Féile Derry teamed up with Creggan-based primary schools, Holy Child PS and St John’s PS, along with local DJs, to offer an exciting opportunity for children to explore electronic music, beat-making, songwriting, and hip-hop production.
The six-week programme’s goal was to inspire young people to tap into their creativity and develop skills for the future in music production.
A video documenting the workshops and featuring testimonials from the young people that took part can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/CdJMEMYGRg4
Reflecting on the programme’s success, a spokesperson for Féile Derry said:
“We were delighted to work with Holy Child PS and St John’s PS on this fantastic project. It was wonderful to see such enthusiastic young people come together to explore the world of electronic music and production.
“These workshops helped them learn valuable skills in DJing, songwriting, and beat-making, as well as working together to create good music. We’re excited to see how they continue to develop their creative talents in the future.”
Shay Whelan from Celtronic Studios describes the students’ hands-on experience:
“The students had the opportunity to learn how to DJ and work with a range of cutting-edge music production equipment. From beat-making to mixing sounds, they explored the fundamentals of songwriting and hip-hop production, writing their own songs and recording their voices.
“They gained valuable hands-on experience that will serve them well in the future. I hope we have inspired Derry’s next generation of young DJs.”
Principals of the schools who took part in the programme comment on the students’ experiences:
Pat Concannon, Principal of Holy Child PS, shared her thoughts:
“Our students had an amazing time working on this project, and we can’t thank Féile enough for making it happen! It was a fantastic way for them to unleash their creativity and learn new skills in music production. The energy, teamwork, and collaboration throughout the project was just brilliant to see.
Geraldine O’Connor, Principal of St John’s PS, also expressed her appreciation:
“The project was a huge success with our children. It allowed them to engage with music in a new and exciting way, and they loved working together to create their own tracks. It was a perfect blend of creativity and fun, and I hope we can take part in similar programmes in the future.”
This programme was part of Féile’s Imagine-Create project, a Communities in Transition initiative funded by The Executive Office.
