Brownley, Michael Bevan, Annemarie Dillon, Grainne Casey, Patricia Quigley, Jimmy Cotter, Michael Hayes, Karl Ganter, Mary Flynn, Eileen Brindley, Joan Prendergast, Bernadette Gorman, Mary Ryan, Ray Lund, Frank Doyle, John Kellett, John Butler, Caroline Saunders, David Boylan, Doireann Hanley

I can only think of one word, “happiness.” Most philosophers agree that an individual who can learn to know himself and his relation to his God attains the highest human happiness. I hope these questions and answers have given new meaning to the value of your child’s private study of music. Written sincerely in the best interests of your special and wonderful children!

The value of musical education increases as we grow older. The enjoyment of listening to music increases with every hearing of great literature. Mental and emotional understanding of music develops as the person grows. The availability of music through research and recorded music increases every year. What other investment of an hour per day or more for a few years can pay off with so many years of happy solo or group performance and enlightened listening, unaffected by physical vigor?

No matter how small and select a class, it is still a class of unequal individuals. The only ideal educational situation is the “Private Tutor.” The private music and art teacher can give special and undivided attention to one child at a time. As a result, the teacher knows each child’s special capabilities and can also be a sympathetic friend and confidant when necessary. Private study also teaches the student how to discipline his/her time and mind so that the education at school may be more successful. No other kind of teacher can ever appreciate as fully the uniqueness of each individual child as a private teacher can. If each student were inspired to develop his own potential to its utmost, what a remarkable world this would be! As schools and classes inevitably grow larger, the privilege of having a private teacher grows more precious.

On the piano, a child learns to use ten fingers on two hands responding to eye and ear demands made to the brain simultaneously. In fact, after the first few weeks of lessons, the eye learns to read at least a measure ahead of what the muscles of all those fingers are doing in rhythm! Decisions as to loudness and softness must be made ahead of the muscular reaction, plus various touches by different parts of the hand. When we think of the actual difficulties involved, it is almost unbelievable that children can learn to do it so quickly. Nothing speeds up the coordination of muscles and the development of the brain so rapidly as learning a piece for piano. This reading speed and coordination inevitably carries over into your child's reading at school, which will then seem terribly easy.

Usually we consider an investment in terms of money. For example, we put so much aside every month so that our children may have the money at the time he needs it for college. In other words, we are buying free time and education for our children with money paid for our working time now. In a twenty-year endowment policy, we are buying freedom from toil for ourselves. What we are doing is investing in something we feel is important. We are willing to sacrifice our time and energy now, for the increasing value of our investment as we get older.

Do you wonder sometimes if it is worth it? Constant effort in seeing that your child practices, not to mention the time, effort, and money involved.  Most of them are not going to be concert pianists or professional musicians anyway, so why bother? Most of you have probably felt this way many times. The whole problem seems to resolve itself into an issue of time investment. Schools educate our children in fundamental subjects for six to eight hours a day; most children sleep about 10 hours; meals and play take up two to three hours. For the three to four extra hours a day your child has, what should you choose as a worthy investment of that time?