Shetland Arts, in partnership with UHI Shetland, offer a range of music, audio and film courses, from part time courses for school pupils through to BA (Hons) degrees. One of our students, Ella, has written a blog post all about her experience of the courses so far and what the future holds for her!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Ella Robertson, I'm 18 and I have been playing the fiddle since I was around 5 years old. I play in Haltadans, Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, the Shetland Fiddlers' Society, and have always had a huge interest in music and the creative industries.
What are, or were, you studying?
I did the HNC Music course with UHI last year, and the NC Music the year before that. I also did the Skills for Work courses in S3 and S4.
How did you find the Shetland Arts' course and what have been your highlights?
I really enjoyed the courses I studied at Mareel, and Skills for Work was a brilliant way to experience what it would be like to study there after I left school. It was so brilliant meeting with other musicians to make and discuss music together, and I loved learning more about music theory and the business side of working in the creative industries. I learned so much through these courses, met a lot of great people, and had so many great opportunities.
During the holidays, I took part in an exchange between the Shetland Folk Festival and the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in Finland. It was such an amazing experience to get to meet so many brilliant musicians, learn about their culture and play some music with them. I have also played a few gigs with Haltadans and the Shetland Fiddlers' Society over the holidays, including a concert with Shetland Folk Dance, nights in the crofthouse museum, and some cruise ship performances.
What are you planning on doing next?
I am starting the BA Applied Music course with UHI in September, I am really excited to get started and learn as much as I can about music.
What would you say to someone considering creative courses at Mareel?
The courses at Mareel are absolutely fantastic! If you are considering applying for one, then I say go for it! You can learn so many useful skills and Mareel is such a brilliant place to learn.
