Artyness columnist Liza Mulholland is loving the buzz of festive times ...

I don’t know about you, but I always find the moment we hit December, life seems to ratchet up a gear!

Suddenly there’s so much to do, so little time and we’re on a countdown! The truth is I love it! I even like these cold, clear, frosty days – after all, it’s what nature should be doing in winter, shutting down for a restful hibernation, the cold killing off harmful bugs, and recharging her batteries in order to re-emerge in spring with new growth and energy. A bit like ourselves, if only we could hibernate too!

I love the buzz of it all though, busy streets, Christmas lights everywhere (River Ness trees resplendent with beautiful colour), gatherings with friends and lots of music fun to be had.

Musicians are usually busy over the festive period, being asked to play at lots of different events, and yesterday I had the pleasure of working once again with my fellow ArtyNess columnist and friend Barbara Henderson.

Barbara was doing family storytelling sessions in aid of RASASH (Rape And Sexual Abuse Service Highland) and asked if I would provide music between the sessions. It developed spontaneously however into improvising something of a musical soundscape with sound effects to accompany the stories.

I’ve always thought playing piano for silent films must be so much fun – sure it would keep you on your toes, with quickfire musical response to what’s happening onscreen, but an exciting improvisational challenge.

With lots of little budding thespians giving it their all in their ‘acting’ roles, Barbara and her puppets held the audience in the palm of her hand, while I accompanied with whatever little runs, trills, staccato stabs, bass thumps, flowing arpeggios, glissandos etc I thought might work to help illustrate the action and add atmosphere. What fun!

End of term means lots of Christmas parties and festive music sessions to deliver and play for, as well as usual late-night gigs, so is a busy time for me, always made more so by the fact my son’s birthday is just a few days before Christmas.

I remember getting out of hospital on Christmas Day with my Winter Solstice baby and, though that feels like just yesterday, this Solstice he turns 21!

However, with his recent footballing injury involving ligament surgery, there will be no dancing for him this year with a huge ‘moon boot’ cramping his style! We’ll still manage a great family and friends party get-together though!

Another festive bit of piano playing I’ll be doing is at Inverness airport, in aid of the Liam Colgan Music Fund, a wonderful charity supporting young people hoping to pursue a musical career. With Loch Ness Pianos kindly providing the instrument, local musicians take turns to play for travellers, with a collecting bucket for donations. On your travels? Do pop over and say hello – it’s always nice to meet friendly folk who enjoy music and support the fund’s work.

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.