Good and bad news on the music tuition front – piping and drumming included. Midlothian Council have decided to scrap plans to axe all music tuition in schools. (Incredible that they even considered this.) Well done to the councillors who saw the light and to the protesters who helped them see it.
Perth & Kinross Council is apparently proposing to raise music tuition from £295 to £816 per year I’m told, and that doesn’t include band or group fees or music camps. These would take fees to £1000+ per annum.
My informant: ‘They want it off their hands and this is the perfect way for them to do it. Music always suffers before other subjects. They don’t realise that all some kids have going for them is their music.’
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Bruce Landay in Boston on Sandy and Finlay Cameron’s tune Spean Bridge to Achnacarry: ‘Are he and his brother as young as his picture suggests? I was much impressed by his tune, his playing and his writing!’
Yes Bruce they really are that young and very talented too.
Christopher Happs, a piper in the George Heriot’s School band, has written a tune to mark the opening of a local care home in Edinburgh.
The competition was launched by Care UK’s Murrayside home in November in conjunction with the school to find a traditional themed tune to be played during special events at the home.
The winning composition was chosen by a panel of judges composed of residents at Murrayside. The jury praised Christopher’s tune, which they described as ‘lively’, with a ‘lovely melody’. He was presented with a trophy as a memento of his success by Gillian Gray, customer relations manager:
Michelle Reid, home manager at Murrayside, said: ‘Music can have many benefits for people living with dementia – it can trigger old memories and prompt a conversation, as well as reducing anxiety and helping maintain speech and language.
‘We were delighted to announce Christopher as the winner of our music competition – the tune he composed is perfectly suited to the home, and we look forward to playing it at future events.’
Well done Christopher.
From the archives…Newtonmore Games 1948
Piobaireachd
1 P/M Donald MacLeod, Fort George
2 P/M Donald MacLean, Stornoway
3 (equal) Edith MacPherson, Inverness/ Peter Bain, Glasgow
March, Strathspey & Reel
1 P/M Donald MacLeod, Fort George
2 P/M Donald MacLean, Stornoway
3 Peter Bain, Glasgow
South Uist Games, 1948
Piobaireachd
1 P/M Angus MacAulay (pictured top)
2 Angus Campbell, South Uist
3 Ronald Lawrie, Oban
March
1 P/M Angus MacAulay
2 John MacFadyen, Glasgow
3 Ronald Lawrie, Oban
Strathspey & Reel
1 John MacFadyen, Glasgow
2 Ronald Lawrie, Oban
3 Donald Morrison, South Uist
Jigs
1 John MacFadyen
2 P/M Angus MacAulay
3 Donald Morrison
Judges: Archie Kenneth, Col. JP Grant of Rothiemurchus, Dugald Graham-Campbell of Shirvan and Dr Simpson.
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What a SPLENDID march young Findlay and Sandy have composed for the “Spean Bridge to Achnacarry” prompting. It is catchy, melodic and inspiring. Well done, young lads. I am sure there are many more good tunes where this one came from. Keep up the good work.
Some more good news, Dundee council have ended fees for instrument hire. Tuition is free, too.