Ever wanted to play Scottish fiddle? Join The Exhale's newest faculty member, Donald Grant, exploring the glorious aural traditions of Scottish folk music.
Donald was brought up in the small village of Roybridge in the Highlands of Scotland. When not running around the hills or climbing he could be found playing music of all sorts and it quickly became his life’s passion.
He grew up immersed in traditional music, as his father was a Gaelic singer and teacher. He sang songs from when he could speak and loved attending courses at Sabhal Mor Ostaig and attending the National Mod and Feisan nan Gaidheal. Mostly he just loved playing WITH people.
Donald is now deputy head of chamber music at the Royal Northern College of Music and a member of the Elias String Quartet. He is an astonishing musician who is equally at home in classical or traditional playing.
Donald will teach a tune completely by ear and look at ways in how to make it authentic with particular focus on bowing technique and left hand ornamentation.