Kilkenny Violin Studio

Carl Rochford set up the Kilkenny Violin Studio having previously taught violin at the CIT Cork School of Music and Kilkenny School of Music over the past 15 years. Carl's teaching ethos places a strong emphasis on building a solid violin technique in tandem with musical development and above all, to cultivate a strong music appreciation and enjoyment from playing the violin for all pupils at all levels. All pupils are given concert opportunities during the year and advanced students take part in Violin Master Classes with internationally acclaimed violinists annually. Carl prepares students for ABRSM graded instrumental exams, (Grades 1-8) and Trinity College London professional performance diplomas. These Exams take place at the school and we offer piano accompaniment/rehearsals for all students. All Junior and Leaving Certificate Practical Exams are also covered by the studio. 

Carl also prepares students for Grade 5 ABRSM music theory exams and has classes for Grade 6-8 aural training and musicianship. 

Beginners can start as young as four years old and all beginners are given a violin from the studio for their first year of tuition. We also have a collection of violin available onloan to more advanced players. All beginners avail of new incentivised fees, thus making the tuition fees relatively inexpensive. Adult players are also welcome. The first step to enrolment is to telephone or email Carl to set up an initial meeting and free consultation lesson. We then discuss a mutually agreeable time for weekly lessons on a trial basis for the first couple of lessons. This try out period is to ensure that our violin programme is the right fit for the student and that the pupil can indeed benefit from our programme. See contact page above.

 Since the beginning of the Kilkenny Violin Studio, Carl's pupils have won all of the senior violin competitions at the Kilkenny Music Festival in 2014 and have regularly auditioned successfully for the Dublin Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Ireland (NYOI). This year, two Kilkenny Violin Studio students are represented in the NYOI and one is presently leader of one of the Dublin Youth Orchestras. Many of Carl's past pupils have gone on to study violin performance at third level at NUI Maynooth, UCC, CIT Cork School of Music and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Beginners of any age are welcome.

 This year's Masterclasses took place on Sunday March 8th with Mrs. Katherine Hunka at the Kilkenny Education Centre.

Check out the review: http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/learning-from-the-master-himself-1-5082996