Read Music the Trad Way - LIVE at Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy

“Every traditional musician should take this course.” – Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Altan                                     (Previous Course Participant )

Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy, Miltown Malbay JULY 6th – 10th 2026

10am-2.30pm (Mon-Fri)

Welcome to the Live edition of our course, Read Music the Trad Way. This is for any traditional musician (on any instrument) or teacher who wants to add music literacy to their skillset.

Using a brand new, 4-step method, you will be introduced to the basics of reading music. By the end of the week you will be able to read and play tunes right off the printed page. 

• Demystify music notation and learn everything you need to know to get you reading and playing tunes – fast!
• Use our brand new method and follow 4 simple steps to help you master sight-reading quickly and easily.
• Learn by reading and playing through hundreds of examples created especially for traditional musicians.
• Access loads of tips and tools.

This course is certified by the Royal Irish Academy of Music

It is approved for EPV days by the Department of Education (Primary School Teachers).

Note: this live edition does not include access to the digital resources in our online version nor access to the bonus modules. 

Traditional musicians don’t need to read music.

Think again! Being able to read and write music can be a game-changer for traditional musicians and teachers. Don’t let outdated myths hold you back! This is the transformative course you’ve been waiting for – the key to unlocking your potential in the world of traditional music!

Our brand new sight-reading method is 100% designed for the traditional musician.
Say goodbye to generic music reading methods that seem irrelevant to your unique musical journey – our system speaks your language!

Dr. Liz Doherty

Dr. Liz Doherty is a traditional musician and educator from Co. Donegal. She is founder and Director of I Teach Trad, a new platform specialising in professional development and training for traditional music teachers (iteachtrad.com)

She has over 25 years of experience as a traditional music educator, holding lecturing posts at UCC (1994-2001) and at Ulster University (2007-2020). During this time she played a pioneering role in developing traditional music as a viable discipline in higher education nationally and internationally. She was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship from Advance HE in 2019 and was voted ‘Inspirational Teacher of the Year’ in 2017. 

Liz graduated from UCC with a BMus (1991) and from the University of Limerick with a PhD (1996), the topic of which was the fiddle music of Cape Breton Island, Canada. Her publications include The Cape Breton Fiddle Companion (2015), Crosbhealach an Cheoil/The Crossroads Conference (1996, 2013, with Fintan Vallely et al), and the website, safetrad.com, which helps traditional musicians prevent performance-related injuries. As a fiddle player she has toured and/or recorded with bands such as Fiddlesticks, Nomos, Bumblebees, String Sisters and Riverdance-The Show. She has also performed with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin and the RTÉ National Symphony and Concert Orchestras and is featured on over 20 CDs, including her two solo recordings, Last Orders and Quare Imagination. 

Liz has previously worked with The Arts Council, where she established the Deis scheme, and is currently a member of Culture Ireland’s Expert Advisory Committee. She has directed festivals and events including NAFCo 2012, and more recently, has been music producer on programmes such as Fleadh (TG4), FleadhFest 2021 (Power Pictures) and Samhlú (Fibín Media), winner of the Prix circom Award, 2021.  

iteachtrad.com

Participants must be 18+

Participants need to bring their own instrument(s) to the course.

“Every traditional musician should take this course.” – Mairead Ní Mhaonaigh, Altan

“The best week and course I have ever done!” – Antonia Hayes, Principal, Crubany NS, Cavan 

“A brilliant course!” – Irene O’Meara