Comments from course attendees

“Learned to understand the music better, interpret the layers,

discuss the story behind the music and have a laugh”

“Concept of listening in pairs was very successful – we began to think for ourselves,

not always relying on the tutor”

“A listening class, although equally a class that looks at music history, personalities, notation and funny anecdotes”

“Wide range of music examples,

many of them drawn from sources not accessible to ordinary people”

A “music appreciation” course conducted by piper Ronan Browne

Through listening to both modern and archive/field recordings, gain an insight into  music, history, personalities and styles, both regional and individual.

Recordings are interpreted by way of group discussions in an easy-going 

relaxed atmosphere.

Brief Description

Essentially this is a “music appreciation class” where the participants learn the mystical skill of how to really hear, connect with, understand and interpret any music they come across.

Instead of being lectured to, they work together under my guidance, thereby gaining the essential skill of being able to think on their own.

The course has been running very successfully for a number of years.  Venues have included the Willie Clancy Summer School, workshops and regional NPU piping Tionóil.

It can be individually tailored to different circumstances (small or large groups), levels of knowledge (introduction or in-depth analysis) and lengths (3 hours – 5 days).

Format & How It Works

I play a recording.  In pairs, the course attendees discuss for a few minutes what they just heard or saw.

—Working on their own at the beginning of each new piece requires them to think for themselves and to commit to those thoughts. By working in pairs, they bring each other along, and don’t get stuck.

We open to the floor, and people report their observations.

—Opening to the floor allows everyone’s ideas to be shared. 

At this point I join the discussion to agree / disagree, adding any information which has been missed along the way.

—This can often lead to related examples or new directions.

With each subsequent piece, their powers of perception improve.

CONTACT:  Ronan Browne   listen&learn@ronanbrowne.com    +353 91 558 994

Background and Genesis of the Course

To get an idea of how it all happened, take a quick peek at an article I wrote for a wonderful online world music shop in New Zealand called Gandharva Loka

To see the article click Listening and Learning with Ronan Browne

It got me thinking and I wrote a short follow-up called A Lesson in Humility