Successful Feis workshop in Golspie

Feis Chataibh held the first of two one day music workshops at the weekend in Golspie High School.

These are for eight to 18 year olds and was attended by 32 participants from Sutherland and Ross-shire.

These workshops have been modelled on the summer week Feis and give the children some continuity from one summer to the next. Although on a smaller scale than the summer Feis, tuition was offered in nine different instruments and there were nine tutors involved.

The children had a first and second choice of instrument and there was half an hour during the day for Gaelic tuition as well as a short performance for parents at the end of the day.

The tutors were mostly local with a number from Golspie. These were Zoe Renouf on fiddle, Wendy Mackay for Gaelic song, Terry Keatinge for whistle, Valerie Mackay for chanter and Blair Teska on keyboard, in his first time as an adult tutor after attending many of the Feis summer weeks as a pupil.

There was alsowell-known button box player from Rogart, Monica Maclean, tutoring accordion, and Bob Massey from Ross-shire on mandolin, who is well known as a Feis instrumental tutor in many local primary schools.

Newcomers to Feis Chataibh were Bill Taylor from Strathpeffer on clarsach and Mike Simpson from Evanton on guitar.

There was very good feedback for the workshop from participants and the plan is to repeat it early next year. There will also be the popular Drummuie Residential Feis weekend for older teenagers in due course.

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