Music Grinds

6th Year

Weekly Grind

In-Person

Our Leaving Cert Music grinds focus on teaching students the necessary skills and techniques which are essential in order to excel in the State Exam. The Dublin Academy of Education will provide students with everything they need to maximise their marks in the practical and written aspects of this course, with detailed and comprehensive study notes.

Teacher:

Aine Balfe

Let's chat Enrol Now

Free Study Guide

Your Investment Includes:

75 min Weekly Grind + 10 min Q&A

Supervised Study Lounge Access

Effective Study Guidance & Support

Áine Balfe’s Renowned Exam Notes

Specialised Seminar for Parents

Flexible Payment Options

Trial a Music Class with Áine Balfe

10% off Easter Revision

How the Music Grinds Work:

✔ 75-Minute Weekly Grinds class: You’ll be taught by some of the very best educators in Ireland. Select your preferred day and time, and attend class weekly In-Person.

✔Áine Balfe's Specialised Grinds Notes: Exclusively available to our grinds students, these notes contain Áine's unique approach to learning Music, designed to cut through the jargon and help students easily understand the complex concepts.

✔ Access To Our Supervised Study Lounge: As a grinds student with us, you’ll get Free access to our Supervised Study Lounge, located in Blackrock and open 5 days per week.

✔ Effective Study Guidance & Support: We help students study smarter with expert guidance, H1 notes, and class recordings, providing everything they need to boost their exam performance.

✔ Seminars for Parents: We invite parents to attend several talks throughout the year on how to support their child throughout the State Examinations journey.

✔ Exclusive Discounts to Our Revision Courses: As a grinds student with us, you’ll receive discounts on our Christmas and Easter Revision courses.

How the 6th Year Music Grinds Work

1 X Weekly In-Person Exam-Focused Classes (2.5 hours + 10 min Q&A)

A weekly exam focused Music Grind that helps grow students’ confidence and exam performance. After all Music grinds, there are 10-minute Q&A sessions with our teachers, allowing time to tackle specific student challenges. Students can also choose to attend this grind online. A monthly note to parents will be sent out which will outline what topics are being covered and the schedule for the month ahead.

Supervised Study Lounge Access

Mon-Wed: 5pm-7:45pm | Thur: 4pm-6:45pm | Sat: 10am-1pm
Students attending the Maths Academy have access to a quiet, structured space for focused study at our new State-of-the-art Campus in Blackrock Co. Dublin.

Effective Study Guidance & Support

We help students study smarter with expert guidance, H1 notes, and class recordings, providing everything they need to boost their exam performance.

All Music Grinds come with Áine Balfe’s renowned Music Notes

A comprehensive, expertly designed revision tool — ideal for continuous learning.

The Music Grinds unique teaching Methodology & Interactive style

52 Skills / IMED (Identify, Method, Execute & Marking)

CAO & Guidance Webinar Series for parents

Led by expert career advisor Kay, giving families clarity and direction.

Flexible Payment Options

Spread the price of grinds over easy instalments.

Exclusive Discount on our Christmas & Easter Revision Courses

Perfect for revision, catch-up, and reinforcing key concepts.

Music Grinds Schedule

Attend one of our 2.5 hours Weekly Grinds + 10 min Q&A In-Person
Mondays	4:45pm - 7:30pm

The Benefits of our Grinds Programme

Expertly Guided Exam Strategy & Skills Development

Master the structure, technique, and mindset required to excel in high-stake examinations, led by motivating experienced teachers.

Time Management Mastery & Proven Study Techniques

Gain access to advanced study frameworks and time management strategies tailored for peak academic performance.

Confidence Through Consistency

Minimise exam-day anxiety with frequent, structured in-class assessments that build familiarity and confidence over time.

The Power of In-Person Learning

Benefit from the richness of face-to-face instruction, immediate feedback, and real-time academic engagement, unmatched by virtual alternatives.

A Culture of Excellence & Belonging

Thrive in a nurturing, inclusive environment where passionate teachers and motivated peers create a dynamic, success-driven community.

Surrounded by Support

Study alongside like-minded students who inspire and challenge you to reach your full potential.

