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‘Music is for Life’

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Cottage Music Institute offers a unique form of Aural/Musicianship Training to children aged 5-16 years. The programme is designed and taught by Micheál McCarthy, one of Australia’s leading music educators.

COTTAGE MUSIC INSTITUTE

Cottage Music Institute provides expert training in the area of Aural-Musicianship for children aged 5 to 16 years. The programme started in 1998 as Cottage School of Music.

Micheál spent 14 years studying at the Cork School of Music, Ireland. He is a graduate of University College Cork, Ireland, and the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary.

This programme provides the ideal preparation for, and accompaniment to, instrumental training. As the child progresses through the graded levels on their instrument their music becomes more and more complex.

Photos: Nick Hardcastle

Janis Laurs

"Micheál McCarthy is an outstanding teacher, conductor and musical facilitator. The training that he provides produce a well-equipped, intelligent, thinking, musician's musician. If there was a Micheál McCarthy in every school, what an exciting and wonderfully enriched place Australia would be!"

Ian Munro

"Ever since we were colleagues at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, where I witnessed his remarkably transformative and inspirational teaching, I have regarded Micheál McCarthy as one of the finest choral directors I know. ...In all, a superb musician for whom I have the utmost respect."

Piroska Varga

“Micheál McCarthy is one of those rare teachers that is capable of working with any age, always inspiring them to produce their best in any conditions.... he does it with flair, with high standards, with amazing results, with love, care and a great sense of humour. He is truly, one of a kind as a teacher, musician [&] performer.”

Sara Macliver

“Many times I have been asked by family, friends and colleagues where to send their kids for music lessons. I always answer, "Cottage Music with Micheál McCarthy!" I could not think of a better start in your child's musical journey than Micheál’s classes!”

Simone de Haan

"Micheál McCarthy stands out as one of Australia’s foremost Aural and Musicianship teachers... he sustains this through his empathetic teaching style, his extensive experience as an educator and an uncompromising commitment to his own ongoing professional and musical development."

Patricia Murphy

“Bewitchery and beguilery is what I experienced as I sat and watched a master teacher at work... Micheál cajoled and kept those children so interested in the fun they were having that I think they were unaware that they were achieving such high levels of musicianship and musical knowledge!”

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‘Music is for Life’

Cottage Music Institute