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Kate Forbes MSP supports online tool to help make Gaelic music tuition accessible to all<\/p>\n Kate Forbes MSP supports online tool to help make Gaelic music tuition accessible to all<\/p>\n
29th September 2019, The Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy, Kate Forbes MSP, attended the Annual Conference of Gaelic arts organisation, F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal, on Friday 27th September, where she congratulated it on one of its busiest and most successful years to date, which has seen the development of a brand new online resource for music tuition.<\/p>\n
As well a review of the past year, in which the organisation engaged with nearly 80,000 participants, volunteers or audience members, the Minister heard about plans for Oide (Gaelic for tutor), a new progressive learning tool which will make music lessons accessible, initially in Gaelic singing, fiddle and accordion. This brand new extension of F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal\u2019s F\u00e8isTV service, funded by Creative Scotland, B\u00f2rd na G\u00e0idhlig and HIE, will offer lessons in a choice of Gaelic or English with the aim of ensuring anyone can learn Gaelic song or Scottish traditional music, no matter their age, ability or geographic location. The resource will be available online shortly with further lessons being developed to include other instruments, providing further work for professional musicians.<\/p>\n
Kate Forbes MSP commented: \u201cI would like to congratulate F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal on a fantastic resource. The F\u00e8isean movement is renowned for its work in opening up Gaelic culture and arts to the wider world and this new initiative can only increase the opportunities for those who wish to engage with the Gaelic language.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delegates at the conference, held at the Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, heard about a very successful year for F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal with the launch of its Annual Report outlining the impressive programme of events, workshops and projects which took place throughout 2018-19 as the F\u00e8is movement celebrated Scotland\u2019s Year of Young People.<\/p>\n
The varied programme delivered F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal\u2019s aspiration of supporting the creative development of young people, giving them opportunities to further their skills and knowledge within Gaelic arts, culture and language in communities and schools across Scotland. Almost 80,000 people were engaged as participants, volunteers or audience members at events which included individual F\u00e8isean, the Blas Festival, C\u00e8ilidh Trails, a Gaelic Drama Summer School, a Gaelic Pantomime, a Gaelic residential week in Lewis and F\u00e8isgoil sessions in schools.<\/p>\n
Kirsteen Graham, F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal Chair, said: \u201cF\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal\u2019s Annual Report outlines one of the busiest and most successful years to date for the organisation and its members.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFunding secured from EventScotland allowed us to engage further with our young people in delivering a range of projects and opportunities, putting them at the helm during the Year of Young People. They were the key decision-makers in relation to events during the Blas Festival, which was the only signature event in the Highlands organised to celebrate the year and involved over 750 young people who performed alongside some of their musical heroes, chosen by themselves, including Skipinnish, Breabach and Trail West.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur member F\u00e8isean also delivered a tremendous programme of opportunities for young people throughout Scotland and I would like to extend my thanks to all our volunteers who give of their time to support the development of Gaelic arts, language and culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive, F\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal, added: \u201cF\u00e8isean nan G\u00e0idheal is always grateful for the support of its funders and our team is focused on making the work of hundreds of volunteers more enjoyable and less onerous. Our Annual Conference is an opportunity to thank them for all they do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlongside Year of Young People events, other highlights included the further development of F\u00e8isTV, a streaming channel to bring events to a wider audience across the world and the increased interest in our education service, F\u00e8isgoil. The proliferation of Gaelic Language Plans offers the potential for F\u00e8isgoil to continue flourishing and more employment opportunities arose with tutors delivering Blasad G\u00e0idhlig (Gaelic taster sessions) to over 20,000 school pupils in schools in Highland, Falkirk, Perth & Kinross, East Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Argyll & Bute, Edinburgh and Glasgow during 2018-19.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delegates also heard presentations about upcoming projects, marketing, working with teenagers and a special conversation with tradition bearer, piper and singer, Rona Lightfoot, whilst enjoying music from some of the talented young participants from two Inverness based F\u00e8isean – F\u00e8is na h-\u00d2ige and F\u00e8is a\u2019 Bhaile – and Nairn\u2019s F\u00e8is Inbhir Narainn.<\/p>\n