Meet Your Music Teacher

Áine Balfe

Áine is a dedicated and passionate musician with over 11 years’ experience as a teacher and mentor at post-primary and third level. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education (Trinity College Dublin), Masters in Music Performance (TU Conservatoire) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management (Maynooth). Áine’s teaching style aims to instil a love of music in her students while providing a clear understanding of exam content and exam technique. Her experience as an SEC examiner helps to provide her students with the necessary skills to reach their full potential in the State Examinations.

What Our Music Grinds Cover

The Practical Exam

The Listening Paper

The Composition Paper

Composing

Grinds Fees

Final 5-Week Offer: 50% Off All Weekly Grinds (This Offer Extends to Siblings too! )

When Paid in Full

1st Subject

€199.99

WAS: €399.99

SAVE €200.00

2nd Subject

€99.99

WAS: €199.99

SAVE €300.00

3rd Subject

€99.99

WAS: €199.99

SAVE €400.00

Additional Subjects

€99.99

each

SAVE €500.00+

Where can you attend these grinds?

Our live, interactive grinds are available in two formats, both designed to offer you full engagement and access to top-quality instruction

In-Person: Join us in person at our Blackrock location for classroom-based grinds.

Online: Attend our grinds online, from anywhere in Ireland, with fully interactive live-streamed classes.

Whichever option you choose, you’ll be able to ask questions and interact with our teachers throughout each session. All classes come with our renowned Dublin Academy study notes. If you attend via live-stream, we’ll post the notes to your home at no extra charge. As a Grinds student, you will also have access to the archive of class recordings, meaning you will never miss a class.

Our Leaving Cert grinds focus on what's essential for the exams. Our teachers cut through the unnecessary material to concentrate solely on the core content, helping you maximize your exam performance.

What is the schedule for grinds?

Start Date:
Classes commence week beginning Monday 1st September 2025.

Please note, classes will NOT be held on the following dates:

Mid-Term Breaks:
Monday 27th October- classes resume Monday 3rd November 2025
Monday 16th February – classes resume Monday 23rd February 2026

Christmas Holidays:
Monday 8th December 2025 – classes resume on Monday 5th January 2026

Easter Holidays:
Monday 30th March - Sunday 12th April 2026

Final Classes:
Saturday 16th May 2026

Please note that on bank holidays, our classes will not run in person or online live-stream. Instead, we’ll provide a high-quality recorded session that you can watch at your convenience. Thank you for your understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the schedule for grinds?

Start Date:
Classes commence week beginning Monday 1st September 2025.

Please note, classes will NOT be held on the following dates:

Mid-Term Breaks:
Monday 27th October- classes resume Monday 3rd November 2025
Monday 16th February – classes resume Monday 23rd February 2026

Christmas Holidays:
Monday 8th December 2025 – classes resume on Monday 5th January 2026

Easter Holidays:
Monday 30th March - Sunday 12th April 2026

Final Classes:
Saturday 16th May 2026

Can students ask questions in grinds?

Yes. Regardless of whether students are attending grinds in person or online via live-stream they will be free to ask our teachers questions.

How long are the grinds?

Leaving Cert weekly grinds are 75 minutes in duration. Junior Cert grinds are 60 minutes in duration.

Can I get recordings of the grinds?

As a Grinds student, you will have full access to the archive of class recordings, meaning you will never miss a class.

Can I change my choice of subject for my grind during the year?

Yes, however, please note that an administration charge of €25 will apply if a student decides to change their choice of subject during the year.

How do I access my live-streamed grinds and recordings?

You will access your live-streamed grinds and recrodings via our online learning management system, DASH (Dublin Academy School Hub). We will send you login details for this platform in advance of your grind.

If I opt for live-streamed grinds, how do I get my study notes?

Your study notes will be posted to your house free of charge in advance of your live-streamed grinds commencing. Please note, study notes will take up to 3 working days to arrive from the time of booking.

Can I try out the weekly grinds for free before signing up?

Yes, all students can attend a free trial of our weekly grinds to ensure they are happy with the service.

Do Weekly Grinds take place on bank holiday Mondays?

Hear from our Home Economics Students

"Anna has a really good teaching style, her grinds are very focused but at the same time are enjoyable. She makes the content really relatable by giving real life examples, I found this made a massive difference and made the content a lot easier to understand and remember."

- Attended our Home Economics Grinds