Fun Folk will be free to download on Apple and Android devices and, through a series of fun activities, allows young children to explore Gaelic and Scots songs, as well as learning about traditional Scottish musical instruments.
The app will be launched at a Creativity Day hosted by Fèis Rois at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh on 1st June.
Fèis Rois Education Manager, Rachael Duff said: “This is an exciting opportunity for Fèis Rois to reach out from its Ross-Shire base and enable children and their teachers and families around the world to engage with traditional Scottish music, song, story and dance.”
The app features a host of well-known musicians and singers, including former BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, Robyn Stapleton and Mòd Gold Medallist, Darren MacLean.
Funded by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative, the Fèis Rois Fun Folk project involved a team of research artists, led by singer Michelle Burke, who worked with over 400 children in nursery schools in Edinburgh, Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and Highland. They collated a number of songs, games, activities, stories and dances that feature on the app.
Award winning animator, Gavin C Robinson brought the ideas to life through design and animation with the music and stories being recorded by Barry Reid and a team of professional musicians from bands including Treacherous Orchestra and The Shee.
Fèis Rois invites nursery staff, parents, students, children aged 3 – 5years and others working in Early Years settings to join in a fun day of creative workshops to celebrate the launch of the Fun Folk app. Opening the event on 1st June will be renowned Gaelic singer, Julie Fowlis. Those attending the event will have the opportunity to sing with Julie in a Gaelic song workshop.
The Creativity Day will be filled with inspiring workshops led by some of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians and storytellers along with Fun Folk app developers Flo-Culture, Rachel Drury from Starcatchers, Dr Ben Fletcher who helped develop Catherine Wheels app, White and Frances Rive from the City of Edinburgh Council.
For more information about the Fun Folk Project please visit the schools section of the Fèis Rois website at www.feisrois.org. Book a place on the Fun Folk Creativity Day on 1st June at: www.funfolk.eventbrite.com
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Note to editors:
For more information, including images to accompany the story, please contact Rachael Duff on 01349 86 2600 or email rachael.duff@feisrois.org.
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