New music classes for youngsters
Weekly tuition launches
Weekly traditional music classes have been launched in Stirling.
A Fèis is an opportunity for people to come together to develop their skills and knowledge of the Gaelic arts.
The teaching is fun and open to all. You don’t need Gaelic to attend a Fèis event or have any previous experience of playing an instrument.
Fèis Fhoirt have been delivering Gaelic language and music opportunities to young people in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire for 20 years.
The Fèis began in 2004 with an event at Wallace High School and they now offer two Fèisean a year as well as weekly classes at the Tolbooth in Stirling.
The weekly classes offered by Fèis Fhoirt are for young people from the ages of 8-18.
The fiddle, accordion, guitar and the clàrsach classes run weekly throughout the school term.
The cost is £10 a week for an hour of instrumental tuition and an hour of Gaelic song.
Classes are available for beginners and also for intermediate players who can already play their instrument.
Participants develop their skills and talent each week but enjoyment and fun are at the heart of all Fèis activities.
As the participants improve on their instrument and in their singing class there will be more opportunities to play music all together and the take part in the Fèis Fhoirt Cèilidh Band.
They will have the opportunity to play at local events and learn more about putting on concerts and playing on a stage as part of a band.
A spokesperson said: “Playing music as part of a group has a really positive impact on young people and it will encourage them to stay involved and keep developing their skills.
“Although no Gaelic is needed to take part in the classes, the Fèis is a Gaelic event and all participants will pick up some words and phrases in their instrumental classes and will attend a Gaelic singing class.
“The participants will develop an awareness of Gaelic through the classes and will have a greater understanding and a greater appreciation of Scottish Culture.
“The Fèis is run by a committee of dedicated volunteers who meet online and occasionally face to face to keep the classes and Fèis events going.
“Anyone with an interest in supporting the Fèis is warmly welcomed, especially if they have skills to support the Fèis in any way or have a keen interest in traditional music.
“Any necessary training will be provided such as First Aid or Gaelic training.
“You don’t need to be free for every event to join the committee but it is important that you are keen to support young people in the community have access to traditional music opportunities.”
If interested at all in supporting the committee with their work email: feisfhoirt@ feisean.scot.
The next term of weekly classes began at the weekend in the Tolbooth in Stirling. To register a participant aged 8-18 or if you have any questons about the classes email: feisfhoirtbookings@feisean.scot.