The TMSA, now celebrating its work in the field of traditional Scots music and song, is a strong advocate and promoter of our native traditions in music and song. Possessing a huge knowledge reservoir, it is a point of contact for any external bodies seeking advice and information.
The organisation actively promotes Scottish traditional music by running festivals, ceilidhs, concerts, workshops, tours and competitions, and helps create an environment in which old and new interpretations of traditional music and song can flourish.
It could be argued that without the TMSA, Scottish traditional music and song would not have progressed to the stage it is now at.
Christine has been one of the most significant people in the development of the Scottish Community Group movement. Tutor to a number of groups over the past few years (founding musical director of many groups that are still around - Sangstream, Sangschule in West Lothian, Angus Folk and Justsinginbirnam; past involvement with many others, including the Breakish Singers on Skye, and Steenhive). She is now based in Angus, though happily still making forays around the country to work with other groups.
Galloway-based, Ali is an accomplished song-group tutor, and a songwriter who works with community choirs all over Britain and has built her name by teaching the material she has written.
Among other projects, currently works with Damsel Jam, a performance group, and The Feral Choir, based in Castle Douglas.
Ali was a founding member of the Natural Voice Practitioners Network, initiated in order to support voice teachers who had trained with Frankie Armstrong. She is currently editing a book of songs by NVPN practitioners.
"The Natural Voice Practitioners' Network is an organisation for Practitioners who share a common philosophy and approach to voice work. We believe that singing is everyone's birthright and we are committed to teaching styles that are accepting and inclusive of all, regardless of musical experience and ability."
Yvonne Burgess notes that music was always in her life - singing, playing and facilitating music groups for many years She was offered the job of directing the Voice House community choir in Edinburgh, in January 2001, and turned to music seriously as her main creative outlet.
"Since 2001 I've found myself both arranging and composing with great enthusiasm - I'm now running monthly "spirituals" workshops (or "Songs of the Earth and Heart"), teaching my own chants and songs... I've always written songs, since I was 14 or 15, but in spite of years of playing in bands and leading sing-songs and musical ensembles, I never felt safe enough to perform my own songs in public till December 2004. So, round about 50, I'm finally coming out as a singer/songwriter."
Tobar an Dualchais / Kist o Riches. This new website contains thousands of oral recordings recorded in Scotland and further afield, from the 1930s onwards. The items you can listen to include stories, songs, music, poetry and factual information. An essential resource for singers, writers and social historians! Tobar an Dualchais -
tobarandualchais.co.uk
SangStories is a new website. Commissioned by Sangschule, West Lothian's Community Song Group, Sangstories tells the stories behind many of Sangschule's best-loved songs.
With financial support from West Lothian Council, Linda McVicar has put together an excellent collection (which she hopes will be further extended) of many of Scotland's favourite songs, and she includes a few modern songs to demonstrate that the folk tradition continues.
A valuable resource for community song groups and tutors!
