TriskellMusic

We had a very enjoyable evening last Sunday sitting around the fire and listening to and playing for each other. Thanks to everyone who attended for the support and encouragement which is such an important part of the students journey.
Have a lovely Christmas and New Year and see you in 2026. 😁

Arrangements for Junior Cycle & Leaving Cert Music Examinations 2026

Throwback pic to when I time-tabled using little slips of paper for each student. These days its all digital - but still one of the busiest times of year for me !
This years timetable is all set.
All returning students have their slots and I've managed to offer a slot to everyone who filled out an application form between Sept 2024 and Jun 2025.
No mean feat, considering the low dropout level. Have resorted to adding several Group Offerings which I'm excited about. Before Covid at least 50% of the lessons were Group lessons and it will be nice to go back to that particular energy a couple of days a week.

Here's to 2025/26 - hopefully a great musical year for everyone !

Lovely way to finish up the Academic year connecting with other Piano Teachers all generously sharing research and ideas with the common goal of continually improving what we do.

We are thrilled to be offering a drop-in session on June 20th from 14:00 - 16:00 at Library! Come and check out the range of instruments available from your local library with branch, with some cool additions from the Music Generation Kerry instrument bank!! This collaborative project is funded by CreativeIrl 's grant.

Music Generation Ireland
Kerry Education and Training Board
Kerry County Council
Kerry County Arts
Kerry Library

Feis Ceoil starts Tomorrow in Dublin.

Did you know you can go and watch the competitions for free?
A lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon.

Feis Ceoil 2025 begins this Saturday at DCU All Hallows 🎶

For everything you need to know about the venue, including parking, public transport and where to eat, click here: https://feisceoil.ie/feis-all-hallows/

For competition questions, read our FAQ:
https://www.feisceoil.ie/syllabus/faqs.asp

Limerick Arts Office, Limerick City and County Council, is offering one bursary to attend the Blas International Summer School for Traditional Irish Music and Dance at the University of Limerick.

Closing date for applications is Monday, 9 June at 12noon.

www.limerick.ie/council/services/community-and-leisure/culture-and-arts/funding-schemes-and-bursaries/blas

Talent? It’s just practice in disguise..

Let’s get one thing straight: talent is the ultimate magician. It shows up, performs its tricks, and leaves everyone gasping “Wow, they’re so naturally gifted!”
But behind the curtain? It’s really just hours and hours (and hours) of practice wearing a fancy cape.

Take a deep breath, this is actually great news.

It means you don’t need to be born with some mystical “talent gene” to do amazing things. You just need to put in the work.

Think about Mozart (yes, him again). People love to say, “Oh, he was born a genius.” Sure, Mozart started composing at five, but guess what?
His dad was a music teacher who made him practice like crazy. He wasn’t just born scribbling symphonies in the womb. He practiced, experimented, and honed his craft relentlessly.

Or how about Serena Williams? She wasn’t born with a tennis racket in her hand. She was trained from a young age with intense dedication. What we see on the court now—those jaw-dropping moves—is the result of thousands of hours of sweat and hard work.

Even Picasso had to learn how to draw stick figures before painting Guernica.

The truth is, practice doesn’t care where you came from, how old you are, or whether your neighbor has “better genes” than you. It rewards effort, consistency, and a willingness to fail (a lot).

Think of it like a bank account for skills. Every time you practice, you make a little deposit.

Some days it’s pennies, other days it’s a nice fat check. Over time, all those deposits add up.

And suddenly, one day, people are like, “Wow, you’re so talented!” while you just smile, knowing your secret: that talent is just practice with better PR.

Why practice beats “talent” every time

- You’re in control: You can’t control if you’re born with a “gift,” but you can control how much effort you put in.

- It’s more reliable: Natural talent might give someone a head start, but consistent practice will always win the long race.

- Failure becomes your friend: Practice isn’t about getting it right every time; it’s about getting better. Messing up is part of the process.
Practicing isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it’s frustrating, repetitive, and you’d rather binge-watch your favorite show.
But every time you push through, you’re inching closer to your goals. Plus, there’s a strange kind of joy in realizing that the thing you couldn’t do last week is now a piece of cake.

So, if you’re looking at someone’s incredible skill and feeling discouraged, remember this: they weren’t born amazing. They put in the time, made mistakes, and kept showing up. And you can do the same.

Whether it’s playing piano, learning a language, or becoming the reigning champion of charades, your success isn’t about “talent.” It’s about practice, patience, and a willingness to keep trying—even when it’s messy.

And hey, if all else fails, just remember: Mozart practiced. Serena practiced. You can practice too. Who knows? One day, people might be whispering, “Wow, they’re so talented!” about you. 😊

On these words.. I’ll start practicing .. Have a good day! 😘

ps: Then there is quality over quantity.. I’ll do a post about that.. quantity without quality is not practice .. you better have a walk instead 😇 And there is such thing as too much practice.. 😉