A music student has called for publicly funded music lessons in Ireland ahead of a new documentary.
Sean Shannon recently completed his first year at the Royal Irish Academy of Music. The talented pianist is one of several RIAM students sharing their stories in 'Face the Music', a documentary which commemorates the music school's 175th anniversary.
The 18-year-old's musical prowess is impressive, considering he did not have a piano or formal music lessons growing up. Sean first picked up the skill as a young child- on a toy piano owned by his sister.
He told Dublin Live: "If you want to learn to play an instrument, you have to be able to fork out the money and it’s sadly not possible for a lot of people. In many other countries in the EU there’s publicly funded music education- it's a shame when Ireland is a country widely renowned for its music."
READ NEXT: The Coronas at Fairview Park: Stage times, how to get there, and setlist
READ NEXT: QUIZ: Test your knowledge of renowned Dublin author James Joyce ahead of Bloomsday
Sean was later gifted a keyboard worth €20, which equipped him with basic piano skills. He was later able to grow his musical talent through his own resourcefulness.
He added: "A local arts centre near me had a piano in the foyer, which I used to visit at least once a week so I could practise. I also got very lucky through scholarships and bursaries."
'Face the Music' will follow several students pursuing musical studies at the Dublin school. Music students contend with a busy schedule and are seen juggling exams, high-stake competitions and performances on the RTE programme.
Sean moved from Ennis to Dublin in order to study at RIAM. He teased that the show also captures the light-hearted aspect of student life, including a scene of him grocery shopping with his housemate.
The three part documentary series will give viewers a glimpse into the lives of gifted students. 'Face the Music' begins airing on Thursday June 22 at 10:15pm.
READ NEXT
- Everything you need to know about The Coronas, Becky Hill and The Prodigy
Conor McGregor expecting fourth child with fiancee Dee Devlin
Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .
Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.
