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WELCOME TO STRAFFAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC

Guitar, Ukulele, Piano, Clarinet, Sax, Flute and Theory  lessons
Now Located at 12 Main street Maynooth.
​W23Y6F5
 

Committed to Excellence

About Us

Straffan School of Music was established in 2019. It began in the Straffan Community Hall, with just one woodwind teacher and one piano teacher. Since then we have grown exponentially. We now have three piano teachers, two guitar and ukulele teachers and a singing coach. We have over seventy students to date.

 

Our teachers are all highly qualified in their individual fields. The instruments we cover include, clarinet, saxophone, flute, recorder, piano, guitar, ukulele and singing. Musicianship and theory are also taught.

 

 We like to foster an environment of fun and positivity where our students look forward to their lessons each week.

We accept students from the age of four and upwards. Adult learners are also very welcome. There are two concerts each year at Christmas and again before the Summer holidays. All students are encouraged to perform.

 

Our examining boards include the Royal Irish Academy of Music, the Associated Board and the Rock School. We also prepare students for their junior and leaving certificate practical's. 
 

Who We Are

Dedication. Expertise. Passion.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.”  Plato

Celbridge Ukulele lessons Maynooth

DAMIAN MORRISSEY

LTCL Distinction

Owner and Principal Winds

and Theory Teacher

Damian comes from the No 1 Army Band where he was Sergeant instrumentalist for 36 years. Damian held the principal chair on Clarinet, Saxophone and Bass Clarinet.
Damian was also the conductor and woodwind teacher of the Tempelogue college concert band from 2002 -2010. Damian is passionate about teaching and sharing his love for music and shaping the future generations of musicians to come.

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Evin O’Brien

Guitar

Evin holds a BA (Hons) in Jazz Performance from Newpark Music Centre where he studied under guitarist Tommy Halferty. He studied classical and flamenco guitar under Leslie Cassidy at DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.
 
Evin obtained a Higher Certificate in Music Production for Video Games and subsequently a Higher Diploma in Scoring for Film, TV & Interactive Media, awarded by Griffith/Pulse College. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Music Composition at the University of Malta.
Evin is a regular contributor to the live music scene in Dublin. He enjoys playing with his jazz ensemble Tenters Quintet and performing music across a wide variety of genres.
As a teacher, Evin hopes to inspire a love of music in his students. Each student requires a personalized approach, tailor made to fit his or her unique tastes and goals.
Evin specializes in providing tuition in the following styles: jazz, classical, flamenco, rock, pop, funk, country, traditional Irish and fingerstyle.

Celbridge guitar lessons Maynooth

ANNE CONAGHAN

BA (Hons); MA (Hons) H.Dip, Ed; LTCL (T); LTCL (P); ARIAM; LGSM; H. Dip. Arts

A native of Drogheda, Anne studied Music and Ancient Greek in NUI Maynooth, followed by a Higher Diploma in Education, and subsequently, a Master’s Degree.  Anne also studied Piano with Mr. James Tynan in DIT , and subsequently with Mr. Brian Beckett in the Royal Irish Academy of Music, where she gained several diplomas on Pianoforte from the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Trinity College of Music London, and the Guildhall School of Music, London.  Anne currently teaches Music in Clongowes Wood College, and acts as Examiner of Music for the State Exams Commission at the practical and written examinations. Anne has accompanied various Feiseanna across the country, including Dublin Feis Ceoil and Sligo Feis Ceoil and she has worked as rehearsal pianist with several Choral Societies, including Carlow Choral Society and Longford County Choir. Anne is married to Fergus, a professional oboist, and they have two adult children.

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Eduardo Ramonde

Guitar

Eduardo is a Spanish guitar player, composer and educator, with more than 7 years of teaching
experience. His musical experience and interest encompasses from jazz, to blues, metal, rock
and pop.
He started performing with various blues and R&B ensembles, before engaging with several
rock and metal projects, which gave him the opportunity to tour extensively around Spain,
sharing the stage with internationally famous bands in the heavier side of rock music.
He moved to Ireland to pursue a career in jazz music, where he completed a Bachelor Degree
in Jazz and Contemporary Music at DCU, studying under the guidance of some of the finest
musicians in Ireland. He participates on jams regularly and has side music projects.
Eduardo encourages his students to learn through the tunes that inspire them the most,
applying all the concepts and basic foundations of the music in a practical way, with the aim to
keep the student always involved and motivated.

