Musical Instrument Making and Repair

Duration
This is a full-time one-year course, which runs from September to May.

Overview
Students in this course will be introduced to the fundamentals of making and repairing stringed and fretted musical instruments, both acoustic and electric. Students will make their own musical instrument, for example, a mandolin or a guitar. They will also learn specialist hand and machine craft skills to develop their creative abilities in this area. Students who have an interest in music will find that they can enhance their skills by learning the rudiments of how instruments are made, strung and generate sound.

Entry Requirements
One of the following:

• Leaving Certificate (LC Established, LCVP, LCA) or equivalent
• A Full Level 4 QQI/FETAC Award (or equivalent)
• For Mature applicants (aged 21 or over), appropriate experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications. Note: Mature applicants may be entitled to VTOS funding. For details about VTOS, please contact the college.
• Applicants whose first language is not English require level B1 competency on the CEFR language framework. Applicants may be required to undergo English language testing to establish their language competency.

Course Modules

• Furniture Making
• Computer Aided Draughting (2D)
• Drawing
• Design Skills
• Combined Materials
• Communications
• Work Experience
• Veneering and Marquetry
• Musical Instrument Woodcraft

Certification
Level 5 Award Creative Craft (5M1981)

Special Features
Assessment

The following techniques will be used to assess the knowledge and skills that students will have achieved on successful completion of modules:

• Collection of Work
• Skills Demonstration
• Projects

All assignments are submitted electronically.  Therefore, all students need access to a device such as a computer/laptop.

A full major award is granted on passing the relevant eight components.  On successful completion of each component, you will be awarded a pass, a merit or a distinction grade. See www.qqi.ie for more details.

Free Autodesk Software Subscription for all students on this course to facilitate assessment work.

All Dublin College Dun Laoghaire students are provided with an M365 account, which gives them access to the tools and resources needed to deliver assessment work while attending their course. M365 Apps include Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook and OneDrive.

Work Experience

Students will be required to undertake a period of work placement in an organisation connected to their vocational area during the academic year. Work Experience is mandatory for all of our full-time Level 5 courses.  Students are required to source their own work placement, but will be assisted in this by the work experience teacher.  The work placement is usually for a period of 10 days or a minimum of 60 hours.  Students usually find the work experience element of the course to be invaluable, and should bear in mind that a successful work placement can sometimes lead to further opportunities.

Additional Information

• Dublin College, Dun Laoghaire,  is one of the few colleges in Ireland where one can learn the highly specialist craft of making a musical instrument
• This is a practical course where learning takes place primarily in workshops, which are stacked with specialist craft tools and commercial equipment
• This course may include visits to auctions, museums and instrument collections to help build up one’s knowledge on the development and history of instruments
• A Visual Design Exhibition of students’ work from this course is held annually in DFEi, in May, providing an opportunity for students to showcase the skills and knowledge they have acquired.
  Progression Opportunities
  Dublin College Dún Laoghaire  Graduates may progress to the Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Furniture Design and Making at Dublin College Dún Laoghaire.

Elsewhere: Graduates are eligible to apply through the CAO and/or the Higher Education Links Scheme to a range of higher certificate and degree programmes, at Universities, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities using their full QQI Level 5 major award. Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria.  It is the students’ responsibility to consult with the relevant HEI for information on the admissions process and confirm any specific entry requirements. Students may also refer to the individual HEI prospectus or may also refer to the QQI FET section of the CAO website. www.cao.ie
Progression Examples

BA Product Design Innovation (CW728)

Institute of Technology Carlow – www.itcarlow.ie
BSc Furniture Design and Manufacture (GA981)

BSc Furniture Making and Architectural Woodworking (GA982)

BSc Furniture Design Making and Technology (GA984), (GA974)

BSc Furniture and Digital Manufacturing (GA983)

Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology – www.gmit.ie
Music and Instrument Technology (Higher Certificate) (AL605)

Athlone Institute of Technology – www.ait.ie
BA Popular Music (MT937)

MTU – (formerly Cork Institute of Technology)