Celebrating
Highland Music...

5th - 15th Sept 2008

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TTMTN

Traditional Music Tutor Training -
Background to the First Seminar at Glenrothes

In a quest to find the best ways to support traditional music in Scotland, the Scottish Arts Council carried out an extensive consultation leading to the publication of a report in March 1999. This report – Traditional Music in Scotland – concentrated on three main areas within traditional music: Education, Information and Advocacy.

Throughout the consultation period, there was a widespread resounding demand for developments to be made within the field of education. The report found that while the benefits of music tuition in terms of social, artistic and academic development are proven, little attention is being given to traditional music in education and resources are few. The benefits to children of having a sense of cultural identity and understanding were also widely recognised.

The long-term aims with regard to education are published as follows:

• Everyone who wants to have access to the traditional music of Scotland should have that opportunity
• Every child should leave primary school with an appreciation and understanding of the traditional music of Scotland
• Every young musician produced by the Scottish education system should have a thorough grounding in the country’s traditional music
• It is possible to study traditional music within tertiary education at a high level
• Reliable and credible teaching resources are available to meet all of the above aims

One of the strategies recommended for assisting delivery of these objectives was the setting up of a Traditional Music Training Network. A steering group was formed in 1999 and the following people met on a regular basis to discuss a way forward for training. The original group was made up of: Scottish Arts Council, Sheena Wellington, Traditional Arts Officer, Fife, Elspeth Cowie, National Organiser, TMSA, David Boag, Development Officer, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Don Bowman and Jack Beck, both of Lauder College and Rita Hunter, Fèis Rois Administrator.

The many positive changes that are happening within traditional music in Scotland were acknowledged. People are now experiencing a new increasing level of access to traditional music tuition and it was felt that the widespread presence of community led tuition is overwhelming testament to the ongoing hard work and commitment of agencies and individuals working in the field.

The current steering committee is made up of representatives from Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Fèis Rois, Strathclyde University (Creative & Aesthetic Studies), Stow College (Music and Creative Industries), Adult Learning Project – Scots Music Group, National School of Excellence for Traditional Music, and the Scottish Arts Council with input from other traditional music organisations and the Scottish Qualifications Authority as required.