Pupils at St Brendan's Primary School performing as part of the celebrations of 20 years of YMI. Image Wattie Cheung.
Music is a tremendous, life-enhancing gift and we should give every child the opportunity to play a musical instrument at an early age- Former First Minister Jack McConnell
Winter is a truly magical time for music. It is often the backdrop to the incredible memories we hold so closely, and what transports us back to them year after year. For young people, whether jingling their first bell or screaming “he’s behind you!” at the panto, music is widely praised for its ability to create joy, a sense of community and confidence which are crucial in these formative years.
Programmes like the Scottish Government's Youth Music Initiative, the key funding channel for youth music projects in Scotland, have been transformative in ensuring children across the country have access to the benefits of music making.
Wow, what a #MakeMusicDay this has been! 🙌🏻
— Creative Scotland (@CreativeScots) June 21, 2022
Check out Pulse of the Place as they took over the Scottish National Gallery with their impressive drum performance 😍#MakeMusicDayUK #MakeMusicDay2022 #YMusicMatters pic.twitter.com/63TRkDlUju
Currently celebrating 20 years of putting music at the heart of young people’s lives and learning, our latest impact report revealed that the programme last year reached over 362,000 participants, with 86% of funding targeted specifically at areas of socio-economic deprivation.
Highlights of the 20th anniversary so far include writing rhymes with the next generation of rappers at Glasgow hip-hop conference PITCH Scotland; bringing together the budding drummers from Pulse of the Place at Edinburgh’s National Museum of Scotland for Make Music Day; and crowning Berta Kennedy the Sound of Young Scotland at The SAY Award 2022, where she was awarded recording time at Tolbooth Stirling to create her debut album.
Berta Kennedy at the SAY Awards, image by Cameron Brisbane
Next up is the incredible and diverse line-up of festive showcases that children and young people across the country are busy rehearsing for this month. It’s incredibly important, particularly after cancellations and postponements over the past few years, that family and friends support and encourage the young musicians in their lives by attending these performances. Not only because it means so much to them, but because it’s vital for preserving culture and ensuring the future talent development pipeline.
With YMI alumni including global singing sensation Lewis Capaldi, as well as multi-award-winning pianist Fergus McCreadie, among others, the programme has a proven track record of supporting musicians to launch successful careers, allowing them to not only meet their artistic potential but also shape to an industry crucial to Scotland’s cultural identity.
In ensuring that future talent is supported by funded opportunities and, more importantly, those with an interest in culture, we can expect today’s young chanters and cellists to be among the next Scottish stars.
So, fight the temptation to stay inside avoiding the cold! We promise that witnessing the joy of children proudly performing music will be enough to warm your heart.
To make it even easier, we’ve rounded up 20 concerts taking place this month created for or with young people, so you can be part of the magic of music-making this festive season, and bear witness to the incredible talent in your local area that is allowed to flourish through open-access music tuition.
Read The List's spotlight on 20 years of YMI
Live on Facebook
Taking place every Friday in December, tune in with your wee one on Facebook to sing and play with Bookbug live
10 to 18 December at Tramway, Glasgow
Join Sprog Rock and beatboxer Bigg Taj for a festive gig for children under 5 and the adults who come with them
Until 14 December, various venues
LMNS puts on over 500 performances every year across every corner of Scotland.
Find out what's coming up in December
Until 14 December, various venues
NYCOS has a flurry of events coming up this winter in Perth, Edinburgh, Forfar, Dumfries, Dundee and more!
9 December, Southside Community Centre, Edinburgh
This fundraising Ceilidh Cabaret event is in aid of Totally Sound Youth Music Programme and hosted by Southside Community Centre Association.
All proceeds from the evening's event will go towards the upkeep, maintenance and purchase of music equipment used by around 100 young people every week at Totally Sound, Reel Youth Media and Canongate Youth.
23 and 29 December, The National Piping Centre, Glasgow
Grab your friends and family and head to The National Piping Centre on 23 December for a rockin' ceilidh before you relax over Christmas (ages 8 and above). Plus, on 29 December head over for their Wee Hogmanay Party with the kids, grandparents and the rest of your clan.
