Riley School

Discover the Joy of Irish Music at The Riley School

At The Riley School of Irish Music, we're all about sharing the joy and tradition of Irish folk music. Whether you've been playing for years or are just picking up an instrument, we offer classes that meet you where you're at and help you grow. We focus on building a welcoming community of music lovers who want to learn, play, and connect through the sounds of Ireland.

Visit our Facebook Page for the latest information on all our extracurricular activities.

Location and School Year Dates

In-person classes are held on Saturdays, beginning at 9:00 am at :

Grace United Methodist Church
2221 Slane Avenue
Norwood, OH

Dates for the 2026 - 27 school year are -

Fall Quarter : 12 SEP - 14 NOV
Winter Quarter : 2 JAN - 6 MAR
Spring Quarter : 20 MAR - 1 MAY

Registration generally opens about a month before classes begin.

Try the Riley School Before You Register

Thinking about taking the next step in your musical journey?

Our Fall Quarter kicks off on Saturday, September 12, 2026. We're offering new students a chance to visit Riley and try out classes on September 12th only. It's a great way to dip your toes in and see if learning Irish music feels like the right fit for you —- no commitment necessary!

How to Sign Up

Check out the available classes on our Class Schedule Page
Shoot us an email before September 9th at
Let us know what class(es) you plan to attend.

Seats are limited, so be sure to grab your spot soon!

Bonus: Join Us for a Free Community Lunch

After your trial class, stick around for a free lunch at noon and a chance to chat with other students and the Riley teaching team. We'll also have a few short performances to give you a taste of what's in store. Meat and vegetarian options are available for lunch.

Fall Quarter registration closes September 9th, but new-to-Riley students can register during the open house. Payment by check or cash, please.

Summer Recess

Spring Quarter has ended at the Riley School of Irish Music, now it's on to Summer festivities!
Best of luck to all of our community members taking part in the Midwest Fleadh Cheol Mother's Day weekend! A video sample of fiddle student Indigo's tunes for competition can be viewed on our Facebook Page.
Classes will resume with Fall Quarter on September 12th and registration will open in mid-August.

Here are some of the places you can find us this summer.

Appalachian Festival - May 9 and 10

We will have a booth at the Appalachian Festival between 10 am and 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday, May 9 and 10, and there will be Riley performances on Sunday.
As a bonus, Riley regular Mike Oberst and his band The Tillers will be playing on Saturday evening!

Dayton Celtic Festival : July 25-26

The Riley School will host a large session tent - bring your instrument or just come to listen.
We will also host a whistle workshop.

Norwood Porchfest - August 8

This is a music event held near our school, and the Riley community will be having a performance at the end of Slane Ave sometime between 12 and 2 pm.
We will need lots of players to come out and show off what we do at Riley. This will be a great way to get local families interested in Riley. If you are interested in being part of the core group, please email .

Current Sessions

For up to date information on all our sessions, please contact to be added to the Cincinnati Sessions Facebook Messenger group, or to be added to the Dayton Session Facebook Messenger group.
Check out our Community Sessions Page for information about our regularly scheduled Irish music sessions.

Celebrating our 25th Anniversary

Watch our Anniversary Video