Craig, take us back to the beginning. How did the Dublin School of Music come about?
It was a long time ago. I was working in a shop in Rathfarnham that sold CDs and records, but also guitar strings. Numerous people came in to buy strings and asked if I knew anywhere local to get lessons. There wasn’t anywhere nearby, so I used to send them all into town. Then the penny dropped — there was clearly a need for people to have local lessons. So I set up the Dublin School of Music.
How did your own background in music shape the school’s philosophy?
Music has always been a huge part of my life. My goal has always been to give that love of music to others — to give people the opportunity to learn, to play, and to really enjoy what they’re doing. Our philosophy is about learning to play well and to take pleasure in it, rather than just studying for exams. Many of our students do take exams, of course, but the emphasis is always on enjoyment.
Was that the original vision for the school — and has it evolved?
That was always the vision, and it hasn’t really changed. From the start, I didn’t want one huge city-centre location with a thousand students. I wanted several local branches, so people could come to lessons without devoting half a day to it. Convenience is extremely important when you’re talking about regular lessons. And of course, you need great teachers — people with good personal skills who are engaging and enthusiastic.
How old is the school now?
The school is now in its 22nd year. Our first students started in September 2003.
Did you always know you’d end up working in music?
I always wanted to work in music. Most of my life I worked behind the counter selling records. That gave me the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of music and recommend it to people. In a way, this is just an extension of that — now I help people learn to play and create their own music.
What makes the Dublin School of Music stand out from other schools?
I can’t really speak for other schools — they all do things their own way. What we’ve always strived for is to work with some of the finest musicians in Dublin and Ireland, so the quality of tuition is never in doubt. I also make a point of hiring teachers who are genuinely nice people — enthusiastic, encouraging, and positive. It creates a really good learning environment and rapport between teacher and student.
We’re now delighted to have three branches — in Terenure, Tallaght, and Stillorgan — and we plan to expand further to make lessons even more accessible.
When someone walks in for their first lesson, what kind of experience do you want them to have?
There’s a saying: you never get a second chance to make a first impression. We always keep that in mind. When people arrive, whether they’re a child or an adult, they’re often nervous. So we welcome them with a smile, introduce them to their teacher, have a friendly chat, and make them feel completely at ease — for their first lesson and every lesson after that.
How do you balance traditional teaching like scales and sight-reading with letting students play the music they love?
People rarely love scales! But they’re important. We like to challenge students each week with something new so they’re always progressing. Scales, for example, are part of exam curricula, but they’re also the foundation for everything — for guitar solos, for learning keys on piano. We explain why they matter.
We don’t require exams, and when students do choose them, they don’t have to be classical. There are contemporary options like the “Sounds Great” modern syllabus, alongside traditional ones from the Royal Irish Academy or ABRSM. We also have lots of musical theatre singers preparing for performance exams, which are great fun.
The most important thing is that people enjoy what they’re playing. I remember learning music I’d never heard before as a teenager and not knowing if I was doing it right. That experience shaped the school’s ethos — I want students to love the music they play, to keep it in their repertoire for years, not just for an exam.
Do you have any memorable student moments?
I’ve got lots! One that stands out was a girl who sang beautifully but suffered terrible nerves. At one of our end-of-year showcases, she was supposed to perform but kept backing out. Then near the end of the day, she said she was ready. She went up, sang beautifully, and brought the house down. Afterwards, she said she didn’t remember being on stage — only that she loved it and wanted to do it for the rest of her life. She later changed her university choices and went on to the Guildford School of Performing Arts in London.
We’ve had many others go on to form bands, perform at festivals like Electric Picnic, or just continue playing for pleasure.
How does that make you feel as a teacher and founder?
It’s the most satisfying part of what I do. It’s not only about those who go on to perform professionally — it’s just as rewarding when former students tell me, years later, that they still play every day for pleasure. Then I know we’ve done something right. We’ve helped them find something that stays with them for life.
Has music teaching changed much over the years? Has technology made a difference?
I don’t think teaching itself has changed that much. Dublin School of Music has always been a little non-traditional — focusing on learning for pleasure and personal growth rather than just exams. That flexibility lets us move with the times and help people learn more current music.
As for technology, nothing beats being in a room with a skilled teacher who can guide you and set a clear learning path. YouTube tutorials are great for learning specific songs, but they don’t build a broad foundation of skills. That said, technology has its uses — guitar students, for example, use slowing-down tools to practise pieces gradually, and singers often use backing tracks from YouTube to learn where they fit in with other instruments.
How do you see the Dublin School of Music evolving in the next few years?
I believe passionately in one-to-one tuition and our approach to teaching. Our focus will be on expanding into new areas of Dublin, making music education more accessible to everyone.
Do you still play yourself?
I do. I’m enjoying learning guitar at the moment — with some degree of success! But my main instrument has always been piano. It’s funny, because as a kid I used to fight with my parents about practising. I never wanted to go to lessons, and now it’s one of the things that gives me the most pleasure in life.
If you could share a stage or jam session with any musician, who would it be?
Bruce Dickinson. That’s an easy one. I think if I shared a stage with him, I’d just be left like jelly — in complete awe.
What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to anyone thinking about learning an instrument?
There’s rarely a perfect moment to start. Life always throws challenges your way, so my advice is simple: if you want to learn, just do it. Make the time for it. Practise regularly — ideally shorter bursts two or three times a day rather than one long session. Your fingers, your voice, whatever your instrument is, will remember.
And don’t be afraid to repeat things that feel difficult. Spending time on the tricky parts is what builds real skill.
To learn more about music lessons in Dublin or to find the branch nearest to you, visit www.dublinschoolofmusic.ie
