Trad Teaching - Done Differently
Unlock your Full Traditional Music Teaching Potential with our Courses & Resources
PLAYING music and TEACHING music are two completely different things. Navigating the transition from musician to teacher can be challenging. I Teach Trad is here to help!
New Online course - Available Now
Read Music the Trad Way
Learn to read music with Dr. Liz Doherty’s brand new method created with traditional musicians in mind!
This course is for trad teachers and students who want to learn how to read music – FAST!
Certified by the Royal Irish Academy of Music.
Our Courses
A suite of courses designed by a traditional music teacher for traditional music teachers.
Everything you need to teach trad – better!
earn professional development certificates
Our Courses are certified by the Royal Irish Academy of Music
I Teach Trad’s courses are certified by the prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), Ireland’s oldest conservatoire, and ranked one of the top 50 institutions in the world for performing arts.
why choose us
Irish Traditional Music Teaching for the 21st Century
Irish musician and education expert, Dr. Liz Doherty, is on a mission to help traditional musicians and singers teach.
Courses & Resources
Transform your teaching with our ground-breaking certified courses and game-changing resources.
Workshops
Invite Liz to design and deliver a workshop for your organisation tailored to your individual needs.
Expert Instruction
Experience expert instruction from a distinguished leader in the field of traditional arts education.
Valid Certifications
Professionalise your teaching and showcase your commitment to developing as a traditional arts educator.
Testimonials
What our graduates say about us
Mind blown!! I feel totally re-energised - and my toolkit is a lot heavier now! Every traditional music teacher should do this course!
Every traditional musician should take this course. It was amazing – every student could sight-read by the end of the week.
I wasn’t quite sure how to approach teaching online – so I thought, I’ll ask Liz. And I’m really glad I did. I got the best advice – and it made me think about things I had never even considered before. Thanks Liz!.
Liz is a teaching Ninja! Her attitude is both practical and inspirational, delivered in her trademark warm and friendly manner. What she has created is an utterly inspiring, thought-provoking, and actionable scheme of work for traditional music teachers.
Although I already had several years experience teaching traditional music, the teacher training course has been really life changing, to be honest. I definitely have that confidence now to jump into the full-time trad teaching world. Inspirational! Keep on spreading the word!
It’s easy for us as teachers to get stuck in a rut, teaching tune after tune. This course changes all that! You’re going to get a ton of value from it. It really will bring your teaching to a whole new level!
Liz has given me the most amazing advice, support and encouragement. I always leave her courses feeling inspired and motivated – and a better, more confident teacher.
Exactly what I was looking for - a course that takes seriously the pedagogy of traditional music. The course invites a thorough rethinking of your teaching practice, and guides you through a framework for enhancing your approach to teaching.
Liz is a wonderful mentor and musician. She really listens, and is full of insights into the whys and wherefores of teaching and learning - and noticeably, her ability to communicate these things comes straight from the heart. I'm so lucky to be able to benefit from her experience. Thank you!
The delivery of the course was absolutely brilliant! Reading Irish traditional tunes – I now know it is not as hard as it looks, and far less intimidating!
Liz is a master facilitator. The training she provided my team was measured, insightful, and really enjoyable. The feedback was really positive . We knew we were learning from an expert but we always felt connected to Liz, and she made things seem so accessible and personal to each person’s individual experience.
#1 Online Irish Traditional Music Teacher Training
Some of the organisations and institutions Liz has worked with.
Start your professional development journey today
Discover your potential as a traditional arts educator.
You deserve it. Your students deserve it!
transform your teaching today
Teaching traditional music is a profession, demanding expertise, continuous learning, and commitment. I Teach Trad helps you to embrace your role as a traditional arts educator, refine your craft, and stay in tune with the evolving traditional music education landscape.
- Improve your teaching
- Design dynamic and creative lessons
- Explore up to date teaching methods and approaches
- Continue your learning and add to your skillset
- Commit to your professional development
- Build your trad teaching business
A Quick Guide
Most Popular Questions
Dive into our FAQs for quick insights. Find answers to the most commonly asked questions about our courses and resources.
What is I Teach Trad?
I Teach Trad is a company devoted to the training and continuing professional development of Irish traditional music and song teachers.
I teach accordion. Is this for me?
Our courses are designed for traditional music teachers of ALL instruments including voice. Our courses also help teachers working in any setting, full-time and/or part-time.
Who are the courses for?
Our courses are for established teachers who want to refresh and upskill, and for those just starting out. Our music reading courses are designed for teachers – or for students (if it makes a teacher’s life easier to send students directly to us to learn to read music – we are here to help!).
Is there tutor support available?
Yes! For in-person courses Liz is on hand, delivering the courses. For some of our online courses we have regular office hours – everyone is invited! Plus, students and graduates of our teacher training courses have access to the I Teach Trad Academy and our online community for traditional music teachers.
How can teachers benefit?
Teaching is a profession and requires a skill set that is very different to that of a performer. Our courses help musicians who teach to navigate that transition, build their teaching skills and professionalise their teaching practice. Our course graduates earn certificates from the prestigious Royal Irish Academy of Music, evidence of their commitment to professional development.
Will there be more courses and resources added?
Yes! We are busy developing a suite of new courses, some of which will be rolled out later this year. Keep an eye on our Resources page for lastest blogs, tips and tools (and freebies!). And, if you haven’t done so already, sign up for our Newsletter so you don’t miss out on any pop-up workshops and events.
Why now – haven’t we managed just fine?
Imagine you want to increase your fitness? You know what you need to do - and how to do it. But sometimes, having a structure, a curated programme, and someone to help, guide, encourage and challenge you is exactly what you need. So you join a gym or sign up to a fitness programme. It’s the same with trad teaching. You know what it takes and you have access to all the resources. But sometimes it can all be a bit overwhelming. That’s where I Teach Trad comes in. We have the support, structures and tools you need to help you teach at your very best.
Does I Teach Trad work with organisations?
We do! I Teach Trad works with a number of leading traditional arts organisations developing scholarships and other supports for teachers wanting to take our courses.
We also deliver bespoke workshops (online and in person) to organisations, groups and schools. We can tailor these workshops to meet your specific teacher-training needs.
To enquire about hosting an I Teach trad workshop please contact us directly and we will be happy to discuss.
Our Funders
This project is supported by EU Recovery Instrument Funding under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2022.
