Children & Young People

3 May 2022 MEPG News, Partner News Children & Young People, Events

Scottish Young Musicians National Final

The Scottish Young Musicians National Final on Sunday 29^thMay is fast approaching and there is an air of excitement as each local authority completes its competition to nominate its finalist for the all-day event at the RCS. We have been impressed by the support and enthusiasm of all and by the talent displayed by the incredible young musicians. To get this far during a Covid year has surprised many, but here we are on the cusp of putting something new and we hope worthwhile on Scotland’s music map.

There will be 22 young musicians represented at the final, one from each of the LAs taking part and one from the independent schools. Those LAs that could not take part because of Covid intend to join next year. As it’s been our first year, we’ve been flexible as to how the competitions have been run. Some have opted for school competitions leading to a local authority final, whilst other have gone directly to the final stage. The goal has always been to have as many students as possible participating in every school in Scotland and SYM is there to help everyone achieve this.

We are honoured to have Nicola Benedetti welcome everyone to a finale which will have Jamie MacDougall keep the pace as master of ceremonies. We are equally proud to have a panel adjudicator of international standing Christopher Bell, Heather Nicoll, Aaron Shorr as well as Jennifer Pike.

The support offered by the donors of prizes has been incredible. As well as the overall winner receiving the commissioned and donated trophy of the Maid of Morven by Scotland’s acclaimed sculptor, Alexander Stoddart, the intention has been to offer career changing experiences as well as practical prizes purchased from prize monies.

We are enormously grateful not just to those who have donated prizes but to the effort put into the inventiveness of what these prizes could achieve for the young winners. Many of Scotland’s great orchestras and ensembles have offered experiences including the RSNO, SCO, Scottish Ensemble and The Dunedin Consort. The music conservatoires The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the hosts of the final, and Trinity Laban have both embraced the offering. Lastly, many of the suppliers of music equipment to young people including Stringers, Band Supplies and Haydock Music have been most generous.

The national final will be graced by an exciting performance by Stranraer Brass Ensemble, the winner of this year’s Scottish Young Musician’s Brass Ensemble of the Year following a hotly contested competition.

To find out more visit www.scottishyoungmusicians.com

3 May 2022 Partner News Children & Young People, Holiday Courses, SScOT

SScOT Summer Course 2022

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A holiday like no other – The Scottish Schools Orchestra Trust’s summer courses are a unique opportunity for children to make friends, expand their musical horizons and develop a love of group music-making which will last a lifetime!

SScOT’s summer residential course is a non-auditioned, six-day activity holiday including a mixture of outstanding musical teaching, sport and art sessions, and social activities.

The summer course is open to any child aged 9-15, who plays an orchestral or wind band instrument at Grade 2 to Grade 8 level and beyond. There are no auditions for any of our events and full bursaries are available.

The end of course concert will take place in the New Auditorium, RSNO Centre, Glasgow, 16^th July.

Booking can be made online at wwww.sscot.org.uk

3 May 2022 Partner News Children & Young People, Events, Fèisean nan Gàidheal

Fèisean across the country returns!

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Fèisean across the country made a welcome return to in-person activities during the Easter holidays after a 2-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic. A number of week-long tuition events, workshop days and concerts were held during the school break, welcoming hundreds of excited young people to learn traditional music, Gaelic song, drama and art from highly skilled tutors, all of which were organised by volunteer-led committees.

During the pandemic Fèisean embraced technology and continued to deliver vast programmes of tuition with regular online lessons and workshops, keeping participants engaged and providing employment opportunities for tutors who lost other sources of income. This has been a positive step for Fèisean, with many additional skills gained by committees and tutors and the young people who were able to access these opportunities.

With restrictions being eased, the opportunity for Fèisean to return to face-to-face activities is very much welcomed by committees, tutors and participants alike.

In the run-up to these in-person Easter fèisean, Development Manager at Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Calum Alex MacMillan said:

“Fèisean nan Gàidheal is delighted to be supporting Fèisean as they make a return to in-person events over the Easter holidays. Covid has caused so many events and activities to be cancelled and postponed, with our young people missing out on so much. Although the focus of the Fèisean is tuition in the traditional Gaelic arts, they provide much more than that, giving young people and their communities, opportunities to come together and learn, socialise, develop skills and knowledge of their local culture as well as supporting the local economy. It is fantastic to see the excitement and enthusiasm of the Fèis committees and we wish them every success with their upcoming events”.

The following events took place over the Easter break:

2^nd April

Fèis Phaislig Easter Concert – Paisley

4 & 5th April

Fèis Obar Dheathain – Aberdeen

4^th – 8th April

Fèis an Earraich – Skye & Lochalsh

Fèis Latharna – Oban

Fèis Rois Oigridh – Ross-shire

8th April

Fèis a’ Bhaile Easter Fèis Day – Inverness

8th & 9th April

Luach – Lewis & Harris

11th – 15th April

Fèis Taigh Dhonnchaidh – Isle of Lewis

Chaidh Fèis Taigh Dhonnchaidh a chumail eadar 11 – 15 Giblean 2022 ann an Nis ann an Eilean Leòdhais. Bha com-pàirtichean eadar aois 4 – 18 an lathair agus chòrd e ris a h-uile duine a bhith air ais còmhla aghaidh ri aghaidh. Bha tòrr spòrs a’ dol!