Until 11 December, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Join Children’s Classic Concerts, the RSNO, the RSNO Children’s Chorus, the CCC's Brass Ensemble and the award-winning vocalist and violinist, Seonaid Aitken for two events this week - all wrapped up in festive cheer!
10 December, Dundee Contemporary Arts
Join Soundplay Projects for some hands-on experimenting with digital tools for creative music-making and visual projections.
Find out more about this free, drop-in session
14 December, St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, Glasgow
Fun for all the family is guaranteed in Dunedin Consort’s interactive, 45-minute Children’s Messiah.
It's crafted with little ears in mind and guided by Mr Handel himself. They'll be whizzing through some of his greatest hits, with plenty of fun and games along the way. Suitable for all ages. Featues BSL interpretation.
🎄Entertain your wee ones this Christmas with a special festive concert of sing along tunes, music by @RSNO, live drawing by @mrjamesmayhew and storytelling by @zebsoanes.
— The List (@thelistmagazine) December 2, 2022
🎟️Book tickets now: https://t.co/lNq7HEU9U5 #ad pic.twitter.com/qb27C3Wb1B
Various dates and venues
Explore what's on across Scotland with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
Various dates and venues
There's a feast of concerts taking places across Scotland from the BBC's Scottish Symphony Orchestra from Rimsky-Korsakov to Bartók to Rachmaninv - plus some some special festive movie-themed shows!
Deadline: 14 December, online activity
The Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG) invite everyone to take part in a big performance to celebrate the 175th birthday of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
John Wallace has composed a piece with parts for all players including “elf parts” for our youngest musicians. To take part you can record an audio, video or both of yourself and others performing the piece
14 December, CCA, Glasgow
From Counterflows, devise and play graphic scores using a range of instruments and sound-making devices. You're welcome to bring their own instruments to this dynamic 2 hour session, but no musical knowledge or experience is necessary.
7 December, the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh
With artists hand-picked by guest curators Arusa Qureshi and Halina Rifai of We Are Here Scotland - staged in our intimate performance space - AMPLIFI presents an exciting opportunity to see new and rising artists in a setting designed to amplify their voices and put them centre stage.
This Sunday 🔥
— The Glad Cafe (@thegladcafe) December 6, 2022
The Glad Cafe & @popmutations presents:
MC YALLAH X DEBMASTER
+ EYVE
🚨 Tickets running low!!
🎟️: https://t.co/z3phngRedP pic.twitter.com/ovLVoevXTh
11 December, the Glad Café, Glasgow
Three electric performers take to the stage at the Glad Café in Glasgow - join for an explosion of new hip-hop and rap from Scotland.
The 2022 Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) nominations are finally here! 🏆
— SAMA (@OfficialSAMA) November 16, 2022
This year we have 28 artists nominated across 7 awards celebrating a diverse range of artists and genres from across Scotland! 🏴 pic.twitter.com/5U8i7n5Oav
8 December, St Luke's, Glasgow
Three of the most compelling acts in Scotland will perform at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) prize-giving ceremony at Glasgow’s Saint Luke's where winners will also be announced across seven music categories.
11 December, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
Come with family and friends to dance Scottish dances and sing well-known songs with the Minnow Ceilidh Band. All dances will be called and there'll be easy-to-follow circles for wee ones. A fun introduction to sociable dancing with live music and some stories too!
We Are Here Scotland's incubation programme to nurture, mentor and develop BPoC (Black People and People of Colour) Scotland-based creatives welcomes 4 creators from different areas of the creative industries joined by special guests from the world of Rap/Hip-Hop and R&B.
10 December, Plockton High School
Sgoil Chiùil Na Gàidhealtachd invites you to their annual Christmas Concert - the first in-person Christmas concert in three years! This year’s offering is called “Back In The Room”, in celebration of our long awaited return to live performance.
Why not host your own event? Share how you'll be celebrating the joy of music-making this festival season on social media: @creativescots on Twitter and Instagram and @CreativeScotland on Facebook and hashtags #YMIScotland and #YMusicMatters
