Musicians keen to drum up support

Jun 23 2009 by Johnathon Menzies, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

LOCAL musicians have been urged to lend a hand to help nurture the next generation of artistic talent in East Perthshire.

Community group the Alyth Youth Partnership has been running musical workshops in the building adjacent to the town’s primary school since Christmas.

Youth worker Peter Stewart leads the informal jamming sessions, part of the Alyth Music Programme (AMP), and has signalled an intention to drive the initiative forward.

He said the relaxed atmosphere amongst the 25 or so budding rock stars – who learn guitar, drums, and how to operate DJ decks – is the most pleasing thing.

Peter told the PA: “The three pilot sessions we had in December were run like a music drop-in centre, the atmosphere was very relaxed.

“It’s more about the kids forming relationships with each other, they chose what they want to play and how they want to play it.

“I can play the guitar, but it would be great if we could get some more professional people along to pass on their skills, making it bigger and better with more instruments and equipment,” he said.

As well as expertise, Peter and the other AYP youth workers are now on the lookout for a cash injection to turn up the AMP still further – something partially achieved courtesy of a recent £6,060 grant from the Drumderg community benefit fund.

Their work, set to start up again once local schools start their autumn term in August, will contribute towards the youngsters achieving Scottish Government-backed Dynamic Youth Awards.

Fellow AYP youth worker Susan Allan extolled the virtues of the project and said a recent visit to Dunfermline’s Tower House community centre has whetted the appetite.

She told the PA: “Tower House offers more advanced music opportunities in a centre wholly dedicated to enhancing music skills, practice space, professional recording studios and up to date equipment.

“It’s an inspiration for around 100 young people every week and we would like to emulate that with the Alyth Music Programme and go even further.

“We want to become the Alyth Music and Media Programme, providing youngsters with film, photography and other media forms that interest them and which add to their skills,” she said.

The AYP can be contacted at sandgallan@supanet.com.