I TEACH TRAD
At I Teach Trad we know what it takes to teach traditional music.
And we know how much of it you have to figure out on your own.
It can be tough!
That’s why we are all about creating certified courses (in partnership with The Royal Irish Academy of Music) and resources with you, the traditional music teacher, in mind.



HI, I’M LIZ DOHERTY
I am a fiddle player and traditional music educator, with over 30 years experience as an academic lecturer and researcher.
And I know how hard teaching traditional music can be.
You might be an amazing player – but that does not prepare you for this gig!
So, whether you want to learn how to manage a classroom, create a lesson plan, teach adult learners, or design fun and holistic lessons that will engage and inspire your students, I can help.
If you are ready to bring your teaching to the next level, then you have come to the right place.
I am looking forward to working with you!


HI, I’M LIZ DOHERTY
I am a fiddle player and traditional music educator, with over 30 years experience as an academic lecturer and researcher.
And I know how hard teaching traditional music can be.
You might be an amazing player – but that does not prepare you for this gig!
So, whether you want to learn how to manage a classroom, create a lesson plan, teach adult learners, or design fun and holistic lessons that will engage and inspire your students, I can help.
If you are ready to bring your teaching to the next level, then you have come to the right place.
I am looking forward to working with you!
What we do
Courses
I Teach Trad is an official partner of RIAM – The Royal Irish Academy of Music, and our traditional music teaching courses are now RIAM certified.
Registration for our Foundation Certificate – Teach Traditional Music – is now open. This course will help you to plan, design and deliver your traditional music teaching effectively and efficiently, using a unique framework and system.
Course dates: March 5th-April 30th, 2023.
Resources
If you are looking for quality tools and resources that are appropriate for traditional music teaching and learning then look no further!
Use The TradLABB™ Card Deck to help you teach more creatively. Access over 80 templates, cheatsheets, games and more to get you started using the TradLABB™ system. Be inspired by our 20 Top Tips for Teaching Traditional Music e-book. Check out our Blog for lots of tips and ideas. Or join our online community for loads of other resources.
Community
The I Teach Trad Community is a place where teachers can gather to network, share ideas, support and learn from each other.
In it you’ll find a lots of tips, tools and resources. There is a regular podcast where top teachers share their stories and expertise. Connect with other teachers in our Meet the Teachers platform and chat forum. Or join one of our live events where I answer any of your teaching questions.
You can join our community today for FREE.
Courses
I Teach Trad is an official partner of RIAM – The Royal Irish Academy of Music, and our traditional music teaching courses are now RIAM certified.
Registration for our Foundation Certificate – Teach Traditional Music – is now open. This course will help you to plan, design and deliver your traditional music teaching effectively and efficiently, using a unique framework and system.
Course dates: March 5th-April 30th, 2023.
Resources
If you are looking for quality tools and resources that are appropriate for traditional music teaching and learning then look no further!
Use The TradLABB™ Card Deck to help you teach more creatively. Access over 80 templates, cheatsheets, games and more to get you started using the TradLABB™ system. Be inspired by our 20 Top Tips for Teaching Traditional Music e-book. Check out our Blog for lots of tips and ideas. Or join our online community for loads of other resources.
Community
The I Teach Trad Community is a place where teachers can gather to network, share ideas, support and learn from each other.
In it you’ll find a lots of tips, tools and resources. There is a regular podcast where top teachers share their stories and expertise. Connect with other teachers in our Meet the Teachers platform and chat forum. Or join one of our live events where I answer any of your teaching questions.
You can join our community today for FREE.

Know the Score – Read & Write Irish Traditional Music
Certified Course
I Teach Trad and The Royal Irish Academy of Music are offering a 1 week in-person course – Know the Score – Read & Write Irish Traditional Music.
Dr. Liz Doherty will help you learn how to read – and write down – Irish traditional music using a simple, 4-step system and a suite of resources designed especially for the traditional musician.
This course is being run in partnership with the Willie Clancy Summer School and will be delivered as part of their events programme from July 3rd-7th, 2023.
Mon – Fri 10 am – 1 pm at the Willie Clancy Summer school.
This short course is for:
- Traditional musicians on any melody instrument who want to learn to read music;
- Traditional music teachers who want to upskill;
- School teachers who want to upskill;
This short course is for any traditional musician or teacher who wants to learn how to read staff notation fluently and confidently.
Being able to read and write staff notation is a skill that unlocks so many possibilities for the traditional musician in terms of building repertoire, collaborating with musicians from other genres and exploring new performance opportunities. But it can seem daunting. Maybe you have tried it in the past and have given up, because there was no bespoke system or resources that seemed familiar to you, nothing that seemed relevant to traditional music.
This course changes all of that!
Dates: July 3rd-July 7th, 2023
10am – 1pm Mon-Fri
Fee €150 plus purchase of workbook
Delivered At The Willie Clancy Summer School.
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… an utterly inspiring, thought-provoking, and actionable scheme of work for traditional music teachers.
– Úna Ní Fhlannagáin, Harp Teacher
Blog

Some of the people I’ve worked with

Testimonials
Here’s what teachers have to say about how
I Teach Trad has transformed their practice
Liz has given me the most amazing advice, support and encouragement. She has helped me get super focussed in my teaching, made me think about things differently – and get over the self-doubt! I always leave our sessions feeling inspired and motivated – and a better, more confident teacher.
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 from tech set-up to thinking about what I would deliver, why, and how. It made me think about things I had never even considered before.
Thanks Liz!.
If you want an in-depth look
at your teaching, the skills
that you bring to the table
and how to bring your teaching to the next level, this course is for you.
Liz is a great mentor full of fantastic ideas and guidance throughout the course. It’s definitely the way forward in teaching trad music.