It looks as though there are quite a few of us from Scotland, even from the Highlands?
Is anyone interested in a Scottish event of any sort, is it worth PM each other. ?
I'm based in the Inner Hebrides about 2 hours from Inverness and Fort William, Glasgow is about 5 hours or so away.
Anyone interested?

I'd be interested, various things permitting.

I'm in the Highlands, on the East coast.

well , that's 2 folk anyway.
Better wait and see if others are interested.

I'd be interested - I'd even have a possible venue, though it is hardly central, I'm afraid; the problem to date has been the huge number of events being trotted out down south, and trying to find calendar space which would suit. I'm also very wary after the recent outbreak of hostilities and resentments on the forum because of this, I must admit.

Im just a beginner so im not able to do it
but im just posting here because i too am from Scotland

x

It's only an hour to Glasgow from East Mids.Airport.


Unfortunately I don't have a passport and they need one just for domestic flights these days it seems.

I really would love to visit Scotland though, I've felt a pull there for many years and will have to succumb to it sooner or later.

I don't think you need a passport - we haven't declared independence yet!

Photo ID such as a driving licence or student union card will do -- if you check the various airlines' websites they will tell you what is acceptable.

Our daughter flew up without probs from London in November with her driving licence (she couldn't find her passport and we got a frantic phone call ten minutes before she was due to leave for the airport...)

It's the ID that's the problem,I think they want either a passport or driving license and I have neither. I don't even have a credit card.
I would love to attend an event in Scotland if I had the opportunity and the finances though and I'm sure that any event north'o'th'border would be well attended.

I think that one or two of us have been hoping that we'd get a trip up there sometime.
Laura-clarinet, I don't think that you need to worry about being a beginner. Non of the concerts so far have had a minimum playing standard and beginners have been warmly welcomed.

I would be interested. Im not really central, live on the north east coast just north of Aberdeen.

Like all things, the recent arguments will pass into history.

If someone wants to try something out like a playday or similar, I think it'd be nice. Scotland hasn't been represented in any way yet event wise. Give me a shout (or a PM) if you'd like any advice - and all the best to all of you in Scotland!

(having taken eight weekends for recitals)

Having said that, I don't see that a playday in Aberdeen/Edinburgh/Oban/insert Scottish place name would really affect a recital in London - there are a reasonable number of empty weekends also where a small scale playday a la MH for locals would fit quite nicely.

I'll also stick my neck out by saying that I'd really love to see a full blown Scottish forum concert next year. Very, very much.

What about taking the train? I don't believe in these short haul flights anyway -- by the time you have to get to the airport, check in early, perhaps wait to collect baggage and then travel another half hour to the city centre you might just as well go by train. If you can book in advance there are some very good deals to be had.

On trains you dont get the benefit of duty free shopping!!

I don't believe in flying anywhere to be honest, I was half joking. As much as I'd love to attend a forum event in Scotland it's not really an option, if I caught the train it would be costly and I'd have to make a couple of days of it which is also not an option.
I'll now leave this thread to you deserving folks in Scotland who really ought to have events of your own, after all I'm hardly short of things to go to down here.

Hello, thank you all for the responses, it looks as though it would be possible to organise something. Maybe the central belt, Edinburgh, Glasgow, area would be best, we're quite used to travelling longish distances. Is there a chance of a venue in Edinburgh. ?
I 've never been to an event, but don't think that they should exclude beginners, or anyone else for that matter.
There are obviously experienced event organisers who would have helpful ideas, we could pick their brains about an event .
Any ideas about dates anyone.? It's a bit like organising anything , really, you'll never please everyone, I organised our work Christmas supper, and then found that the day I picked was the one I couldn't go on!!!!
Hey ho!
looking forward to hearing from you , all,
Thank you for the PM's that I've had, I'll be in touch.
R

