Over several weeks in May and June, children at Strathmore Primary in Forfar, worked with top traditional singer and songwriter Christine Kydd, under her experienced Ceilidhmakers banner to write songs. Almost 70 children, in P4/5, wrote songs together with themes including local heritage, current local developments in the community, and learned songs relating to project work as well as learning some body percussion. Children recorded a CD of their work, for Enterprise, created artwork and performed the songs they wrote to the whole school, parents and visitors. Angel Gourlay, the Principal teacher was delighted with the outcomes “Working with Christine has enabled our pupils to further develop their skills for life, learning and work.  We have had the opportunity to collaborate, design, apply and create through writing songs linked to our topic work and record a CD and produce a book of our songs.  All our experiences have enabled us to gain greater depth and breadth and work towards achieving our full potential through the four capacities”.

The project was a great success,  and songs written included  The Lang Strang Bell, about a fantastic bell gifted to the town in the 1600s from Sweden, the golden gryphon on the steeple , the new wildlife park, sailing on the local loch, and how a local confectioner built a park, a concert hall and a hospital for  the local community. The children also wrote about all the machinery being used to build a new supermarket.

The project was made possible by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative and Jerry Randalls, the Music support Officer  for Angus Council agreed. “It was clear that from ideation to making a CD and the final performance, the children and staff at Strathmore Primary, guided by Christine, had a deeply enriching music and Scots Language experience. Christine cannily blends enormous fun with hard work and trusted the children with ownership of their project, which they relished.  In terms of Curriculum for Excellence there was total engagement from the children in terms of higher order thinking skills, creativity and active learning.  ‘Skills for learning, life and work’ was a key player in its success.” Other schools in the North East to have Ceilidhmakers workshops recently include Dunnottar PS and Luthermuir PS, all projects culminating in concerts where children performed their new songs.