Dundee Musician of the Year 2014 - Ian Christie of Menzieshill High School

Ian Christie Dundee Musician of the Year 2014
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I was delighted to attend the Dundee Musician of the Year Competition at the Bell Street Music Centre on Wednesday evening.

Eight senior pupils from Dundee Secondary Schools had been shortlisted to play in front of an invited audience and an independent Adjudicator, Mr Jim Park Head of the North Lanarkshire Schools' Music Service.

Each of the performers displayed an impressive mastery of their instrument and the two pieces that they played for us. 

The adjudicator chose Ian Christie from Menzieshill High School as the winner of this year's award for his outstanding performances playing the Marimba. 

I was also particularly impressed by the assured performances of Paul Yuile of Grove Academy on trombone.

Collectively the performances of the eight young musicians demonstrated the pinnacle of musicianship that is nurtured in our schools.

Well done to the performers, their Music Teachers, the Dundee School's Music Service and the parents and carers that have encouraged their children over the years.

Commenting on ASPIRE Music, Art and Drama Project in Nine Primary Schools and Reduction in Music Fees

On the Education Committee's agenda next Monday (24 June 2013) are reports about the Aspire Project and Music Fees. 

The Aspire report outlines a potential Music, Art and Drama programme which would operate in a quarter of our Primary Schools in Dundee. Each of the nine primary schools selected would  be involved in either the Music, Art or Drama programme over the next two years. In each of these schools they would have some input from a professional musician, artist or actor. I hope that the funding bids to four external sources are successful so that the Aspire programme can go ahead and begin in August when the schools go back after the summer holidays. If Aspire is judged a success in the future, I hope it will be made available in every primary school in the city and not just the nine initially selected. 

I also welcome the separate proposal to reduce the cost of learning a musical instrument in the Council's Music Education programme which offers pupils opportunities to learn to play musical instruments and to take part in a variety of musical activities. In this proposal before us next Monday, the Education Committee will be asked to approve the removal of fees for individual tuition, currently £132 per pupil per year, but the retention of hire charges for musical instruments currently £78 per year. This latter charge is for personal use of a musical instrument such as a violin or trumpet so that the pupil can receive their small group tuition as well as practise on the instrument at home. I think this proposed cut in fees for pupils learning a musical instrument may help reduce one of the barriers to children taking part in learning to play a musical instrument and perform in the citywide bands and orchestras.

But I think we need to know that both of these proposals can really be afforded without sacrificing something else which parents and carers, pupils and teachers might more highly value in our schools. I have contacted the Education Directorate about a number of issues on which I am seeking clarification before the Education Committee meeting next week.

Councillor Kevin Kennan said:

"I am a supporter of the development of music art and drama in our schools. But there is no getting away from the fact that the Council is operating in a challenging financial climate so each spending decision is a tough choice between more of this and less of that. The fact that I have identified that does not mean I am against the potential widening of participation in music tuition in our schools. I am pointing out what this will likely have a cost elsewhere in schools and asking if this is a price worth paying?"

Dundee Schools' Bands and Orchestras Spring Concerts 2013

Last night I attended the second of the two Spring Concerts in the Caird Hall featuring performances from the Dundee Schools' Bands and Orchestras.
The programme last night featured the Guitar Ensemble, Junior String Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Concert Band and Schools' Symphony Orchestra. On Tuesday night I would have seen and heard from the Junior Wind Ensemble, the Intermediate Orchestra, the Rock Band and the Senior Wind Ensemble. It was good to find that a variety of musical instruments and genres is embraced and supported by the Instrumental Music Teaching Service.

At the concert, talented young musicians from our primary and secondary schools performed a variety of pieces from Bizet to The Beatles.  

My favourite musical moment of the evening was the stirring performance of the Intermezzo from Sibelius's Karelia Suite. Members of the audience with longer memories no doubt remembered that this piece were used as the title music for the former ITV current affairs programme This Week. A stand out individual performance was the young singer who sang with the percussion ensemble.

As a regular at these evenings, I appreciated the slicker staging of the performances. Clever use of the entire Caird Hall stage and the choir stalls meant that there were fewer intervals between performances when the chairs and music stands had to be shifted around. When this was necessary however short videos were informative and entertaining.

Well done to all our young performers and the staff and parents that nuture their musical talent.

Concert by Dundee Schools' Orchestras and Bands at The Caird Hall

Earlier this evening I had the pleasure of attending the second of the two Annual Spring Concerts by Dundee Schools' Orchestras and Bands at the Caird Hall.
The diverse programme of musical offerings included a magisterial performance of The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition by Mussorgsky and a fun filled rendition of Desk by the Percussion Ensemble
The Wednesday night programme showcased music making by:

• the Percussion Ensemble;
• the Junior String Orchestra;
• the Guitar Ensemble;
• the Concert Band and 
• the Schools' Symphony Orchestra.

They all produced spirited and enthusiastic performances which were a fine showcase of their talents as accomplished young musicians.
Bravo and magnifeque!

Dundee Schools' Orchestras and Bands - Caird Hall

The annual performances by the Dundee Schools Orchestras and Bands once again demonstrated the wonderful depth of musical talent we have amongst our young people in our schools. It was also a reminder of the quality of the music teachers in our schools, and the gifted and dedicated team of peripatetic music teachers that coach our young musicians in their own schools and in the orchestras and bands that practise at the Bell Street Music Centre.

I attended the Wednesday evening concert with my wife Rowena. I enjoyed the wonderful variety of musical styles from the Rock Band, the Junior String Orchestra, the Concert Band to the Symphony Orchestra. Our Schools' Music service is, I believe, a service of which Dundonians should be proud. It would be criminal if such a well established and talented team of staff was subjected to the same treatment as the team of visiting drama teachers in our Primary Schools whose posts are to be discontinued through budget cuts by the SNP Administration.