Saturday Open Sessions at The Core

To sign up please click here

The Core- Saturday Open Sessions facilitated by Conor Hickey
Ballina Arts Centre
12-1pm 
February- Sat 10th, 24th
March- 
Sat 2nd, 23rd
€Free Members / €5 Non Members

This is a drop in session where young people can hang out, jam and get to know like minded individuals at The Core. Members go free and can use it as space to get advice or help with their musical journey. This is an ideal way for non members to get a sense of what happens at The Core. 

To sign up, please click here

For more info, queries etc. [email protected] / 0877485954

To sign up, please click here

February Camp 2024 and Membership

Hi everyone!

Philip Cassidy here. I recently returned form career break and I am delighted to be back at The Core. I am excited to be back working with all the talented young musicians in Ballina and beyond. I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank Cathal Faughnan for all his work at The Core while I was away.

I am excited to announce our upcoming February camp and I will also be opening up membership at The Core soon. In the meantime I am asking anybody who is interested in membership to please fill this short expression of interest form by clicking here

If you wish to sign up for the February camp please do so by clicking here

Keep an eye on the website and @TheCoreMayo socials for exciting new announcements!

Thanks,

Philip

The Core Membership

The Core is a music hub in Ballina for teenagers. With membership, you get recording space that you can come into, there is access to recording equipment and a room that is suitable to get a great sound in. There are workshops and camps and industry advice and performance opportunities and I AM JEALOUS.

As a young person, there was no opportunities like this for musicians. You could join a band and have no where to play (because you were too young to play in pubs) or you could scour the internet for other musicians. OH WAIT, the internet barely existed in the way it does now. I am so old now…

My point! If you join us in The Core, you instantly are a member with other musicians. You then ask for performance opportunities and I will find them for you (not in pubs!). There are workshops and camps so that you can grow as a musician in ways you might not by yourself. AND! AND YOU CAN RECORD! DO KIDS REALISE HOW HARD IT WAS TO RECORD WHEN WE WERE YOUNG?!?!

Sorry… I lose the run of myself sometimes. I just had vivid flashbacks of trying to record music as a teen in a shed with a very busy road outside. The room in The Core is away from noise and recording- ready.

Get in touch. I would love to be involved in your music journey! Contact Cathal at 0877485954 or email [email protected]

Group Music Tuition is Back!!

We just started teaching again in The Core! Students came streaming in through the doors, plugged in their instruments and started making music again.

It is a great place to start or continue on your music making journey. As musicians, it can be difficult to find like-minded people to play with and it is crucial to improve. We learn so much by being in a room with other musicians. We learn teamwork, communication skills and patience! I had to learn to be patient as a musician. Just ask my old band… or maybe don’t!

Get in touch and ask questions. I love to hear from people and to see if we can facilitate their needs. That is what we are here for!

Don’t miss the chance. There are spaces available still. You can contact Cathal on 0877485954 or email [email protected].

We are having a Band Camp this week at The Core!

Band Camp in The Core, Mayo.


Calling all talented teenagers and musicians! The Core will be running a band camp in the Ballina Arts Centre July 4-6. It is open to all levels and all instruments. So, bring your Didgeridoo!
Date: July 4-6 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM Ages: 13-17
Come be creative, hone your skills and showcase your talents! In association with Ballina Arts Centre and Music Generation Mayo, we want to create a supportive and inspiring environment where participants can learn, collaborate, and grow as musicians.
Meet other young people interested in music. Register now to secure your spot!
Contact Cathal on 0877485954

or

email: [email protected]

Recording Camp

Our first Recording Camp of the Summer at The Core!

From June 27-29th, we will have a summer camp in the Ballina Arts Centre.

Teenagers (Ages 12-18) will learn to produce a song from start to finish.

All skill levels are welcome.

Contact Cathal at 0877485954 or

email: [email protected]

Summer Camp June20-22: Breaking Creative Blocks Through Songwriting

Unleash Your Musical Potential at The Core’s Summer Camp

We are thrilled to announce an upcoming summer camp for ages 12-18 that aims to break creative blocks through the power of songwriting. This three-day program, in association with Music Generation Mayo, is for aspiring songwriters and musicians of all skill levels. Held in the Ballina Arts Centre, this camp offers the opportunity to explore the art of songwriting and overcome creative obstacles.

The summer camp will span three days, running from 10am to 1.30pm, providing participants with ample time to dive deep into the world of song creation. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned musician, this camp offers a supportive environment to nurture your creative talents.

The camp offers flexible pricing options. For those looking to attend a single day, the cost is only 20 euros, while the full three-day package is available at a discounted rate of 50 euros. The Core members will benefit from further discounts, making this an affordable opportunity for all aspiring songwriters.

Participants will explore various aspects of song-writing. From finding inspiration to crafting melodies and writing lyrics, the camp will cover the essential elements of the song-writing process. Through engaging workshops, collaborative activities, and personalized guidance, attendees will learn techniques to overcome creative blocks and develop their unique musical voice.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to break through creative barriers and unlock your musical potential. Join us for three days of exploration, collaboration, and growth, as you go on an exciting song-writing journey. Register today and get ready to unleash your creativity in the supportive and inspiring atmosphere of The Core.

Contact Cathal

E: [email protected]

Ph: 0877485954

Improvisation Workshop with Chris Guilfoyle (Improvised Music Company)

Improvisation Workshop with Chris Guilfoyle (Improvised Music Company) in partnership with The Core, Music Generation Mayo and Ballina Arts Centre. Wednesday 23rd November at 5.30pm €FREE for members of The Core / €5 non members. Open to all instruments, with a focus on guitar. This is an exciting opportunity for any young person wishing to gain an insight into the world of jazz music and improvisation in general. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Chris Guilfoyle is a guitarist, composer, bandleader, educator currently based Dublin. After completing his BA in Jazz Performance at Newpark Music Centre, Dublin in 2010 , He went on to receive a Masters Degree in Music Performance from Lucerne University, Switzerland in 2014. Over the last 10 years Chris has toured regularly around Ireland and abroad. Since 2011, Chris has been a member of faculty on Newpark Music Centre’s BA in Jazz Performance program, and has since become a Jazz Lecturer at Dublin City Univeristy where he teaches guitar and ensemble studies. He is also a founding member of the Dublin Jazz Co-op, a collective of Irish jazz musicians putting on weekly gigs in the Workman’s Club, Dublin. Chris leads his own group Umbra, a critically aclaimed quintet featuring some of the most promising musicians in the country. Umbra have released 2 records in the last 2 years and have toured extensively in Ireland and Europe. In his relatively short career, Chris has played with some of the biggest names in jazz including Dave Liebman, Jim Black, Tom Rainey, Theo Bleckmann, Nils Wogram, Ralph Peterson, John O’Gallagher and David Binney.