'Passing It On'
Committed to live music making and participation and education in the folk arts.

Welcome

'Living Tradition Summer Schools' is a modern style of event using the highest quality of traditional arts teaching combined with public performance to provide opportunities for participation and learning at all levels.

Traditional music song and dance week

Cathal McConnel concert Duncan Wood and Cathal McConnell give a presentation, joined for this set of tunes by student Axel, from Hamburg, and tutor Nigel Gatherer.

We have just completed our first week of the summer schools. Trad Music week has been a great success with a super group of students, some new and some by now old friends.

Highlight of this week was without doubt the legendary Cathal McConnell of Boys of the Lough, who joined us for flute whistle and song (and will be returning for Guitar and Common Ground weeks) Cathal gave a wonderful afternoon presentation and some seriously inspiring concerts, along with Duncan Wood (fiddle).

Session and informal launch of Summer Schools 2010

In the Bar in the Mansion House @ West Park - Friday 21st May 2010

With around two months to go before the start of our 2010 summer Schools, we had a ‘session’ and low profile ‘launch’ of Living Tradition Summer Schools, 2010, in the Bar in the Mansion House @ West Park.

We took the opportunity to update people with what is arranged and organised so far. Neil Paterson and Ian Anderson were hosts for a session which turned out to be very similar to those experienced throughout the summer schools.

Strategic partnership with the University of Stirling

We have formed a community interest company called ‘Traditional Arts Development CIC’ to run Living Tradition Summer Schools. This company, TRAD for short, will also be a platform for other projects which may be initiated by our tutors and partners.

We have been working hard to open up this opportunity and this summer will be a time when we lay important foundations for future years.

Summer School Bursary in Memory of Moira Jones

A bursary has been set up in memory of Moira Jones. Details of the Moira Fund can be found at www.themoirafund.org.uk

Moira was a warm, creative and fun-loving person who was much loved. The bursary will be awarded to a young person attending the Summer School, which takes place from 18 July to 13 August 2010

If you wish to make a donation to the Moira Jones Bursary, donations should be sent to The Bank of Scotland, Sort 80-08-53 Account: 00856400 Title: Living Tradition Summer School / Moira Jones

Partners and Tutors

Over the whole summer schools we expect to develop the partnerships we have in place in 2009. These included the Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop, the Scottish Bluegrass Association and SC&T, Scottish Culture & Traditions, based in Aberdeen. The Scottish Bluegrass Association promote an interest in Bluegrass and Old Time music throughout Scotland and increasingly in other parts of the UK. Their annual Guildtown Bluegrass Festival takes place on the weekend between Guitar Week and Common Ground. Some of the American artists coming over for Guildtown may be participating as tutors in our Summer Schools.

Return to West Park, Dundee

We were delighted with our move to Dundee, 'City of Discovery', for our Summer Schools programme and have agreed contracts to return there for summer 2010. There is a slight change to the dates with Trad Music Song & Dance Week and Guitar & Instrumental Weeks both moving one week later in the calendar to give us three consecutive weeks of activity at West Park, Dundee.

Music Technology Week is again planned to be in a studio setting.