Projects
Composer Sessions
These inspirational composer sessions have been hugely successful & popular due to the diverse range of successful established musicians involved across the many genres.
Past sessions have included recognised contemporary classical composer and educator Oliver Searle, rock and pop singer songwriters Roddy Hart, Geoff Martyn, Sophie Bancroft and Niki King and award winning traditional/folk musician and composer Donald Shaw.
These sessions give school pupils the opportunity to visit the Scottish Music Centre to hear how each of the composers/songwriters have become recognised in their own genre. They provide a creative insight into what it means to compose and arrange music, the different techniques and pitfalls that exist, various ways to record your compositions and what to do with them when they're finished. These sessions have proven to be an invaluable aid to students through standard grade and higher-grade music studies.
Outcomes/Impact
Geoff Martyn and Roddy Hart, with Sophie Bancroft and Niki King delighted the audience with a detailed insight on their individual creative process and richly exemplified the content with solo and duo performances of their music. Audience reaction was hugely positive backed by a wish for a return visit to allow a repeat experience.
Oliver Searle began by describing how he had spent some time in teaching before embarking on full time writing and continued with a very full and frank account of his compositional process supported by a range of recorded excerpts of his music. Although a composer of 'New Music' he rather surprised his audience at one point by revealing a penchant for Heavy Metal!
There is often time for a question & answer session that provides students with an opportunity to raise individual queries and to learn yet more about the presenter's views on composition.
Around 480 pupils have attended a Composer Session since the programme was established.
Partners
This project was delivered by the Scottish Music Centre.
Quotes
I really enjoyed myself, I have always been frightened by composing. I think I will find much easier.
Informative presentation carried out in a easy accessible manner, an enjoyable experience.
This session has inspired me to try out new ideas when composing.
Great fun, thanks
