Music for everyone.
No fear. No judgment.
The Vocal & Music Academy is a professional music school rooted in Leixlip and built around one idea — that every person who picks up an instrument or opens their voice deserves to feel free doing it.
Our story
The VMA started in 2013 — not with a business plan, but with a passion for music, a need to follow a dream, and an innate desire to give something back. Bobby Harpur, a Leixlip native, began teaching vocals with no budget — just time and commitment.
In 2015, the school moved to Main Street, Leixlip — back home — and The Vocal Academy was born. Demand for guitar and piano grew quickly, and the first teachers joined the team.
When the pandemic hit, the VMA didn’t close — it adapted. Booking systems were automated overnight to include direct Zoom links, allowing every student to continue their lessons through lockdown without interruption. That response earned the VMA the inaugural Digital Champion Award from Kildare County Council in 2022.
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Digital Champion Award 2022
Kildare County Council — Recognised for digital innovation in continuing music education through the pandemic.
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20132013
Founded in Maynooth. Vocal tuition only. No budget — just passion and commitment.
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20152015
Moved to Main Street, Leixlip. Added guitar and piano. A second room opened.
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20202020–21
Pandemic. Classes moved online without interruption through automated Zoom booking.
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20222022
Digital Champion Award — Kildare County Council. Recognised for digital innovation in music education.
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20232023
Moved to Croí Laighean Development Park, Easton Road. Purpose-built studios. Room to grow.
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NowToday
10 teachers, 7 instruments, hundreds of students — kids to adults, beginners to experienced.
Our approach
We teach firmly from the student’s perspective. That means more than technical instruction — it means understanding that technique is only half the story.
At the VMA, we believe that every musician — regardless of age, ability, or experience — should be able to stand in a room and play or sing without fear of mistakes, without fear of judgment, and with the freedom that comes from genuine confidence in their own ability.
The goal is not just to learn songs. It is to leave with a considered belief in yourself as a musician, and the openness to keep challenging yourself on your own terms.
Every lesson is shaped around the individual — their goals, their genre, their pace. Not a fixed syllabus.
The VMA is a safe space to make mistakes, ask questions, and grow. That applies to age 6 and age 60.
We develop the whole musician — not just technique, but the ability to perform freely in front of others.
Every teacher at the VMA is an active musician on the Irish circuit — bringing real experience to every lesson.
What we teach
One-to-one tuition across seven instruments, for all ages and all abilities — from a first lesson to Leaving Cert and beyond.
Vocals
Piano & Keyboard
Guitar
Bass Guitar
Drums
Ukulele
Part of something bigger
The VMA has always been about more than lessons. Music is a community activity — it needs stages, audiences, and a town that shows up for its own artists. Bobby is a founding member of The Leap Collective, Leixlip’s community arts initiative, and the VMA plays an active role in building Leixlip’s cultural life.
Leixlip’s Entertainment and Arts Platform — a community initiative promoting original live performance across music, spoken word, and the arts. Founded by local musicians who believe creative work belongs at the heart of town life.
Monthly intimate music sessions at Leixlip GAA — warm, community-led evenings where local musicians share original songs in a setting where every voice is heard.
The inaugural Leixlip Culture Night took place in 2025 at St. Mary’s Church — a sold-out Other Voices–style evening featuring local artists. Returning in 2026.
Intimate, carefully curated performances in small Leixlip venues — prioritising original music, atmosphere, and real connection between artist and audience.
Ready to find your sound?
Book an assessment — meet your teacher, see the studio.
