*Claire Watts.
CLARE ARTS OFFICE have relaunched a new monthly Irish Traditional Music session series called Trad 4 Teens.
Designed specifically for teenagers aged 12 to 18, these sessions will provide a welcoming, safe, and alcohol-free environment where young musicians can gather, learn, and play together.
Originally created by Claire Watts, with the support of Clare Arts Office, Trad 4 Teens ran successfully in Ennis from 2005 for several years. The initiative aims to give teenagers regular opportunities to experience Irish traditional music in an authentic session setting, led by an experienced host musician.
Through participating, young players will gain valuable exposure to essential elements of session etiquette, including how to lead and play a set of tunes, how to confidently start tunes within a group, and how to signal tune changes while maintaining strong ensemble cohesion.
By offering these weekly sessions across a variety of venues throughout County Clare, Trad 4 Teens seeks to support young musicians in building confidence outside classroom or competition settings. The programme is designed to deepen their understanding of Irish Traditional Music’s cultural and performance contexts while nurturing a sense of community among teenage players.
Siobhán Mulcahy, Clare Arts Officer, said, “The relaunch of Trad 4 Teens accompanies an upsurge in young Clare musicians looking to partake in music sessions throughout the county. Trad 4 Teens is a safe and welcoming space which builds the confidence of these musicians of the future”.
Inagh was the setting on Friday for the inaugural Trad 4 Teens session will take in Inagh Community Centre from 7 to 8.15pm on Friday, with special guest Therese McInerney.
Sessions will run on the last Friday of every month. To register or for more details contact Claire at: 0860674356, claire.watts@ul.ie or arts@clarecoco.ie
