Save Traditional Music Petition

Subject: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,The Shambles
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 04:11 AM

http://www.gopetition.com/petition/42495.html

Save the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music Published by Naomi Ballantyne on Feb 01, 2011

The Highland Council has targeted the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music, based at Plockton High School, in its proposed cuts package. http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/2115087

If the cuts are voted through at the Highland Council meeting on February 10, the Centre could close as soon as July next year. Director Dougie Pincock was interviewed on the BBC this morning and said that while he expected the Centre to take its share of any cuts he 'hadn't anticipated it would be all of it.'

Plockton has been an integral part of Scottish Traditional Music for the past 10 years. It has started many of our best young musicians on the road to their career and provided training in traditional music and groupwork from some of Scotland's finest musicians. Our young folk could not have gained this level of training anywhere else.

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 06:10 AM

Highlands & Islands Council have always been a highly innovative local authority in my book so I'm stunned that this is being seriously considered. I shall sign, and I shall alert my 'peeps'. (I have peeps? !)

sian

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 06:29 AM

Signed and passed it on

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 07:15 AM

signed.
Derek

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: randjgc
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 09:40 AM

For anyone who doesn't know of the School, it's at -
http://www.musicplockton.org/

The actual saving for this action is quoted as being £317,000. In terms of the (diminished) education budget, this is an almost marginal cost. By implementing this cut, a small highland community is also being marginalised, as is our (minority) interest in traditional music.

I'm sure added value would be gained were the powers that be see that there is INTERNATIONAL interest in the furthering of such forms of education.

SO SPREAD THE WORD AS FAR AND WIDE AS POSSIBLE

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: Ian Hendrie
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 10:33 AM

Signed
Ian

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 11:33 AM

Signed !

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: alex s
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 11:41 AM

me too

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 12:26 PM

Signed, number 3411

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 01:56 PM

Signed. Celtic Connections finished last weekend having sold £1,000,00o worth of tickets.

That means a minimum of £6,000,000 being sent around the local economy.

Of course that wont get counted in the equation.

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: Don Firth
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 04:28 PM

I'm an American of Scottish ancestry. Can anyone sign this petition?

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 02 Feb 11 - 05:43 PM

yes, why not. There's a section for your own comments, so you could say something on the international importance of the music.
Derek

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 05 Feb 11 - 06:22 AM

Last I heard there were well over 5000 signatories.

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 07:15 AM

It's just passed 7000 signatures now. I have to declare an interest here, as I started as a tutor at Plockton last September. I know from first-hand experience the amount of hard work and dedication put into this project by all the staff, tutors and especially the students themselves. Scottish traditional music is a pretty resilient beast, and will survive whatever happens, but to close this unique facility would be a hugely retrograde step, in my opinion. Please sign the petition, and hopefully Highland Council will reconsider.
Thanks to all who have signed already - we appreciate your support.
Kenny Hadden

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: bruceCMR
Date: 06 Feb 11 - 08:29 AM

Some of the Plockton students visited the Celtic Music Radio studios yesterday, en-route to the rally in George Square. Lots of chat, and live music.

You can hear a special programme featuring these sessions TODAY at 2pm (that's about 30 mins from now!) on Celtic Music Radio. 1530kHz around Glasgow, or online at www.celticmusicradio.net .

You can also find a selection of photos on that site.

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: John J
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 04:06 AM

Signed. I'll be visiting Plockton in May.

JJ

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:48 AM

Over 8000 signatures, 2 days to go.

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:50 AM

Correction - apparently the petition closes at lunch time tomorrow, so 24 hours to go.

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 11:04 AM

I have signed it

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: BanjoRay
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 08:09 PM

Me too

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: Gweltas
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 09:23 PM

Signed....which brings the total number of signatures to 8736. Come on folks ....spread the word about this petition and encourage all your contacts to support the continuation of funding this wonderful centre of excellence for Scottish traditional music. I only wish we had a comparable facility here in Cornwall !

Subject: RE: Save Traditional Music Petition
From: GUEST,kenny
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 06:18 AM

Last orders !! Just under 1 hour to go - thanks again to all who have signed. If you're in Scotland, I believe there will be mention of the school, possibly including some music played by the pupils on the evening news programmes on both BBC and STV this evening.
I also noticed that as well as Alastair Campbell having signed the petition, so has George Galloway. Possibly the first time they've ever agreed on anything !