Foot Stompin’ Free Scottish Music Podcast No 32

Listen to the Foot Stompin’ Free Scottish Music Podcast No 32.
We’re starting off this programme with Breabach. I’ve loved this band ever since I heard their (very attractive) demo. In fact I think the tune we play on the podcast – Chloe’s passion was on it. Also each member of the band has entered the [...]

Learning by ear – BBC iPlayer

In the house we were talking the other day about techniques of learning music by ear. Both Clare and I used cassette players alot. The technique being that you would have a recording of the tune you wanted to learn, set the tape counter to zero, learnt the phrase (or note!) by continuously rewinding to [...]

Celtic Connections, the wonder that is!

Later this week the wonder that is Celtic Connections starts again. It really is an amazing achievement. Is there anywhere else in the world that has 100,000+ over its doors in January (or the rest of the year for that matter). Not only a lifeline to many musicians in January it caters to folks from [...]

Foot Stompin’ Free Scottish Music Podcast – Highlands and Islands Feature

Listen to the Foot Stompin Free Scottish Music Podcast
All of the bands/singers on this podcast come from the Highlands and Islands. I’ve started of the programme with the energetic The Chair from Orkney. Their win in Folk Band of the Year category of the Scots Trad Music Awards 2008 topped and amazing year for the [...]

Achieving goals for musicians

I’ve had these thoughts for a while after reading the book Big Bucks by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles. While this (great) book is about making lots of money it totally corresponds to young musicians and how to make a career in music. I wish I had heard something like this when I was starting out. Of [...]