Traditional Song Teaching Pack for the Scottish Borders is launched
Friday, July 4 2008
A Teaching Pack which encourages teachers to explore traditional song in the classroom has been officially launched by Scottish Borders Council at Newcastleton Village Hall.
The Pack, called ‘Borders Traditions Teaching Pack – Part 1, Song’ contains a double CD and is a compilation of songs that have been taught at various Borders primary schools throughout the area from 2005 onwards.
Galashiels and Hawick Sing up! Choirs, the Innerleithen Fisherlassies Choir and a local adult singing group have been involved in the production of the pack and CD.
At the launch, pupils from Newcastleton Primary School, the Innerleithen Fisherlassies Choir and a local adult singing group performed a selection of the songs on the CD to a packed audience of parents, friends and invited guests.
Funded by the Scottish Arts Council’s Youth Music Initiative, the pack has been designed for primary school teachers to use with their classes to enjoy and learn about traditional song. As well as the traditional Scots Songs such as ‘Katy Bairdie’ and ‘Ye Banks and Braes’, the pack also contains some traditional African songs and skipping and counting rhymes.
Susie Kelly, Traditional Song Development Worker, who developed the pack said: “Part of my role is to help keep traditional singing alive in the Borders by visiting schools and working with teachers to tutor pupils in Scottish and other cultures’ traditional songs and games.”
George Gilchrist, Headteacher at Newcastleton Primary School added: “It has been a pleasure to be involved in the production of this pack. Susie’s inspirational teaching and her enthusiasm and passion for traditional song has made a huge impact on our school.”
The teaching pack will be distributed to all primary schools at the start of the new term. Members of the public can purchase the pack and accompanying double CD by contacting Arts Development, Scottish Borders Council, St Mary’s Mill, Selkirk TD7 5EW, Tel: 01750 724901.
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