Tuition & Local Groups
Youth Music Initiative Projects
The Youth Music Initiative is a Scottish Government initiative, run in conjunction with Creative Scotland, which aims to give all Scottish school pupils access to at least one year’s music tuition. Traditional music forms an important part of YMI, introducing pupils to styles of music that they may not have had access to previously.
School Based Projects
Gaelic Song
- Heriot Primary
- Wallace Primary
- St. John Ogilvie Primary
- St. Charles’ Primary
Piping & Drumming
- Howood & St. Fillans Primary
- All Johnstone and Linwood catchment Schools (co-funded by the Scottish Schools’ Pipes and Drums Trust)
Extra Curricular Groups
Ceilidh Band | Paisley Grammar School • Monday evenings during term time
Two groups: one for younger/novice musicians, who can then step up to our Senior Band when appropriate. Applications welcome from all interested pupils – no previous experience is necessary, just enthusiasm! Current members play a wide range of different instruments, such as fiddle, guitar, accordion and keyboard – we also arrange songs and have written our own music.
Fèis Phàislig Gaelic Choir | Paisley Grammar School • Monday evenings during term time (starting September 2017)
Open to all, regardless of any previous knowledge of Gaelic – pupils are given coaching in the language as part of the rehearsals. The RJs have been regular competitors at local and national Mods since their inception for the Paisley Mod in 2013.
Please note: All YMI tuition and groups are free of charge. You do not need to be receiving music lessons to join these groups. For further information on YMI projects, contact the Music Development Officers on 0141 840 8925.
Music Tuition Provided by Renfrewshire Music Service
Renfrewshire council provides a wide range of instrumental tuition in all schools: many instructors have an interest in, or are actively performing,Traditional Music. Pupils learning instruments such as violin, guitar and percussion have the opportunity to join our Traditional groups as part of their musical development.
In addition to tuition during the school week, pupils also have the opportunity to learn Accordion and Clarsach at our Saturday Music Centre in Paisley Grammar School. Interested pupils are invited to come and try the instruments early in the school year before applying.
For further information on any aspect of music tuition available in Renfrewshire schools, visit www.renfrewshire.gov.uk – click on services/education and learning/ information for parents/ music lessons
Alternatively, contact: music.els@renfrewshire.gov.uk
Local Pipe Bands
Renfrewshire has a strong tradition of piping, with several local band members going on to full-time study and professional careers.
Both Johnstone and Kilbarchan Pipe Bands are active in developing piping in their local communities, and welcome applications for new members. For information and contact details, see their websites: