Artyness columnist and musician Liza Mulholland thinks about the influence of music on youngsters

It’s quite hard to believe that two years ago I, like so many others, had just received the first email cancelling much of my work. Covid was gathering pace and the first lockdown was about to begin; little did we know what lay ahead.

Playing and teaching music has gone in fits and starts throughout the pandemic, getting back on track one minute but cancelled the next. The last two years have not been recalled by the usual seasonal markers but by lockdowns. How thankful then to be back working! Although there have been more closed premises and cancelled work due to the current variant rampaging around Inverness – every other person seems to have had Covid these last few weeks – it does feel as if we’re getting there.

Several fantastic in-person music events take place in the coming weeks including Fèis a Bhaile’s Easter holiday Fèis Day on Friday, April 8. This local organisation does superb music and Gaelic arts work in the community and this one-day Fèis for children aged four to 18 will be a great learning opportunity.

I was in the tutor team last October for the full week-long Fèis held in Balloch Baptist Church and it was so much fun. The forthcoming Fèis Day will be held in the same excellent venue, and I’m delighted to say I’ll be tutoring at this one too. Check out Fèis a’Bhaile’s website and Facebook page for details of all the instruments and classes on offer.

Fèis Rois’s junior Fèis na h-Òigridh returns to Ullapool this year, for youngsters from P4 to S1, Monday to Friday, April 4-8. This residential event offers an incredible week for those wishing an immersive experience, with a top team of tutors and supervisors guaranteeing quality music teaching and a lot of fun.

For something completely different, I’ll be going to hear Inverness Choral Society’s Spring Concert in Ness Bank Church on Saturday. Celebrating their 100th anniversary, the society will present a programme of well-loved choruses, including Puccini, Mozart, Gilbert and Sullivan, the Messiah and more; truly something for everyone. I haven’t heard them sing for some time but with Gordon Tocher conducting, it’s bound to be excellent. Every Saturday morning, for many youthful years, I would stand in the vestibule of St Stephen’s on Southside Road, waiting to go in for my piano lesson with Miss Joan Fox, listening to the student before me.

Gordon was older and more advanced on piano, and in that quiet moment I would hear wonderful sounds drift from the room. His playing was beautiful – mellifluous, accomplished and beguiling. Fortunately, those were olden days before mobile phones, so I had no option but to be patient and listen. Nowadays a teenager might be scrolling, missing the beauty. Youngsters draw inspiration from many sources, not just teachers, so on Saturday I’ll be listening to Gordon leading the Spring Concert, in quiet gratitude.

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