Ceòlas Uibhist
Ceòlas Uibhist
Ceòlas Uibhist and the Youth Music Initiative
Ceòlas is a music and dance summer school featuring expert tuition for people of all ages in piping, fiddling, singing, Scotch reels and Quadrilles, step dancing and the Gaelic language. It is set within the Gaelic-speaking community of South Uist. Ceòlas explores the vital connections between Scottish traditional music, Gaelic song and dance while allowing ample opportunity for participants to enjoy all these art forms in ceilidhs and in homes the places which fostered them. The School takes a holistic approach to tuition and no single element is complete without the others, with pipers learning dance steps, fiddles learning the words to their tunes and dancers exploring the relationship between their steps and gaelic song.
| Though focusing on Hebridean tradition, Ceòlas also has strong links with Cape Breton (Nova Scotia, Canada), where the Gaelic culture taken there by emigrants from the Gaelic-speaking areas 200 years ago, has survived in relative isolation. Celebration of cultural links between music, song and dance, and across the Atlantic, is the School’s hallmark. |
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Through their local knowledge and their participation in the consultation towards a Western Isles Cultural Strategy, Ceòlas applied for and was granted funding from the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) to develop a project focusing particularly on voice, fiddle, accordion and piping. The project started in January 2005 and continues until June 2006, working across North and South Uist and Benbecula with children and young people.
Capacity building for tutors
The project has sought to provide training and development opportunities for musicians from the community wanting to work with young people in a tutoring capacity. Bi-monthly masterclasses have been offered in voice, fiddle, accordion and piping.
Post-16 groups
Ceòlas have recognised a specific need for opportunities for school-leavers to continue their musical interest locally. It has also seen an opportunity to help tackle the depopulation issue faced by many of the Western Isles. This part of the project consists of bi-monthly workshops and a week-long residency to another area with a strong commitment to gaelic music and song, also providing the young people with invaluable showcase opportunities.
Accordion workshops
The accordion workshop, working in partnership with the Accordion and Fiddle club and the local feisean, has attracted approximately 30 young people. 15-20 young people attend weekend workshops in two locations on the islands. A regularly visiting tutor from Inverness, David Bowen, has greatly enhanced the workshops.
Flying Fiddles
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The YMI grant has allowed Ceòlas to continue its support of the hugely successful Flying Fiddles group. 14 young people have worked intensively with resident tutor, Deirdre Morrison, making excellent progress. They performed at Fiddle 2005 to great reception. |
The success of this part of the project has highlighted the benefits of a resident tutor over visiting tutors. As a result, Ceòlas is now seeking to consolidate funding for more permanent residencies.
Piping workshops
This part of the project has been delivered in partnership with the Commun Piobaireachd Uibhist agus Bharraigh (the Uist and Barra Piping Society) and is now nearly at an end. 17 young people have been involved following an intensive week tutored by Lewis Barclay in 2005, tied into the annual Ceòlas weekend. Visiting tutors Andrew Wright and Hector Henderson have delivered between one and two workshops a month in the Liniclate Drill Hall.
Singing workshops
Singing workshops have happened in a small way to date, delivered by Gilbert MacMillan, Katherin McInnes and Gregor Lawrie. Plans are being put in place to use the model developed by the piping and accordion groups, with individuals and pairs working with a tutor.
| Ceòlas’ youth music Development Worker, Mary Schmoller reported that the YMI project has made a huge difference to the young people of Uist. |
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For more information about the Youth Music Initiative, visit the YMI section of our website. | |