This is the one I have access to: here - it would be expensive, but I'd be happy enough to defray the cost somewhat, because it is a fantastic venue for chamber music, with superb acoustics, a second room downstairs which can be used for practice and performances too, a kitchen, loos of course, a green room with a honky-tonk-ish piano, a Yamaha grand, a modern harpsichord, and easy access from the railway and bus stations, and a multistorey car park nearby too. Disadvantages include being in Edinburgh, rather far for those from the Highlands to travel, and though the Borders are nearer, it is well over on the east coast. I agree with you, gummidge, one wouldn't want to exclude anyone - the problem as I understand it is that beginners and the shy have said they daren't play alongside more experienced musicians and tend to exclude themselves - but careful programming would surely avoid that, I think? I'm not in favour of an adult learner one for a similar reason - there advanced players, who may not have had any more playing opportunities than the beginners, have been discouraged in the past.
The hardest problem is finding suitable times - I will admit that if we did do one in Edinburgh, I'd rather like to come along - and would also like my forum friends to be able to do (they know who they are ).

That looks a very pretty venue.

Looks like a feasible venue for a 2009 large forum event, as well as playdays.

Get yourself a date nice 'n' early and give me a shout if you want any advice

Hi, anacrusis,
The venue looks lovely, I'm sure we can all put something towards expenses. I can come down at weekends and have a couple of places to stay, one in Edinburgh , and another in Dunblane. Just a train ride away.
Could you find a few potential dates that would suit you , and we can all get back to you with confirmations or not;
Thanks for the suggestion

R

I'm definitely curious...though I've had very, very little performance experience of late years and have a beautiful big inferiority complex that I've been cultivating.
I have found it disappointing that there's been no forum events nearby - though of course that was a perfect excuse to do nothing about it.



Anyway, I'm on the west coast. But Edinburgh is not problem, in fact I prefer it to Glasgow since I know it a bit better.

Depending on when it is I'd do my best to get to an event in Scotland - (flights permitting). The Edinburgh venue looks fantastic .

Hi - any chance of a venue further north? Im as far north you can get before the Isalnds, so Edinburgh is a 6/7 hour drive (8/9 hours with my toddler coming to listen!).
For those who are skint, mega bus comes up here for a few quid..

I think, as with most of the Scottish suggestions, I'd say this:

1. If you'd like to do a playday (see Harborough threads for description), find a hall, ask on the forum and locally how much interest there'd be, ensure a ready supply of music, hire, and go for it. I think you'd get away with quite a reasonable number of playdays in different parts of the UK in the year.

2. If you'd like to do a forum event/AL event, find a bigger hall with an in-tune piano in it (and preferably other annexe rooms to practice in), pass the suggestion onto someone like me, katyjay, sbhoa, petrat or anyone else who's organised something before, again ask to see how many people would come along, check the 2009 calendar (when I put it online) to ensure no clashes, and then go for it again.

There's a lot of people longing for a Scottish event. Come on guys, let's do it!

Hi jacky - I'm only an hour or so south from where I think you are. I think there is at least one other forumite very near to you (who in the past expressed an interest in an event) and there are a few to the west. It's certainly worth thinking about whether all the 'really Northern' forumites could perhaps work something out. I'd be interested for one.

I'm north of Aberdeen. Aberdeen is fairly central if we are talking somewhere in between Thurso and Carlisle!!
Transport to and from the city are good - we have a wonderful new train station too - though, I think its just the front of it! And the bus station seems to have literally disappeared and I have no idea where it is.

Going to work out how exactly to word it, but I will be PMing you very soon Malone.

Aberdeen it is then????? My daughters at school there - so dont mind the extra long drive!

Worked out how to word it...it's a very long message, but it's now in your inbox Malone!

I might be embarrassing her here , but Malone, the absolute star that she is, is going to do a bit of venue research for all of you north of the border. Keep your eyes on this thread.

Malone - feel free to let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Don't know how I have missed this thread - glad i caught it now. I'd be delighted to attend, willing to help, not sure about performing, can go as far north as Aberdeen.
Venue - have you considered Perth or Pitlochry?

We're looking at the Aberdeen area.

Forum events are so encouraging - if you did perform, you'd have loads of support.

maybe if it was scheduled during summer, say JUly/August time I could come up to Scotland. It would be a good reason to have a few days up there and visit my family anyway.

However I would much prefer edingborough to Glasgow..

One out of two isn't bad!

There will be a forum concert in Scotland in August 2009. However, it will be in Aberdeen rather than Edinburgh or Glasgow.

There is a separate thread in this sub-forum to discuss about this.