FEIS AT LOCHGOILHEAD
Item Posted: Monday 22nd March, 2010
FEIS WEEKEND IN LOCHGOILHEAD
Fèis Cheann Loch Goibhle, the Gaelic arm of FiddleFolk/Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop, recently held it’s Fèis for youngsters at The Lochgoilhead Centre. This annual event, which is part-funded by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, brings children together from all over the region – from Helensburgh to Lochgilphead. The Fèis offers them access to sessions in Gaelic language and song, and all manner of traditional instruments, including fiddle, clarsach, accordion, pipes, whistle and chanter.
Tuition was provided by a remarkable, talented group of young musicians and singers. Sarah Naylor, who teaches fiddle in four local primary schools as well as FiddleFolk’s adult classes in Strachur, was on hand to offer improvers sessions for the children already learning fiddle in school as well as starter sessions for the beginners. Two of the Fèis tutors, June Naylor who plays clarsach and Norrie McIver, accordionist and Gàelic singer, are members of the popular band Bodega, which won Scottish Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2009. Clarsach sessions were particularly popular with many of the girls who have tried this graceful instrument at the Fèis in previous years but get no other opportunity to play it, as it is not one of the instruments taught in school and there is no local tutor. Those children who had tried the accordion last year practised the tunes they had already learned and newcomers quickly caught up – apparently it’s easy! James MacKenzie from Barra taught pipes, whistle and chanter and Joy Dunlop from Connel, Gaelic language and song.
On Saturday evening all 29 children gathered together to hear their tutors perform and Alec McKechnie, the most senior of the participating children, joined in on fiddle to play for the children’s Ceilidh, The dancing was followed by hot chocolate, biscuits and bed – eventually.
The bright, sunny weather at the weekend meant the outdoor, team-building activities, which included canoeing and rope and climbing skills, were all the more fun. These sessions were led by, Craig Auchinleck, Hamish McTrusty and Craig Geddes, instructors at The Lochgoilhead Centre.
The weekend culminated with a concert in Lochgoilhead Village Hall that was attended by family and friends. Of the 65 people in the audience 13 were younger brothers and sisters and all were thrilled and intrigued to see how quickly the youngsters had picked up tunes on instruments they had never tried before the weekend.
Over the weekend Elizabeth Bain, Jean MacKechnie, Mike Masino and Alistair MacKechnie of the Fèis committee were with the children over the weekend to ensure all went well.
If anyone is interested in learning more, please contact Project Leader, Elizabeth Bain on 01301 703504 or check the FiddleFolk website www.fiddlefolk.co.uk.