Highland Council offers a taste of traditional music

A traditional music open evening and taster session for adults and children in the Inverness area will take place on Wednesday 29th August from 7-9pm in Crown Church Hall.

Inverness Traditional Music Classes - Clasaichean Ceòl Traidiseanta Inbhir Nis have been organised by The Highland Council’s Community Learning and Leisure Services and anyone interested in traditional music from age 8 upwards can come along and try out instruments, songs or dances of their choice.

The open evening aims to provide locals with the opportunity of meeting traditional music tutors and to help them make their choice in taking up a class.

Councillor Bren Gormley, Vice Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: “Its important for our Highland culture that we foster and encourage new traditional music and dance talent in the Highlands. The Inverness Traditional Music Classes are a great springboard for people to take up their choice of instrument or dance.”

Tuition is available for new beginners through to advanced pupils depending on the type of class chosen in accordion, chanter, fiddle, instrumental group work, guitar, keyboards, mandolin, whistle, bodhran, Scots Song, Gaelic Song, Ceilidh dance and Step.

The classes run for ten weeks from Monday 3rd September to Friday 23rd November with a two week break for the October mid-term.

Venues include Crown Primary School for whistle, chanter, fiddle, bodhran and piping class; Charleston Academy for accordion, music groupwork class, guitar, mandolin and keyboard; Maple Court Hotel for Scot’s song and fiddle; Crown Church halls for accordion, and fiddle; Phipps Hall Beauly and Spectrum centre Inverness for ceilidh dance classes; and Millburn Academy for fiddle.

Tuition fees are charged for the classes; however, concessions are available. Instrument hire is also available with advanced bookings.

For further information about the open evening or to request a booking form please contact: The Highland Council’s Community Learning & Leisure Service tel: 01463 724314 or email: margo.maclennan2@highland.gov.uk.