Scottish traditional music is part of a rich cultural heritage that ordinary Scots from the past have bequeathed to us today. Its influence on music in other countries beyond Scotland is also profound - from Kentucky bluegrass through to Afro-American gospel. Yet it is as a prophet in its own country when it comes to those who supposedly fund and support "arts" in the community - totally undervalued. The amount of funding that Scottish traditional music receives from the Scottish Arts Council is minute compared with that lavished on classical forms. Now the RSAMD, the one institution that should be required to provide teaching in performing on traditional instruments, drops its sole full-time traditional music teacher, and this after years of campaigning to convince the academy to create the post in the first place.
Only a few days ago the Education Minister, Fiona Hyslop, was waxing lyrical about making Scottish history interesting and relevant to today's children saying: "Flower of Scotland is a wonderful combination: a stirring anthem and a history lesson. What a marvellous achievement it would be to arouse the same passion in people about the rest of this proud nation's history."
As an adult education tutor who uses Scottish traditional song in tutoring Scottish history, I totally agree with the minister's remark. I have seen adults, left ignorant of our "marvellous" history by their schooling, inspired to learn more about the wars of independence, the Clearances, the '45, the Act of Union and many other aspects of our history by hearing those "stirring" traditional songs performed. But how long will that inspiration be available if we fail to support our youngsters in studying and performing Scottish traditional music? The downgrading of this post should have created an outcry from an SNP government. I have yet to hear a whimper.
Bill Scott, 10A Derby Street, Edinburgh.
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