Music Generation, a tuition programme initiated with a €5 million grant from U2 in 2011, has now tutored more than 100,000 children. The scheme currently reaches one in every 12 children under the age of 18 in the State. The year 2023 saw a growth of eight per cent from the previous year, tutoring 115,936 children, compared to 101,960 in 2022. The majority of those benefiting from the programme, two-thirds to be exact, are between seven and twelve years of age. Over 513 music instructors are employed by the Music Generation programme.
Young learners are exposed to a diverse range of 45 genres, with pop being the most favoured, followed by rock music, and then traditional music. A key revelation of Music Generation’s yearly report shows that the initiative has spread to all local authority regions in the country, with Cork county set to join later in the year.
U2 proudly credit the music education initiative as one of their cardinal accomplishments. The band became one of the initial contributors to the Music Generation scheme in 2009, a time when the Government was unequipped to launch a nationwide,
pilot music education project because of the recession. U2 contributed an additional €2 million in 2015 to their initial 2009 donation. The Ireland Funds also offered philanthropic funding to the project, which kicked off in three counties in February 2011.
State funding, which has grown with the improvement of the economy, now constitutes 97 per cent of the income of Music Generation. This comprises €7.35 million from local music education partnerships (LMEPs) via local authorities, €6.9 million from the Department of Education, €100,000 from the Arts Council, and slightly over €400,000 from benefactors such as U2 and the Ireland Funds.
Rosaleen Molloy, the national director of Music Generation, stated that the increasing participation of children reflects the success of the project on an annual basis. She mentioned that while U2 doesn’t contribute as much financially anymore, they remain intellectually engaged and routinely offer counsel. She adds, “The philanthropic funding was strategic. It was using philanthropy as seed capital to take a risk and to leverage long-term sustained investment.”
The objective has always been to utilise charitable contributions to attract lasting, sustainable investment from our partners, and we have undoubtedly accomplished this.
The plan is to broaden access for children who are in the greatest need, such as those with unique abilities and those hailing from struggling or underprivileged communities.
We have constructed the framework for an improved national infrastructure, which essentially serves as a cornerstone. It opens up the door for growth and development for children and young individuals.
The data reveals that Music Generation is present in roughly 25% of all primary schools, 20% of secondary schools, and 16.7% of special schools.