From: Fèisean nan Gàidheal
[naidheachdan_at_feisean_dot_org]
Sent: 19 March 2007 16:29
Subject: Primary Schools enjoy the benefits of the Youth Music
Initiative
Attachments: YMI Inverness.doc; ICO Inbhir Nis.doc;
YMIImages.zip
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE USE
[Scroll down for Gaelic version and notes – Word versions
attached]
Inverness Primary Schools enjoy the benefits of the Youth Music
Initiative
Primary pupils across the Inverness and Nairn area have
been involved recently in experiencing traditional music in their schools though
the Highland Council’s Youth Music Initiative (YMI). The initiative,
contracted by the Council to Fèisean nan Gaidheal and co-ordinated in those
areas by Dingwall-based Fèis Rois, has even helped one primary school in
Inverness prepare for their 50th anniversary this year.
Dalneigh Primary
School is due to mark its fiftieth anniversary in November and thought it would
be appropriate to have a tune commissioned to assist in their on-going plans.
With help from the Youth Music Initiative, professional local musicians
Dagger Gordon and Calum MacCrimmon wrote a special composition, which the
children have been learning in their group-work YMI sessions. Currently under
the working title of ‘The Dalneigh Bells’, pupils and staff are hoping to
perform at a celebratory concert in November.
And likewise, children in
all 184 primary schools across the Highlands have been experiencing traditional
music from some of the most experienced and acknowledged artists in their
profession, many of whom are graduates from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music
and Drama. Tuition has also been offered through the medium of Gaelic,
using tutors fluent in the language.
Mrs Clunas, Head Teacher at
Dalneigh Primary School is fully supportive of this initiative: “I think YMI is
great and the children are really enjoying it. The initiative has given them
both a traditional and musical experience which they take great pleasure in.
This is down to the very enthusiastic tutors we have had. They make
the children feel very good about the music and playing an instrument that they
might not get the chance to play in other circumstances. YMI and our 50th
anniversary project has given the children ownership of the music and they
really think it’s great.“
Working on behalf of Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Rae
MacEachern is the organisation’s YMI Co-ordinator for Highland. She added:
“The YMI project in Dalneigh is a fantastic example of what can be achieved
through this initiative. It is due to the schools in the area being willing to
take this on and making it work within their own tight curriculum that has made
the delivery of YMI such a success. Added to that, the quality of delivery
through the outstanding tutors and local fèisean has been remarkable, and long
may it continue”.
--
Bun-sgoiltean Inbhir Nis a’ faighinn tlachd às an Iomairt Ciùil Òigridh
Tha clann bho gach bun-sgoil air feadh sgìrean Inbhir Nis agus
Inbhir Nàrann air pàirt a ghabhail bho chionn ghoirid ann an ceòl traidiseanta
tron Iomairt Ciùil Òigridh (ICO). ‘Se Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd a dh’iarr air
Fèisean nan Gàidheal am prògram traidiseanta seo a thoirt seachad, le sgioba
Fèis Rois a’ cur an iomairt air dòigh anns na sgìrean seo. Tha an ICO
cuideachd air taic a thoirt do bhun-sgoil shònraichte ann an Inbhir Nis, airson
na leth-cheudamh bliadhna aca a’ chomharrachadh.
Tha Bun-sgoil Dhalneigh
ann an Inbhir Nis an dùil cuirm-chiùil shònraichte a’ chur air dòigh anns an
t-Samhain am bliadhna, gus leth-cheud bliadhna a’ chomharrachadh ‘san sgoil aca.
Bha iad den bheachd gum biodh e freagarrach pìos ciùil a sgrìobhadh tron
ICO, fonn a bhios a’ chlann ag ionnsachadh agus ga chluich aig a’ chonsairt.
Le seo, sgrìobh an luchd-ciùil proifeiseanta Dagger Gòrdan agus Calum
MacCruimein ‘The Dalneigh Bells’, agus tha iad air a bhi ga theagasg tro
chlasaichean ICO thairis air an teirm seo.
Tha ICO air a bhi a’ tachairt
anns gach bun-sgoil – 184 dhiubh - air feadh na Gàidhealtachd. Tha a’ mhòr-chuid
den luchd-teagaisg nan cluicheadairean proifeiseanta, feadhainn dhiubh a th’ air
a’ thighinn tron RSAMD ann an Glaschu. Far a bheil e comasach, tha an
oideachadh air a dhèanamh tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig, a’ cleachdadh luchd-ciùil a
tha fileanta ‘sa chànan.
Tha a’ Bh-ph Clunas, Ceannard Bun-sgoil
Dhalneigh, gu math taiceil dhan phròiseict. Thuirt i: “Tha ICO a còrdadh
ris a’ chloinn gu mòr. Tha an iomairt air cothrom a thoirt dhaibh eòlas
fhaighinn air ceòl agus cultar traidiseanta. Tha an luchd-ciùil air leth
èifeachdach ann a bhith a’ brosnachadh na cloinne pàirt a ghabhail agus grèim
fhaighinn air a cheòl, agus ‘se rud math a tha sin”
Thuirt Rae Nic
Eachearna, co-òrdanaiche ICO Fhèisean nan Gàidheal: “Tha am pròiseact ICO seo
ann an Dalneigh na eisimpleir air cho soirbheachail ‘sa tha an iomairt air feadh
na Gàidhealtachd. ‘S ann air sgath an co-obrachadh eadar sgoiltean, an
luchd-ciùil agus sgioba ICO a tha seo ag obair, agus gur fada a mhaireas e”.
CRÌOCH
****NOTES****
Background
The Youth Music Initiative (YMI) was established by the Scottish
Executive in 2004, with the pledge to ‘ensure that by 2006, every primary school
pupil should have access to at least one year’s free music tuition by the time
they reach Primary 6’.
YMI is a Scotland-wide initiative administered by
the Scottish Arts Council, with Fèisean nan Gàidheal contracted by the Highland
Council to deliver the traditional programme of the YMI in its area.
Co-ordination of programming the initiative locally has been passed to
local fèisean in the Highland Council area, including Fèis Rois, which runs the
programme in Inverness, Nairn, Ross-shire and Sutherland.
Fèisean nan
Gaidheal is the national association of Gaelic arts tuition festivals,
supporting 45 fèisean across the country, offering tuition in Gaelic arts and
alngauge to over 11,000 young people annually.
Fèis means
festival, with Fèisean being the plural means festivals. Please remember
to use the accents in these words.
Contact:
Chris DePlano,
Marketing & Communications
Fèisean nan Gàidheal
Portree
Isle of
Skye
Tel: 01478 61 33 55 (switchboard)
Tel: 01478 61 40 03 (direct)
Mob: 0773 914 34 34
Photos:
Three are attached in a ZIP
file, at 300 dpi resolution. All photos are © Gordon Willoughby,
commissioned by Fèisean nan Gàidheal for public use. Please use the credit
‘Photograph by Gordon Willoughby’ if you use the image/s.
- Caption for Dalneigh 1: “Pupils at Dalneigh Primary
School, Inverness taking part in Fèis YMI activities.”
- Caption for Dalneigh 2: “Pupils at Dalneigh Primary
School, Inverness taking part in Fèis YMI activities.”
- Caption for Dalneigh 3: “Pupils at Dalneigh Primary
School, Inverness with Fèis YMI tutors Calum MacCrimmon (left) and Dagger
Gordon (right).”
END
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Fèisean nan Gàidheal
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a' Mhill
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