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.

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/Council+and+government/Council+information+performance+and+statistics/Media+area/Council+releases/July+2011/Pop+drummer+to+lead+music+workshop+at+summer+activities+project.htm

Perth and Kinross Council announces that a member of hit band Aqualung will be teaching music to young people in Blairgowrie this summer as part of a free arts and sports activities project.

http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/news/newsreleases/2011/July/2011-07-06-02.htm

On 5 June 15 members of The Highland Council’s Regional ceilidh band ‘snas left from Inverness Airport to embark on the first part of their journey to the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in North Wales.

The pupils of an Argyll and Bute primary school are gearing up to play their own unique brand of music – by royal appointment. Luing Primary’s ukulele orchestra has been invited to play for HRH The Princess Royal when she visits Oban on 12 July as part of the Oban 200 celebrations.

Island primary pupils tune up for Royal performance http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/news/2011/jul/island-primary-pupils-tune-royal-performance

Pandemic (Bucksburn Academy’s Steel Pan Band) are going to London to compete in the British Panorama (national steel band competition) and then take part in the biggest festival in Europe, the Notting Hill Carnival. They will be working jointly with RASPO (Reading All Steel Percussion Orchestra).

http://www.mypanyard.co.uk/Steelbands-panyards.html

http://www.culturemixarts.co.uk/default.asp?id=92

The group of 16 senior pupils and two staff fly to London on 22 August to rehearse with RASPO for a week prior to taking part in Panorama on 27 August and Notting Hill Carnival on 28 and 29 August before returning to Aberdeen on Tuesday 30 August.

The Moray Music Centre will once again be holding its annual Moray Schools Youth Orchestra summer school at Elgin Academy during the first week of the holidays.

Schools orchestra summer school http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_news/news_73800.html