Dubliners like to claim their city is the rock music capital of the world, and Waterford, it has to be admitted, is in no position to challenge that assertion.
However, a report out this week may be the start of a process in which Waterford city and county at last begin to exploit their musical resources.
The Waterford Music Report aims to stem the exodus of professional musicians who are forced to move to Dublin and elsewhere to make a living.
Compiled by Music Network, an ESB-sponsored organisation established by the Arts Council to develop music in Ireland, and Waterford Music City & County, a coalition of local music and arts, education and community groups, the report was launched on Monday by RTE presenter Mike Murphy.
It finds that Waterford is rich in music resources, with a strong traditional music scene in the west of the county and a vibrant classical, light opera and brass and pipe band scene in the city.
Rock, pop and folk musicians are in abundance, although opportunities for performances are limited, particularly for groups playing original material. Very little jazz is promoted in the city or the county.
Employment opportunities for musicians are extremely limited, with no professional classical or brass ensemble in the city and few professional traditional performances. Traditional, classical, jazz and brass musicians, and advanced performance music students at Waterford Institute of Technology, have to move out of the county to make a living, it says.
"This constant movement out of Waterford depletes the rich musical resources which are initially nurtured in the city and county, thus making it difficult for other professional musicians to settle and find work in the area."
The 126-page report, however, is far from a litany of the failures of the past. An action plan is proposed and initiatives have already been undertaken since work began on the report three years ago.
Among other things, the report emphasises the urgent need for "networking" between music and arts organisations, musicians, communities and schools.
To start the process, a public music forum for the city will take place in the Adult Education Centre in Waterford from 6.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23rd. A similar event for the county will be held on Saturday, March 27th, at the Park Hotel in Dungarvan, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The report's other recommendations include advanced training and employment opportunities for musicians in Waterford, greater training and resources for primary and secondary-level music teachers and special support mechanisms for the disabled.
Some pilot projects are already in place. The Saoirse Drummers is a group of 12, aged 10 to 18, which has been drumming for three years under tuition from members of the Spraoi Drummers group.
Tuition in percussion has also been introduced for 3rd- to 6th, class pupils at Portlaw National School.
At Monday's launch, the Spraoi programme director, Ms Miriam Dunne, said the Portlaw project was greeted with "a great deal of bemusement from both pupils and parents".
Since then, however, the response had been tremendous. "Public performances have been received with great enthusiasm, demand for places in workshops among the pupils is very high and the school is committed to the ongoing project."