HI~Arts Music Tip-Sheet 8 - Traditional Music

If your interest lies in traditional or Celtic music, one of the best things you can do is contact Feisean nan Gaidheal. The Feis movement is a network of community - led tuition festivals, where young people can meet, play music and receive expert tuition in fiddle, Gaelic song, traditional dance and a wide variety of instruments. These Festivals usually run for a week, and are fun, informal and highly informative.

There are currently 32 Feisean taking place annually, with follow on activity to ensure that all year round support is available. The Feisean web site has details of the Feis nearest you, and tells you who to contact for more information:

www.feisean.org

Of course, once you start playing music in front of an audience or making recordings, all the advice offered here at HI~Arts applies regardless of the style of music you play. Traditional music gigs and festivals run more or less the same way that rock gigs do, in that you have to be just as aware of what’s going on around you during set-up and sound checks. Even if traditional music events may seem a little more relaxed in some ways, professionalism and courtesy are still very necessary if you want to be treated well and be asked to come back again.

Young people with exceptional talent in traditional music can apply for an audition at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music. This residential school in Plockton has produced some of the best young musicians in Scotland in recent years, with some going on to further study with the Scottish Music degree course at RSAMD, Glasgow.

If you already have some track record and have made a good demo, there are booking agencies and record labels that specialise in traditional, acoustic and roots music. Contact us and we can give you some further information.

The HI~Arts web site “What’s On” section has daily updates on traditional music sessions and concerts. There are some informal sessions that are especially tailored to suit young people offering a great opportunity to meet like-minded musicians and learn new tunes.

Whatever age you are and whatever your level of interest, the best way of making contacts is simply by going to sessions and festivals, meeting people and joining in. Again, the HI~Arts web site has regular listings and our Festivals Guide will give you the festival calendar for the Highlands & Islands.