Schools are back and no doubt you’ve been pulling out the waterproofs and woolly jumpers this week. It’s clear that summer is drawing to a close, but what a summer it’s been! In this month’s Spotlight, to celebrate all the YMI activity that has taken place over the last couple of months, and remind us #YMusicMatters, here’s a just wee taste of what’s been going on.
MusicPlus mentoring participants at Belladrum, celebrating the Youth Music Initiative's 20th anniversary. Image by Keith and Robert at MusicPlus.
Summer means festivals and after a couple of years going without, we were over the moon to see some MusicPlus participants back on stage at Belladrum Festival this year. Don’t worry if you missed the Belladrum performances though – grab your headphones, give the MusicPlus Rising playlist a listen on Spotify and party like it’s midsummer!
Plus, head over to the Creative Scotland's Instagram for some more great snaps of the participants celebrating YMI's 20th anniversary.
This summer also saw the return of lots of residential music-making activity. The National Youth Brass Bands of Scotland welcomed Brass players to Strathallan for a week of playing. We loved following their posts on Twitter – but don’t take our word for it! Hear from some of the young people, SBBA President Carrie Boax and others on the SBBA Speaks podcast.
Image courtesy of Island Ukuleles
Check out the brilliant t-shirt design created by the Island Ukuleles youth ensemble!
Island Ukuleles is a youth ensemble from Shetland where children have been learning to play tunes from islands as far afield as Jamaica and Hawaii as well as the music from their homes.
This summer they invited internationally acclaimed ukulele impresario Paul Moore to work with the ensemble and prepare the children to perform at UnstFest. Then, in July, the ensemble performed to a packed audience at Baltasound!
Piping Live! hit Glasgow in August and we went along to see what the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland’s Emerging Composers have been working on. The project is part of the New Horizons programme supporting diversity and collaboration within piping and drumming.
No less than 10 new pieces were premiered all composed by young people. Pushing boundaries and showing great ambition. We think New Horizons is worth keeping an eye on. And if you aren’t already, why not give @NYPBoS a follow on twitter to see what happens next!
Namesbliss performs on stage at PITCH Scotland. Image by Alice Hadden.
PITCH, Scotland’s conference of hip hop and underground culture, took place at the end of August in Glasgow’s East End with a plethora of panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, music showcases and live sets from some of the hottest Scottish acts.
Listen to the MIC TALK: What hip hop means to you podcast created in partnership with Hip Hop Scotland to catch up on the action.
