Workshop instrumental for a music mingle
Musical siblings Emily and Will Goan, who kept their tutoring business afloat in lockdown by offering remote lessons to students as far away as Canada, have come up with a new idea of helping musicians mingle, writes Kathie Griffiths.
The pair have started a new workshop called the music mingle where up to 10 friends, currently separated by Covid, can join each other playing tunes for fiddle and/or guitar that they would be able to play together once pandemic restrictions ease and allow.
‘It’s an informal workshop, with time to chat and play music,’ said Will.
He added: ‘We are also hoping to start registering interest for a music weekend once a month in Oban. We would offer in person music lessons, a folk session in the evening and maybe a fiddle workshop. Obviously this wouldn’t be until such a thing was allowed but people can get started online in the meantime.’
Until then, online lessons are going well with regular remote classes around Scotland, England and to students living as far away as Canada.
‘We are both really enjoying it still. Although we haven’t been able to travel much it has been so lovely to feel connected to people in places we may be able to go eventually,’ said Will. The brother and sister, who usually live on sailing yachts at Dunstaffnage Marina, originally set up as travelling trad music tutors to keep money coming in after the pandemic dried up tourist season work. Will would normally be working at Oban Youth Hostel and Emily would usually be working on boats.
They chose the name MacTalla for their business because it comes from the Gaelic word for ‘echo,’ appropriate seeing as the brother and sister teach by ear with students learning to echo what they are hearing.
To find out more go to www.mactallatutoring.wordpress.com