14 January 2008

Welcome to the Lifelong Learning page of the Scottish Ensemble’s website! The dynamic and energetic nature of the Scottish Ensemble’s performances translates to captivating learning experiences for those who take part in our programme of education and participation activities. There are many strands to the Scottish Ensemble’s non-concert activity, including large-scale creative projects for school children, instrumental coaching days, team-building seminars for workplaces and interactive concert opportunities. We are extremely privileged to have the award-winning Education Director, Paul Rissmann, steering the Learning programme and masterminding unique and highly accessible projects.

As a small and flexible group, we enjoy visiting far-flung corners of the country, providing music experiences for those in remote areas. In 2006, we got as far north as the Isle of Benbecula, providing string coaching sessions with local school pupils, and as far west as the Isle of Islay, as part of the Carnival project. We also visited Ayr, Aberdeen, Mull, Bute, Kintyre and Glasgow amongst others!

Ceol Rama, Gaelic Story & Song, premiered at Glasgow's Inspiration Festival in November 2007

'[the concerts] helped children develop positive attitudes towards others whose gender, language, religion or culture is different from their own' Teacher, Drumchapel Family Learning Centre

The Scottish Ensemble and Glasgow City Council commissioned Paul Rissmann to write music for the ensemble, designed specially for concerts with children aged 3 - 7. These multi-disciplinary performances featured songs for the children to sing and Scottish stories set to music The stories were complemented by engaging animations and the children were encouraged to participate throughout.

An overarching theme of the experience was to introduce very young children to the Gaelic language: how it sounds, who speaks it and where, what the words look like and how to pronounce some basic phrases.

The concerts attracted large audiences of nursery and infant children in Glasgow and Falkirk and has been described as 'a magical experience'. We hope to roll the project out to rural areas throughout 2008 and are very grateful to The Gordon Small Charitable Trust for their generous support.

Do contact Judith Anderson (0141 332 4747) if you would like further information about any of our projects or if you have a great idea for a future collaboration!