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 In 1993, 70 young people from Gordon District gave up the first week of their Easter holidays to come along to the first Gordon Gaitherin at Insch.
By 1995 there were 120 of them, receiving tuition in:
Fiddle, Bagpipes, Drums, Tin Whistle, Keyboard, Guitar, Voice, Drama
At enrolment, each young person is offered the choice of tuition on up to three different instruments. Most of them choose an instrument they already play for their first choice and the tutors look for a significant improvement in their proficiency at the end of the week.
Tutors, however, also actively encourage the children to try something new. Most of the second and third choices are instruments entirely new to the participants.
All our tutors are professional musicians who share the same sense of purpose, the same sense of dedication and, perhaps most importantly, the same sense of fun.
Among them we have been proud to number piper Ali Bremner of Bucksburn Pipe Band, all-round musician Jonny Hardie, currently playing with Aberdeen's Old Blind Dogs, broadcaster and singer Frieda Morrison and legendary tin whistle player Alex Green from Udny.
The timetable and format of the classes ensures that all the children thoroughly enjoy the Gaitherin, as well as significantly improving their skills. It's a busy week, but there's still time for other activities.
We think it's important to strike a balance between work and play, thus harnessing and maintaining the children's undoubted enthusiasm for learning and practising the traditional music of the North East of Scotland. Stanley Robertson has thrilled with his story-telling. We've also had Scottish country dancing, outdoor activities, swimming and crafts.
The Gaitherin culminates in a ceilidh performed by the young people for their parents and friends. All of the children are involved in performing and it gives them a chance to show off their skills. They're particularly proud of being able to play a tune on an instrument which was entirely new to them at the beginning of the festival.
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