Children's Music Lessons
for Blessington area
We offer one to one music and instrument lessons for children and young people throughout the local area of Manor Kilbride and Blessington, County Wicklow. We believe that ALL children should have the opportunity to learn about and enjoy music and we are more than happy to just have a chat about what the right route for your child might be, so share our passion and contact us today.
MEET OUR TUTORS

Colm O’Hara
Musical Director, Wind, Brass and Piano Tutor
Colm began studying at Manor Kilbride Music School, before going on to study at the Leinster School of Music Dublin. He later studied music at Newpark Music Centre, and the Royal Irish Academy of Music and he went on to complete his musical studies at The Royal Conservatory of Music, The Hague.
As a professional trombonist and improvising musician, Colm is deeply involved in the contemporary music scene in Ireland and plays with many groups and artists based here and abroad.
Colm’s students will be introduced to all types of music and those who join Kilbride & Lakeside Youth Music Ensembles will find a lively conductor with a modern approach to playing, intending to propel young musicians to great heights of musical performance.
Teaches: Brass, Woodwind, & Piano and Leaving Cert Music Course

Maria O'Hara
School Manager
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Derek Whyte
Piano/Guitar/Bass Tutor
Derek has been playing guitar, bass and piano for over twenty five years and is currently a lecturer on the Jazz and Contemporary music degree in Dublin City University.
He has been teaching ensembles, rhythm, transcription and instrumental skills in many different music schools for best part of twenty years and during this time, he has been heavily involved in the Dublin Jazz scene as a performer.
Derek has played consistently with many of the leading jazz and contemporary musicians all over the country and has more recently been playing in some of the U. K’s more recognized jazz venues. He is also involved in many of the Dublin jazz scene's more experimental projects and ensembles, many of which experiment extensively with unconventional approaches to rhythm and harmony. These groups include The Mike Nielsen quartet, Joe O’ Callaghan’s Electric Freeplay, Redivider and The Fuzzy Logic Ensemble. In more recent years, Derek has also studied and practiced orchestral playing with the Dublin Orchestral players.
Teaches: Guitar/Keyboard/Bass

Lina Andonovska
Flute Tutor
Lina has taught in a range of contexts and she has been fortunate enough to work with people of all ages and abilities on their journey with music. She engages in one-on-one lessons to leading masterclasses, mentoring young artists and coaching chamber music. She believes that having music in one’s life is a birth right, and lends her positive approach and love of music into her teaching approach.
Lina is a leading workshop leader and facilitator, having worked as teaching artist and assistant with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra between 2010 – 2015 and as Education and Outreach Coordinator for Crash Ensemble (Ireland) between 2016 – 2019.
Curiosity, fearlessness and versatility carry Lina Andonovska’s artistry around the globe. Andonovska is a rare breed in the flute world; a name that you’ll discover on both the pages of Rolling Stone and the Australian Chamber Orchestra roster, she has not only cultivated partnerships with leading artists including Louis Andriessen, Donnacha Dennehy and Claire Chase, but also deep community ties from Timor-Leste to Tokyo’s Wonder Site. She has recently been appointed as flautist of multiple Grammy Award-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird. A sought-after collaborator, this season she appears as guest musician with Ensemble Modern, Ensemble Recherche, and stargaze.
Equally at home with improvisation and the written page, she is critically acclaimed for her interpretation of new music with Rolling Stone Magazine hailing her performance at Bang On A Can Summer Festival as “superbly played...” With her performances noted as “re-defining the act of going solo” (The Age), Lina recently released her debut album on Diatribe Records, which was described as “brimming with energy and bold textures, though marked throughout by nuance. A name to watch out for” (All About Jazz). Supported by Music Network’s Music Capital Scheme, funded by the Department of Tourism,Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Music Network is funded by The Arts Council.
Teaches: Flute

Andriy Blyznyuk
Piano Tutor
Andriy Blyznyuk being born in Ukraine studied Musicology and Piano in the Academy of Music and Drama in Kharkov specialising in music of the second Viennese school. Andriy started his teaching career in Moscow at the Gnesin's College of Music and the Russian Academy of Theatrical Art in 1995. At the beginning of the Millennium he moved to Prague where he established himself as a jazz pianist of the local jazz scene.
Since 2004 Andriy lives in Ireland. At some stage he took advantage of travelling around the globe working for cruise lines as an orchestra musician and chamber music accompanist. His interest in piano repertoire spans from early baroque music up to modern academical pieces not to mention the mainstream Jazz Standards, Cuban music, and the American musicals.
Andriy’s statement “I strongly believe in the importance of lifelong learning and education. Learning music is not only good for one’s ‘soul’ and pure aesthetic gratification but is very beneficial for improving one’s physical coordination, enhancing cognitive ability, memory and appreciation of art in general.
It is very important to develop the kinetic aspect of effective sound producing from the very early age. Steady routine and discipline in practising one’s musical skills is key but, most of all, personal enjoyment of being a part of the sonic world surrounding us and phenomenon of sound as an artistic expression and communicative tool is the reason we love music and that’s what I am trying to teach my students. The music exploration journey is a wonderful experience and we shall enjoy it together”.
Teaches: Piano