The Merlin Music Academy was founded in 2011 and is based in the very attractive Borders town of Melrose. The Academy teaches traditional folk, blues and acoustic music to all age groups and abilities. They first started teaching Fiddle, Guitar and Accordion but have now grown considerably and offer music tuition over a huge range … Continued

Join traditional flute and whistle player Gordon Turnbull in a relaxed and supportive setting to learn and develop traditional techniques while building up a repertoire from Scotland, Ireland and beyond. FluteFling Saturday half-day workshops are held every month at Tribe Porty in Portobello, Edinburgh. Combining elements of the popular fortnightly classes and the annual Scottish Flute Day in a … Continued

Eight top young folk musicians are heading out around Scotland over the next three months. The tour is of the finalists and winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Competition (2015) and organised by the TMSA (Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland).  The full line-up is as follows; Claire Hastings … Continued

The 15th Carrying Stream Fesitval will take place ini Edinburgh this year from 9-16 November. Hamish Henderson (1919-2002) is often referred to as the ‘father of the Scottish folk revival’. Since the year of his death, Edinburgh Folk Club tun this festival in memory of the late Hamish Henderson. The Carrying Stream Festival is run very … Continued

Shawfest #2 will take place September 24th & 25th ’16. The inaugural Shawfest took place in September last year and was a great success. The aim of the festival is to raise funds for the Fraser Shaw Trust, which was set up in memory of a much loved guy and wonderful musician who passed away … Continued

The Singing Islands presents Sing On Canna- including waulking songs from 23-25 September 2016. Scots and Gaelic Song on the Small Isle of Canna with Song Specialists Christine Kydd and Fiona J Mackenzie.A rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the life and heritage of this extraordinary island and to be guided through the diversity of the … Continued

There are many opportunities available to play, learn, improve playing of traditional music and song happening across Scotland this summer and into October. Playing with others in a residential setting or in a group setting is a great way to learn new tunes, new skills and possibly make new friends. Here is a list we … Continued

Congratulations to Eilidh Simmers: Young Pianist – Winner in Robert Burns World Federation National Secondary Schools Competition Finals Eilidh Simmers, from Keith in Moray, has won the Instrumental class of the Robert Burns World Federation’s National Schools Competition Finals for Secondary Schools in age category S3-4 – and unusually on piano. The event, which took … Continued

An updated list of holiday and weekend ‘school’ opportunities happening over the summer, October and at weekends is available here  If you have an opportunity you wish to promote please contact Ellie at membership@traditionalmusicforum.org  

Dundee played host to many of the brightest stars in Scottish traditional music last Saturday, as the 13th MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards took place in the city’s glittering Caird Hall. Organised by Hands Up For Trad, the awards were this year broadcast live online and on BBC ALBA for the first time, treating … Continued