An opportunity to explore your creativity and develop your approach to composition in a relaxed and supportive setting – with two of Scotland’s finest musicians and a dozen or so like-minded participants. Have your ‘break-through’ moment as a tune writer and arranger
Two of Scotland’s foremost traditional musicians Hamish Napier and Mike Vass invite aspiring tune-smiths to join them on a week long immersive composition retreat in a special venue in the Scottish Highlands this December.
Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre is a truly inspiring getaway, set high above Loch Ness and just fourteen miles from the City of Inverness. It is the ideal location to explore your creativity.
Between them, they have delivered critically acclaimed commissions for festivals, made several recordings of original compositions, written scores for Scottish Bafta winning films, had pieces used for BBC documentaries, and have seen their tunes recorded by some of the most revered musicians in Scotland, Ireland, and beyond.
This retreat is a unique opportunity to learn from these renowned musicians – to gain an insight into their compositional approach, find out what drives them, and discover a whole new set of skills to take your own creativity to new heights.
Who can come on the retreat?
There are 14 spaces available. The retreat is aimed at adults who have a basic level of music theory/literacy and are intermediate/advanced on their primary instrument (singers welcome too). You may already have experience writing melodies, or larger scale compositions, or this may be your first foray into composition.
How much does the retreat cost?
£750 per person
What is included in the cost?
• 4 days of workshops in tune writing and composition facilitated by Hamish and Mike
• 5 nights comfortable and homely accommodation in a beautiful setting (arriving on Monday night)
• All meals – delicious, creative food, locally sourced where possible.
• Individual 1:1 sessions during the week
• An opportunity to record some of your work towards the end of the week
• A guest session on day three with musician/composer Lauren MacColl on Thursday
• A tutors concert and ceilidh at nearby Abriachan Village Hall on Thursday eve
Topics Explored:
Classic folk melodies and tune-types, meter and rhythm, modes and scales, melodic variation, chords and accompaniment, arrangement techniques and more. There will be plenty of opportunities for questions, discussions and other topic requests.
Address: Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire, Scotland, IV4 7HT
Mon 2nd Dec (eve)- Sat 7th Dec (morn)
Book: hamishnapier@mac.com
More Info: hamishnapier.com & moniackmhor.org.uk