Folkworks are looking for Assistant Tutors aged 16+ to help teach at Folkworks Youth Summer School.

An Assistant Tutor is a participant who will help the Tutor in one of their classes, whilst still having the full Summer School experience being a participant in their other class. Assistant Tutors are expected to follow the participant code of conduct and fully participate in all activities.

These participants only pay for their food and board, which comes to £235 (this can be payable in instalments)

We are looking for young people who are passionate about playing and teaching folk and traditional music, song and dance. You can apply to be an Assistant Tutor in any of our classes (see website for full class list).

We are looking for Assistant Tutors who are:

• Between 16-20 years old

• Passionate and experienced musicians or singers

• Friendly and considerate

• Willing to learn from our experienced tutors

• Happy to participate in everything Summer School has to offer

The benefits of becoming an Assistant Tutor:

• Learn to teach from some of the best folk music tutors in the country

• Develop your skills as a musician and teacher

• Pass on your experience and knowledge to other young people

• Significantly reduced fee for the week (food and boardonly, £235)

How to apply:

To apply to be an assistant tutor please email folkworks.summerschool@sagegateshead.com with subject title ‘Assistant Tutor Application’. Let us know in no more than 200 words:

1) Why would you like to be an Assistant Tutor?

2) What experience do you have of playing and/or teaching folk and traditional music?

3) Which class would you like to assist?

4) How would you benefit from this experience?

To apply or find out more please contact us on folkworks.summerschool@sagegateshead.com

Creative Scotland’s ‘Nurturing Talent – Time to Shine Fund’ aims to support young people aged 14-20…

Are you interested in developing your skills in one of the following areas?

Drama, Dance, Music, Film, Visual Arts, Literature, Digital Arts

Sometimes creative talent needs a little bit of financial help to reach its full potential.

Whatever your creative passion, look no further than the Young Scot and Creative Scotland’s Nurturing Talent – Time to Shine Fund.

Who can apply?

Anyone aged 14-20, living in Scotland. Both individuals and groups can apply for funding ranging from £50- £600.

In the case of group applications, details of all group members should also be provided and the majority of the group should be aged between 14 and 20 years old.

Can I apply for funding on behalf of an organisation?

Applications from professional arts organisations, schools or other educational institutions will not be accepted.

What kind of thing can I apply for?

The fund provides financial support to help nurture talent in a number ways. From recording a demo with your band, to putting on an exhibition of your own artwork, and lots more in between.

For more info on what you can get funding for check out the application guidance notes linked in the related section at the bottom of this page.

How do I apply?

You can fill in the embedded form below, download the printable application form, or complete an application form online, or call the Young Scot Infoline for free on 0808 801 0338 to request an application by post.

https://young.scot/information/learning/nurturing-talent-time-to-shine-fund/

Fèis Dhùn Èideann would like to encourage you all to come along to Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce on Saturday 10th February to take part in their annual Secondary Group Workshop day.

It’s always a really enjoyable day where singers and musicians work together during the day on to arrange a song or set of tunes. Everyone then shares some pizza together before getting the chance to perform their song/set of tunes at a Family ceilidh in the evening. This year we have two fine young musicians Joseph Peach and Owen Sinclair from the band Tannara (https://tannaramusic.com <https://tannaramusic.com> ) leading the instrumentalists while the wonderful Darren MacLean will be back again to lead the singers.

The Secondary Group Workshop day on Saturday 10th February (10am-5pm): Open to singers and instrumentalists of Intermediate/Advanced level.  Participants will attend workshops from 10 am to 5pm where they will learn some new tunes for part of the day and work on group arrangements for the rest of the time. They also welcome singers who can learn a new song or two in the morning and work on a group arrangement with some of the instrumentalists in the afternoon. It is hoped some of the groups will perform their pieces at the Family Ceilidh in the evening.

This year the Family Ceilidh will take place on Saturday 10th February 6.30-8.30pm. This is always an enjoyable evening where parents can join their children to dance the evening away to music provided by our wonderful group of tutors. It’s a great chance to meet the other families and share a dance and a glass of wine!

An application form for the workshop is attached here. Places are limited so be sure to get your form back to me by January 25th at the latest.

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

The Saltire Society’s Inspiring Scotland Alasdair Gray Bursary 2017 award winner has been announced.

On 30 November, 2016, at the Songs for Scotland 2 event in the Oran Mor Auditorium, a new Scottish bursary was created for young Scottish creatives. On that night a £500 bursary was awarded to a promising young Scottish music student. In 2017 the Saltire Society agreed to take over the bursary and to make it into a £1000 annual award given to a young Scottish creative enrolled in a school or university.

On 15 December the recipient of the 2017 award was named at the Saltire Society’s offices in Edinburgh.

Congratulations Iona Fyfe!

According to the Saltire Society:

‘The winner of the Alasdair Gray Bursary is an emerging folksinger who will use the bursary to research and record the ballads and folksongs of the north east. She will use the funds to produce an album of songs with accompanying songbook to include the historical background and lyrics of each piece, to be released in 2018.’

According to Iona:

‘It is an honour to be awarded the Alasdair Gray Inspiring Scotland Bursary. It is a great support for young arts practitioners in Scotland, and I’m delighted it will support my project, ‘Away from my Window’. The album will combine an in depth ethnographic research and musical collaboration to nurture Aberdeenshire balladry and encapsulate traditional song through modern interpretation. The album is due out in early 2018 and the support the Alasdair Gray Bursary provides will help get it there.’

Iona Fyfe sings ‘Lovely Molly’.

If you wish to offer further support to Iona, her website is here;

Iona Fyfe Band