Drake Music Scotland

14/10/2025

Young people at Gorgie Mills School took part in a project last year. Our Associate Musician, Farhad, worked with them to record their eerie piece, 'Witches', and create a music video perfect for spooky season! 🎃

This project was funded through The City of Edinburgh Council from Creative Scotland's Youth Music Initiative Funding.

Video Description: Arms wave over pieces of red, orange and yellow paper cut into the shape of flames and lying on the floor in a dark room. Next to it, a round piece of white paper represents the moon. The camera zooms out to show young people sitting on the floor around the fire, wearing masks on their faces and blankets around their shoulders, and waving their arms in a ritualistic fashion.

06/10/2025

We're excited to share this film from Live Life Aberdeenshire of their Youth Music Initiative Case Studies from 2024-25 featuring our project in St. Andrew's School in Inverurie led by our Associate Musician, Abi Sinar.

Drake Music Scotland work in 12 additional support needs schools and units across the whole of Aberdeenshire, delivering creative workshops to over 240 young disabled people. We're really proud of the partnership we have with Aberdeenshire Council and Live Life Aberdeenshire.

You can find our segment of the film at around 5:20, but we encourage you to watch the full film as it is lovely! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m78QPsn0po8

All of our projects in Aberdeenshire are funded through Aberdeenshire Council from the Scottish Government's Youth Music Initiative Funding at Creative Scotland. The film was made by Jason Sinclair.

03/10/2025

02/10/2025

Final rehearsals today before our performance of the Unbroken Thread Collaboration tomorrow morning as part of The Cumnock Tryst.

We've been putting the finishing touches to our music and visuals for "Sideways News" - a new piece made with pupils from Hillside School, adults from the Riverside Centre and musicians from Hebrides Ensemble

More info about the performance here - https://www.thecumnocktryst.com/the-unbroken-thread-2025

Good Luck Everyone!!

Thanks to all at The Cumnock Tryst

Creative Scotland

01/10/2025

Young people at Castle Douglas High School took part in a project last year. Along with our Associate Musician, Stuart, they visited Threave Garden & Nature Reserve NTS to do some field recording. 📹 They used the birdsong they recorded as inspiration to create a chord structure and motifs for their music. 🐦🎶

This project was funded through Dumfries and Galloway Council from Creative Scotland's Youth Music Initiative Funding.

Image Description 1: A young person stands smiling outdoors on a sunny day. They are wearing headphones and holding a large microphone. A grassy field is in the background.

Image Description 2: A young person stands in a grassy field on a sunny day. They are wearing sunglasses, headphones, and holding a large microphone out on their right-hand side.

Image Description 3: A young person sits on a wooden bench with various wildlife carved out of it. They are smiling at the camera. A grassy field is in the background.

Image Description 4: A young person stands smiling at the camera. They are holding a small camera. A grassy field is in the background.

Image Description 5: A young person stands smiling at the camera. A pond within a grassy field and a tower castle are in the background.

30/09/2025

Pete Sparkes & James MacMillan will be on BBC Radio Scotland later this afternoon! Speaking about The Unbroken Thread project - featuring performers from Hillside School, Riverside Centre and Hebrides Ensemble.

It's part of the BBC Radio Scotland Arts Mix programme from 3.30-4pm. They should be on around 3.45-3.50.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002k32t

They will be sharing their fantastic music this Friday at 1115 as part of The Cumnock Tryst see more info here - https://www.thecumnocktryst.com/the-unbroken-thread-2025

Thanks to
Creative Scotland
William Grant Foundation

Dundee Rep's new production of the Tennessee Williams classic play The Glass Menagerie.

28/09/2025

TODAY!
Out of the Common are sharing their latest new material - Phoenix. Come along...
4-6pm at the The Wee Red Bar in Edinburgh.

Tickets are available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/out-of-the-common-phoenix-tickets-1672971726469?aff=oddtdtcreator

Out of the Common is supported by PPL Giving
PPL - Phonographic Performance Ltd

26/09/2025

Come and support the brilliant Out of the Common Collective this Sunday 28th September, 4pm-6pm at The Wee Red Bar.

Hamshya, Karen, Ishrat and Anise have been working on an amazing set of original material with additional lyrics by Laura Cole and Sorcha Pringle.

Delighted to announce that Evie Waddell and Greta's Eyegaze Art will be supporting.

Tickets available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/out-of-the-common-phoenix-tickets-1672971726469?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawNDQbFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBqVm5SQk4zaFhKM2h2SHc1AR6NENdDd_EiD8RgWezrMYYsEWyDKMCZwkdhg_4wTLoDBHXFakCGW3SNgweNlg_aem_9Fg-58JeqhsmxEHb__OwPg

This performance will include BSL.

Out of the Common is supported by PPL Giving PPL - Phonographic Performance Ltd.

Thanks to Creative Scotland and PRS Foundation for their support of Drake Music Scotland's CREATE programme.

Video Description: Two hands pass an Airstick instrument (a small, black box) back and forth in front of a collage of magazine clippings.

23/09/2025

Come and support the brilliant Out of the Common Collective this Sunday 28th Sept, 4-6pm at The Wee Red Bar.
Hamshya, Karen, Ishrat and Anise have been working on an amazing set of original material with additional lyrics by Laura Cole and Sorcha Pringle.

Delighted to announce that Evie Waddell & Greta's Eyegaze Art will be supporting.

Tickets available here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1672971726469?aff=oddtdtcreator

This performance will include BSL

Out of the Common is supported by PPL Giving PPL - Phonographic Performance Ltd

Thanks to Creative Scotland & PRS Foundation for their support of Drake Music Scotland's Create programme.

22/09/2025

Last month we were deeply saddened by the news that Steve Flemington had passed away. Over the past 14 years with Drake Music Scotland, Steve has been a source of such support to many, many Drake musicians, Associate Musicians, and everyone involved with the organisation.

Whether it was sorting problems with computers and software, playing bass with Liveheart, stage managing all kinds of bonkers gigs or helping individuals with a variety challenges, big and small: Steve was always there, ready to help, and always kind.

In particular, Steve, was closely involved with our Tuesday band Liveheart and the Music Technology Course that we run in partnership with Edinburgh College. He will be deeply missed by everyone involved with those projects over the years.

We will so miss his humour, his skill and expertise, his deep knowledge and love of all things musical, and of course his love of good, strong coffee.

18/09/2025

Our Digital Orchestra Edinburgh group received their Arts Award certificates recently. We had 1 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze awards! Congratulations to them all.

11/09/2025

This time last week we were at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for the first ever Music Education Partnership Group - MEPG conference. We were involved in 3 sessions but the highlight was seeing our Digital Orchestra Edinburgh group participate in an open rehearsal in front of an audience of teachers and educators from across Scotland. The session was led by our Associate Musician, Katie and gave an insight into the group, the music that they have created themselves, and offered the audience a chance to get hands on with some of the technologies. The young people demonstrated their instruments and were actively involved in the session and talking to the audience, a great learning experience for them!

Our Digital Orchestra projects are grateful to receive funding from Creative Scotland , The National Lottery Community Fund, Pear Tree Foundation, McGlashan Trust and David and June Memorial Trust.