Fèis Taigh Dhonnchaidh took place between 11-15th April 2022 in Ness in the Isle of Lewis. It was very well attended by participants aged 4-18 and everyone was delighted to be back together face to face again.

Fèisgoil activities continue with almost all provision now happening face-to-face in school classrooms as well as continuing to embrace outdoor learning where appropriate.

For more information on Fèisean nan Gàidheal events visit www.feisean.org or find us on facebook.com/feisean

3 May 2022 Partner News Children & Young People, Live Music Now, Touring, Traditional Music, Year of Stories 2022

Live Music Now Scotland announces Traditional Tales for Tiny People as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022

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Live Music Now Scotland launches Traditional Tales for Tiny People in both Edinburgh and Glasgow as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022
Aimed at early years children and their families, the sessions will feature tales and music from the Orkney islands & the Western Isles
Inspired by Scottish traditional music and folklore Traditional Tales for Tiny People will support early years and their families post-pandemic

Live Music Now Scotland is excited to announce Traditional Tales for Tiny People as part of Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022.

Bringing the traditional stories, language and music of the Orkney islands and the Western Isles to early years and families, Traditional Tales for Tiny People will feature live performances from some of Live Music Now Scotland’s emerging professional musicians.

Not only are these musicians some of the country’s most talented, but they are also specially trained and experienced in working with early years audiences and families. Lasting 45 minutes, each session will feature two musicians who will perform a range of songs and tell stories that reflect nature, family, culture, tradition and much more besides.

Working with two locally engaged community venues in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Live Music Now Scotland hopes that the initiative will bring the known benefits of music and storytelling to early years and families who have, in large part due to the pandemic, had little or no opportunity to experience it before. As research suggests, storytelling plays an important role in allowing early years to understand and navigate the world around them, as well as how to interact with others, and these are skills that these sessions will look to nurture.

In Edinburgh, sessions will take place on a Sunday afternoon at Holy Cross Church in Davidson’s Mains. Lasting 45 minutes, these participatory sessions will be led by three alternating LMNS musicians who were all born and raised on the windy planes of the Orkney islands and grew up listening to the region’s traditional tales and tunes – Aidan Moodie (guitar), Graham Rorie (fiddle) and Owen Sinclair (guitar) .

In Glasgow, Sunday morning sessions will take place at Partickhill Bowling and Community Club and will feature the vocals of Josie Duncan, Kaitlin Ross, and Catherine Tinney, all of whom hail from the Western Isles. Told in a combination of Gaelic, English and Scots, their tales will tell of nature, people and places, families and relationships, and the stories that are embedded in society and retold many times as part of traditional social occasions, including waulking songs and Puirt à beul (a traditional form of song native to Scotland).

Carol Main MBE, Director at Live Music Now Scotland, said: “Storytelling not only enhances knowledge and memory recall while supporting early literacy development, but it also has the ability to build a greater sense of community, which is something we all need just now, not least young children who would have, pre-pandemic, had far more opportunity to regularly engage with their peers.

With Traditional Tales for Tiny People, we hope to not only facilitate this interaction and provide support for families as we emerge from the pandemic, but also to keep the wonderful tunes and tales of Scottish folklore alive.”

For more information, dates, and to book please contact:

Holy Cross Church – families.hce@gmail.com

Partick Hill Bowling Club – musicatthegreen@gmail.com

Edinburgh, 2pm, Holy Cross Church

1st May 2022	Owen Sinclair & Josie Duncan
5th June 2022	Owen Sinclair & Josie Duncan
3^rd July 2022	Graham Rorie & Aidan Moodie
7^th August 2022	Owen Sinclair & Robbie Greig
4th September 2022	Graham Rorie & Aidan Moodie
2nd October 2022	Owen Sinclair & Robbie Greig

Glasgow, 11am, Partickhill Bowling Club

22^nd May 2022	Kaitlin Ross & Catriona Hawksworth
12th June 2022	Kaitlin Ross & Catriona Hawksworth
11th September 2022	Kaitlin Ross & Catriona Hawksworth
16th October 2022	Josie Duncan & Catherine Tinney
20th November 2022	Catherine Tinney & Calum Morrison
18^th December 2022	Catherine Tinney & Calum Morrison

3 May 2022 Partner News Children & Young People, Funding

Youth Music Initiative Funding

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Round 1 of the Access to Music Making Fund is now open for applications.

The purpose of the Access to Music Making fund is to create access to high-quality music-making opportunities for children and young people aged 0-25 years (or, aged over 25 if they are disabled and/or care experienced).

Who Can Apply

Applications to the Access to Music Making fund can come from organisations and individuals based in Scotland or who are delivering programmes within Scotland for the benefit of children and young people of Scotland.

Organisations already in receipt of Regular Funding from Creative Scotland can apply but should discuss your intention to apply for funding with your lead officer in the first instance. Applications will be required to demonstrate why the proposed activity is additional to your existing funding agreement and how the activity enhances current and future plans.

Find out more