Exploring Life & Business with Claire Shirey of Nashville Irish Music School

Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Shirey.

Hi Claire, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After graduating college in 2018, moving to Nashville was the next step for me at the beginning of the next year. There was already a thriving Irish Music scene here, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it. Shortly after being here, an Irish Dance mom asked if I taught Irish Music, knowing my history of teaching for Atlanta Irish Music School years prior. I was not looking to get into teaching, but once she informed me there were 9 kids interested in learning Irish Music, my first thought was, if there’s a want, I need to fill it. We casually started weekly Irish Music Lessons in the Summer of 2019. As a band made up of 2 fiddles, 1 flute, a piano, and 6 penny whistles, we learned tunes and the basics of Irish Music. We continued through 2019 and early 2020 until the pandemic and went online through Zoom until March 2021. We started in-person classes again outside, weather permitting until we found our home at Williams Fine Violins, where we hold our classes to this day. Our first official show was the Middle Tennessee Highland Games that fall, and we were excited to perform for an audience for the first time since the school began. With a couple of students transferring from the Tin Whistle to other traditional Irish instruments like the concertina, bodhran, and flute, we started to have a full band sound along with the addition of a couple of students who joined us over the pandemic.

We received great reviews from our first show, and the Nashville Irish Music School students finally enjoyed the opportunity to perform for an audience. In September 2022, we set the school up as a Non-Profit. Teaching Irish Music is a love for tradition and culture. I wanted it to be an organization beneficial to the Irish Music Community and a resource for people looking to learn Irish Music. We’ve since performed across Nashville, participated in Irish Music Workshop weeks in Asheville, NC (Kids Received Scholarships to attend), and competed at Regional Irish Music Competition Qualifiers (Having a couple of placers as well). Started a monthly session (Irish Music Jam) and hosted a seasonal Ceili Dance (Irish group dancing) here in Nashville. We’re continuing to grow as an organization and the Irish Music Community. With kind donations, we’ve been able to provide the Bill Verdier Nashville Irish Music School Youth Scholarship and build our instrument Library. There are not many Traditional Irish Instruments rentals out there, but we have a library in our school that rents specific instruments for a very reasonable price. This past fall, we began our Beginner Whistle Class, starting a new group of students learning Irish Music. Beginning on the Irish Tin Whistle is a great start to learning Irish Music. Irish Music is taught primarily by ear. We’ve now built up our excellent instructors at the school who provide private lessons for Concertina, Fiddle, Whistle, Flute, Uilleann Pipes, and Bodhran. Earlier this year, we started an adult class on the 1st and 3rd Mondays for Adults looking to learn Irish Music.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Once we started classes back and found our wonderful space at Williams Fine Violins, our school had the opportunity to grow. The roadblock for us was the pandemic. After starting the school in the summer of 2019, we went into ‘Maintenance Mode,’ focusing on teaching the students we had instead of expanding and reaching out. My main focus was to keep the connection of Irish Music among the students even though we were no longer in person for most of the year. Great resources for Irish Music came out of necessity: Across the globe, there were online workshops, sessions (Jams), and concerts offered to keep the music going for students. The Irish Music Community came together and used music to overcome difficult times.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
There’s always been a great Irish Music Scene in Nashville, headed by the ‘Bills’ — Bill Verdier and Bill Wolfe. They led the sessions and had incredible knowledge about Irish music traditions. While they led the scene in music and taught lessons, no official school was dedicated to teaching Irish Music. The Nashville Irish Music School is the first to specialize in teaching Traditional Irish Music in Nashville. All our instructors have studied Irish Music and are dedicated to passing on the tradition. We have classes for all ages, from our kid’s tin whistle class (ages 8-12), our advanced performance band (middle school to high school ages), and adults. Our school offers instruction for all levels of playing. From absolute beginners to advanced players, we have classes and lessons available. The sessions we host at the school are open to all levels and encourage us to grow in learning Irish Music. We’re proud of being able to promote the Irish music community and provide an accessible resource for people of all ages to learn Irish Music.

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
We do not use apps within the school.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nashvilleirishmusicschool.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nashvilleirishmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NashvilleIrishMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNhVGxHMX-MAjsXjhs7eyWQ/featured

Image Credits
Brian Weaver Photography and Leasia Korbel Photography