Students 2007/2008

A Clàrsach workshop in the music room
Photograph by John Sikorski

Lewis
I’m Lewis from Highland, and I’m in my second year at the Music School. I play piano and accordion.

I came to the Music School for the opportunity to come into contact with some great musicians – the fantastic tutors and other musicians that come in to the Centre to share their experience, and the other students who I have learned so much from.

When I leave the Music School I would like to study architecture in Glasgow, and also keep up my music in Glasgow’s great music scene.
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Catriona
Heya, I’m Catriona and I’m from Highland. This is my first year at the Music School. I play clàrsach and a bit of piano.

I came to the Music School because I wanted to improve my playing generally, but especially to learn to play in a band and to meet other traditional musicians my own age.

I don’t really know what I want to do when I leave here, but I definitely want to keep music as a part of my life.
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Hannah
Hiya! My name is Hannah and I am in my third year at the Music School. I come from the Highlands and I sing Gaelic song and play the clàrsach.

I have come here to learn and understand more about the traditions of Gaelic song and the music of the clarsach. I’m also here to play with other young musicians.

My plans when I leave here aren’t final. I thought about studying at Edinburgh University, but now I am thinking about doing an F.E. course in Benbecula.
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Aoife
Hey there! They call me Aoife, I live on the Isle of Skye and I’ve just started my second year at the Music School. I am studying clarsach as my first instrument and piano as my second.

I auditioned for the Music School because I felt that although I was playing a wide range of styles of music, traditional stuff was in short supply, so I came here to expand my repertoire and to meet other people who were also interested in music.

When I leave here, I am hoping to go to University to study sound engineering or media technology. I am not looking to play music for a career, but I am definitely going to keep it up – you never know when clàrsachs are going to hit it big!
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Cameron
Haloooo, my name is Cameron, I’m from the east of Fife and I am studying pipes and Scots song.

The reason I came to the Music School is to get better at my instruments and to meet other musicians my own age.

I hope to do music as a career if I get the grades, but if not I’d be a joiner. CHEERS!
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Catherine
Hi, my name is Catherine, I’m from Skye and this is my first (and last) year at the Music School. My first study is Gàidhlig singing and my second is fiddle.

I came to the Music School to improve my singing and fiddle playing and to be around other like-minded people who also enjoy playing traditional music.

I don’t know what I would like to do when I leave, but I would like to carry on playing music anyway.
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Robyn
Heya! My name is Robyn and I’m in my second year at the Music School. I’m all the way from South Ayrshire and I play the fiddle and sing, and I’m also learning the piano.

I decided to come to Plockton because I wanted to improve not only individually, but in a groupwork situation as well, and also to work with other young musicians.

When I leave Plockton, I hope to do the B.A. in Applied Music at Strathclyde University. I would like to go into media of some sort and have a job where I could still play my music. Cheers!
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Naomi
Fit like? My name is Naomi, I’m from the centre of the universe in a place called Aberdeen, and this is my second year at the Music School. My first study is fiddle and this year I’m also learning the mandolin.

I came up here to improve my playing and to meet other young folk interested in the same type of music as me.

At the moment my list of future jobs is too large to include here, but staying in music in some way is a recurring theme amongst them!
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Calum
I’m Calum and I am in my second year at the Music School. I’m originally from West Yorkshire but I now live in the North-West Highlands. I play fiddle and guitar.

I decided to join the Music School to help improve my abilities as a musician but also to play with like-minded people.

When I leave I would like to do a degree in music and hopefully carry on playing music as a career.
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David
Hi, I am David from the absolutely fantastic Kingdom of Fife. I am doing my first year at the Music School. I play the fiddle, and I am learning the piano from scratch.

I came to the Music School to raise my overall standard of playing and to better my musical awareness, for example through groupwork and performance. I also came to be around other young people who share the same interest, which is playing and learning about Scottish Traditional Music.

After I leave the Music School I intend to go to university to study politics and public policy and I hope after that to become a civil servant with the Scottish Government. You never know, though, you might see me as First Minister one day!
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Anna
Hi there! I’m Anna and I’m from the Western Isles. This is my fourth and final year at the Music School and I’m studying fiddle as my first instrument and piano as my second.

I decided to audition for the Music School to widen my knowledge of traditional music and to meet other young people with the same interests as myself.

When I leave I think I want to study music at university but I’m not quite sure yet! Cheers!
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Alasdair
I am Alasdair and I am from the Highlands. This is my first year at the Music School. I play the pipes as my first study and the accordion as my second.

I came to the Music School to help with my playing and to get a chance to do groupwork.

I really am not too sure what I would like to do when I leave, but would like to go on to uni. I have thought about teaching as a possible career.
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Marianne
Hi, I’m Marianne from the Highlands. I play fiddle and guitar. This is my first year at the Music School.

I came to the Music School to boost my repertoire, to gain experience of the music industry and to improve my playing.

After I leave school, I’d like to pursue a Further Education course in music and possibly an HNC.
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Murdo
Hello, my name is Murdo and I am from Highland. I am in my third year at the Music School. My first study is box and my second is pipes.

I’m here to try and improve my own playing as much as possible and to learn to play with different musicians.

After I leave I am considering the traditional music course at Benbecula, but if not, we’ll see what happens. Cheers!
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Kirsty
Hiya, I am Kirsty from Inverness-shire. I am currently in my fifth year at the Music school. I play the fiddle, and when I leave I would like to carry on playing the fiddle, but I would also like to get my Gaelic degree and perhaps teach overseas.
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Alexander
My name is Alexander and I’m new to the life of “Living Music”, having just come into the Music School. I play the pipes, and I’m learning the whistle for my second study.

I was apprehensive about coming here simply because I would be living away from home, but I can honestly say now that I can’t think of a better place to be.

I’m not sure yet what I want to do when I leave, but piping will always be a part of my life whatever I do.
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Visit student years below:
2007/2008
2006/2007
2005/2006
2004/2005

Tel 01599 544706
The National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music,
Plockton High School, Plockton, Wester Ross IV52 8TU
email dougie.pincock@highland.gov.uk
www.musicplockton.org