Hands Up for Musicians

Scottish musicians expanding their creative horizons into other other areas of musical practice.

Planetarium & The Red Planet Suite

Don’t miss Planetarium & Red Planet Suite this Monday 9th March at The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG. Continuing Drake Music Scotland’s long term relationship with City of Edinburgh Council, “Planetarium” & “The Red Planet Suite” bring together pupils from nine Special Schools alongside a composer and mainstream ensemble, which is a first for this […]

Writing for Disabilities workshop

I just attended the amazing workshop on writing for disabilities hosted by Drake Music Scotland. I learnt so much and witnessed some brilliant music making from Rhona on a Fiona Rutherford piece. Fantastic! Thanks to everyone who attended. I look forward to taking this further 🙂

Music Omni – opportunity

Every summer, Music Omi invites approximately a dozen musicians — composers and performers from around the globe — to come together for two and a half weeks in a unique collaborative music making residency program. Music Omi encourages its participants to share ideas; perform each other’s works and write music for one another while exploring […]

Radiophrenia – open call for sound and radio works

Radiophrenia Deadline: 28 February 2015 at 17:00 Radiophrenia – a temporary FM art radio station broadcasting in Glasgow during April 2015, announces an open call for sound and transmission artworks. We are seeking soundscapes, spoken word pieces, radio experiments, found sound, innovative approaches to drama and documentary and radical and challenging new programme ideas. The […]

Writing for rhythm section tutorial

The rhythm section is a curious thing when it comes to composing music. In the world of twentieth and twenty-first century popular music it is largely what we identify as the core of almost any band. Chordal instruments such as guitar and piano; bass guitar or double bass; drums and percussion – they have all […]

News from McFall’s: October 2014

This November, Mr McFall’s Chamber performs three programmes drawing influence from as far afield as Argentina, Poland and South Uist, collaborating with fabulous artists from folk, world and classical roots. ‘Maverick ensemble Mr McFall’s Chamber have the knack of taking audiences on insightful musical journeys’ The Scotsman sound: Scotland’s new music festival Sat 1 Nov […]

Distil Residential this Thursday!

Our next Distil Residential starts this Thursday! I can’t wait! The participants are: Neil Ewart Laura Wilkie Chris Greive Emma Tomlinson Callum Armstrong Cameron Maxwell Grainne Brady Kaela Rowan The workshop leaders will be: Jacky Molard – (Breton fiddler, composer, traditional musician) Dave Heath (composer) Raymond MacDonald (improvisor) Everyone will be learning from each other […]

Music for the left hand

I’ve just come across some music written for the left hand of the piano by Chopin. I’m sure you have all heard of it before however here is some to watch!

Distil Scratch Day September 2014

Distil held our first Scratch Day in LoFi Studios, Glasgow on September 16th 2014. Five composers Neil McDermott, Alasdair Paul, Grainne Brady, Emma Tomlinson and Tina Rees wrote/arranged a piece for our distil ensemble featuring drums. The idea of the day was that the composers scored music for drums using Dave Milligan’s drum tutorial. The drums […]

Hungarian music resources

We have been very lucky at Distil to have had some amazing workshop leaders from all over the world. Twice Mihály Borbély has come over from Hungary to work with Scottish musicians. It’s always amazing to see him move with the music – all these different time signatures are so natural to him. Check out his website. […]