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Zane Lidaka

Piano Teacher

Zane is a musician and performs in various venues and festivals in Dublin, Bray and West
Cork. Zane has several years of teaching experience and has prepared students for ABRSM
and RIAM Piano Exams.
Zane started to study classical piano at a young age in a well established music school in
Sigulda, Latvia, where she received her Diploma in piano performance. Later on she
continued studies in Music and Drama School Ridze and was involved in organising
international music festival Rigas Ritmi, having workshops with Grammy award winning
musicians.
Zane was also one of the Reykjavik Music Division FIH Scholarship recipients awarded by
the Nordic Council of Minister’s Office in 2005.
After moving to Ireland Zane studied jazz improvisation at Newpark School of Music and
continued music studies under the mentorship of Johnny Taylor (piano), David Mooney
(rhythm section) and Daniel Soro (harmony and improvisation).
Zane currently plays in her own piano trio as well as playing and recording regularly with
groups of several musicians (Jazzabelles, Hummingbird, Proteus, RRT Project etc.)
Zane is a strong advocate for music and wellbeing and has recently finished the Berklee
College of Music course on Music for Wellness. Promoting creativity is another of Zane’s
passions. She is a graduate of Innovation Academy, UCD encouraging creative thinking and
improvisation within the community by teaching piano and organising jam sessions in
Valclusa gardens, Wicklow.

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Andrii Stepanov

Sax, Clarinet, Guitar & Piano Teacher

Andrii Stepanov was born and raised in a musical family. His father Alexander was a cello teacher, and his mother Ekaterina was a music teacher (violin, guitar), violinist, soloist of the orchestra of the Odessa Vodiany Musical Comedy Theater. In 2003, graduated from the Stolyarsky College of Music with a degree in clarinet and saxophone. After that, continued music education in the saxophone class at the Odessa National Music Academy named after Nezhdanova (class of Associate Professor M. V. Krupey.), where in 2008 received a master of arts degree in such fields as saxophone, saxophone teaching, wind orchestra conductor, musical ensemble. 

After graduating from the music Academy, engaged in creative activity in the Odessa municipal wind orchestra named after Salik, where worked for 4 years as a soloist of a saxophone group. Also, he became the winner of the 1st prize of such international competitions and festivals as "Zvezdochka" in Odessa (Ukraine) and "Majowa Nutka" in Czestochowa (Poland).

From 2008 to 2023, worked as a teacher of saxophone, piano, guitar and musical ensemble at the Southern Ukrainian National Pedagogical University K. D. Ushinsky and the Odessa City Council Music School #8. 

The students successfully performed in city events both solo and as part of the “OdesSax” ensemble, which was created and directed by Andriy Stepanov. 

In 2023, after moving to Ireland, continued to work as a teacher at the Grow Music School (Dundalk), and Maestro Music Academy (Dublin). Has already successfully played two solo concerts in Dublin with the famous pianist Yuri Levkovich (Odessa-Chisinău).

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Lucyna Palzewicz

Piano Teacher

Lucyna is a musician and pianist with experience in both performing and teaching. She holds a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Studies with specialization in Piano Performance from The Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw and a Master’s Degree in English Philology from the University of Warsaw. Lucyna began her piano studies at age five. From an early age she began playing in a duo and other ensembles with her brother cellist Michal Palzewicz, thus creating a lifelong passion for ensemble playing. As an accomplished collaborative pianist she has performed regularly with instrumentalists and singers. In 1994 she won a prize for accompaniment at the XX Century Music Competition for Young Performers in Warsaw. Lucyna’s interest in chamber music resulted in many interesting collaborations, among these a series of concerts with the Palzewicz Ensemble in Oregon, USA. Lucyna is passionate about music education and creating a positive learning environment to enhance
students’ learning ability as well as their wellbeing. She draws from a broad teaching experience. In addition to teaching piano, she has taught music theory, choir, yoga and English as a Foreign Language. She has attended several pedagogy and musicianship courses organised by the Kodály Society of
Ireland. Lucyna enjoys inspiring creativity and sharing her passion for music with students of all ages.

Clarinet, Sax, Flute and Theory

Fridays from 2 pm to 6pm & Saturday from 8.30am until 1pm

Piano

Friday from 2pm to 6pm & Saturday 8.30am to 5pm

Guitar/ Ukulele 

Friday from 2pm to 6pm & Saturday 8.30am until 4pm


FEES. 

€30.50 for a 30 min class.

€46 for a 45 min class.

€61 for a 60 min class.

€17.50 per student in group class when available, max 3 per class.

Classes are booked and paid for in advance.

Testimonial's

I am thrilled to share my experience of Straffan School Of Music and the amazing teachers, Anne and Damian. My daughter Beth has been taking piano lessons with Anne for the last two years and the progress she has made is truly remarkable. Anne's teaching style is patient, engaging, and tailored to Beth's individual needs, which has helped her develop a true love for playing the piano.

Additionally, Damian also taught Beth the recorder, and his attention to detail and enthusiasm for music made the lessons both enjoyable and informative. The combination of these two talented instructors has created an environment where my daughter is constantly inspired to learn and grow in her musical abilities.

Not only are the instructors at Straffan School of Music exceptional, but the overall atmosphere of the school is also wonderful. The staff are friendly, welcoming, and always willing to go above and beyond to ensure that their students are getting the most out of their lessons.

Overall, I highly recommend Straffan School Of Music to anyone who is looking for top-quality music instruction. Anne and Damian are truly exceptional music teachers who have helped my daughter develop a true passion for music, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

Jacqueline Connolly 

GET IN TOUCH

Let us know what classes you are interested in and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

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1ST Floor                      12 Mainstreet Maynooth

W23Y6F5

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