Leeson Park School Of Music

About LPSM

Leeson Park School of Music is a private, self-financing school under the directorship of pianist Tom Toher and singer Margaret Collins. In 1989, with over 15 years of teaching experience behind him in a variety of teaching positions, Tom decided to set up his own school. Leeson Park School of Music specialises in training young children according to the principles of the Hungarian music educator Zoltan Kodály (1882 - 1967).

"Music for everyone is a fundamental belief because music is such an uplifting experience. It sheds light on those regions of the soul that cannot be reached by any other means". Zoltan Kodály.

Music is for everyone

All children, given the right training at the right time, can learn to read, write and enjoy music, sing in tune and if they wish, play an instrument. While acknowledging that some children have special musical gifts, Kodály denies that there are children who are tone deaf. To be successful, music education should start at an early age - the earlier the better.

Special baby groups, morning and afternoon classes

The voice, which is freely accessible to all, is the first and most important instrument. Therefore all training should begin with singing. The young child should have at least some preparatory training in pitch and rhythm, have their inner hearing developed and become acquainted with even the most basic aspects of music notation before taking up the study of an instrument. Also, Musicianship training should continue alongside the instrumental lessons.

All courses at LPSM are based on the internationally respected Colourstrings approach which was developed as an extension of Kodály principles by the Hungarian born violin pedagogue Geza Szilvay, initially for violin only. Geza's brother Csaba created the cello method; piano and classical guitar soon followed. Just recently the approach has been adapted for flute.

Leeson Park School of Music first opened its doors in 1989 in Ranelagh. The school has since then moved to Grove Park in Rathmines and has over 1000 students enrolled. The school aims to provide professional tuition of the highest quality in a nurturing and caring environment where the talents of each child can be fully developed according to his or her potential. LPSM has strong links with the East Helsinki Music Institute, where the authors of the Colourstrings instrumental tutors teach.

Young students from Leeson Park School of Music regularly participate in music festivals and competitions throughout Dublin and have frequently been prize-winners at Feis Ceoil and the Newpark Music Festival. Over the past four to five years a number of instrumentalists from the school have been awarded the 'Newpark Perpetual Cup' in the Junior category. This prize is presented to young students showing the greatest potential as a performer throughout all the solo classes in the competition.

Contact us on 01 – 496 7890 or enquiries@lpsm.ie