15 year piano player, ATCL standard and completed all ABRSM exams. Providing online piano lessons and additional theory classes.

Learn more about Grainne

• When did you first develop a passion for music and your favourite instrument?

  Music has always been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I began playing the piano when I was 7 years old and over the course of 15 years, I have had 2 teachers. I was part of the school of music from an early age and most of my fondest memories are from there. I would go to theory class with my friends, have piano lessons and sing in the choir. I was totally immersed and always loved it. Piano being such a good instrument to have as my primary instrument, I developed a passion for playing the classical flute from age eleven to twelve. I auditioned for the local youth orchestra and managed to get accepted having never had lessons before. I thoroughly enjoyed playing there and remained a member until I was eighteen years old.

• Is there a particular type of music or artist that you listen to on a loop without it driving you crazy?

  This is a good question; I have a habit of listening to numerous artists repeatedly and genuinely not getting sick of them. My current artists that I can listen to on a loop would be the Beach Boys and their Pet sounds album alongside Abba’s greatest hits.

• Explain to us the most difficult or riveting course you could personally give to a student of music.

  This question really depends on the student, you could give a total beginner a Rachmaninoff prelude, and they would find it incredibly difficult, or a grade 5 standard student piece from a grade 8 syllabus. I think the main point of teaching is to be able to break down difficult concepts into simpler terms for music students to understand. A particular area I like to focus on is for a student to understand minor scales. Students are often though to just learn the correct order of notes without understanding why they are to be played a certain way. I would often describe to students that a minor scale is composed of the relative major key and a raised 7th, students have the ability to form any minor scale without ever having to learn notes off by heart.

• What do you think is the most complicated instrument to master and why?

  I may sound slightly biased here, but the piano is genuinely considered a complicated instrument to master. It is one of the easiest instruments to begin with as anyone can go up to a piano/keyboard and play a note with no experience needed. A violin or flute for example take a lot of time in the beginning to establish proper tone and execution. As you progress through the piano, however, it becomes increasingly more difficult. This is primarily based on the sound we produce when pressing a key disappears and there is no way of counteracting that except to play the same note again. This leads to having a lot of control over finger movement and listening to your playing.

• What are your keys to success?

  In music, piano or any instrument for that matter, the main key to success is consistency. Practicing every day, regardless of how long you spend at it, is vital to your growth as a person and a musician. Along with consistency, the type of practice you complete is very important. Playing a piece repeatedly will only get you comfortable with the piece but never actually mastering it. My final key to success is making sure you enjoy what you are doing as that makes some of the tedious practice a bit easier.

• Name three musicians you dream of meeting in your favourite bar in the early hours of the morning. Explain why.

  Three musicians I would love to meet in my favourite bar would be Elton John, Paul McCartney, and Taylor Swift. I would love to meet both Elton John and Paul McCartney and have a proper deep conversation about how they write music for their songs and come up with ideas. I have always had a huge admiration for singer-songwriters and to get an amazing insight into that world would be amazing. Taylor Swift has constantly received mixed reviews from the public and industry, so I would be intrigued to see how she handles both positive and negative feedback.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to music or your days at music school.

  A very valuable lesson I learnt when I first started competing in competitions is to be patient and take deep breaths before playing. It was my first competition at the Kilkenny Music Festival, and I was waiting my turn to go up and play. You must wait for the judge to tell you to go before doing anything on stage. As I got up to play, I remember my dad saying to me to wait until I get the nod. As you can imagine, it did not go to plan, and I started playing immediately. There was confusion amongst everyone and once I realised what I had done I face-palmed myself on stage. I had never been as embarrassed however it is fair to say I learn my lesson that day.

• What are the little touches that make you a superprof in music?

  I think my patience and care for each of my students is a little touch that makes me a superprof in music. I tailor my lessons to the unique needs of each student and ensure that they feel like they are happy with their progress and enjoy completing lessons with me. I never criticise my students, I simply offer different ways of attempting a particular exercise to encourage growth and healthy development. Ensuring that the student has a healthy and beneficial relationship with both piano and myself is vital to becoming a superprof in music.