Mull Music Makers offers young people on the island of Mull the opportunity to learn the violin and develop general musicianship. Mull Music Makers creates musical opportunities for youngsters living in a severely under-serviced and remote island community. They have an innovative, blended model of delivery focusing on developing core musicianship skills, classical technique, ensemble coaching and performance through free and regular access to online and in-person violin workshops.
The Radcliffe Trust grant was able to support eight weekend workshops and a 5-day summer school delivered in the 2023-24 season for over 50 young people from all corners of the island. Lead tutor, Patsy Reid created a number of bespoke multi-part arrangements especially for Mull Music Makers and parts were taught using a well-balanced mix of learning music by ear and note reading. In-person and online sessions for a new intake of beginners in their Early Years were also delivered.
Music skills from in-person workshops were further developed and supported by a course of online videos and tutorials. These were designed to support practise at home and keep motivation levels up in the gaps between workshops.
Thanks to Patsy Reid’s pool of contacts, the youngsters worked and performed with some of Scotland’s finest musicians and educators, experiencing music from a diverse range of teaching styles and genres along the way. This year’s guest tutors included Duncan Chisholm, Hamish Napier, Richard Michael, Seonaid Aitken, Signy Jakobsdottir, Anna Massie, Sam Sweeney, Jack Smedley, Roo Geddes and Alasdair Savage. Many guest tutor weekends resulted in additional community concerts and ceilidhs which the wider community were also able to enjoy.