A very popular and highly-respected tutor

I first met Amy over three years ago through my involvement with the Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop (at Strachur). She had been a very popular and highly-respected tutor with the group and on the recommendation of several of the members I signed up for a Mixed Instrument Workshop the LFW had organised, with Amy as tutor. This workshop was what inspired me to become a member of the LFW and to begin learning the fiddle (my first involvement with the workshop was as a guitar/mandolin player). (more…)

She is fun, focused and full of encouragement

Amy was enthusiastically recommended to me by my nephew who at the time was also a pupil. As an adult learner and brand new to fiddle playing I was keen to find a teacher that would encourage and inspire me to learn from scratch. I got that and much more from Amy. She combines a really practical focus on technique and theory (honest, she can make scales fun!) with the pleasure of learning and playing tunes. One of my biggest highlights was being able to duet, with Amy playing a counter part to me playing the tune. She is fun, focused and full of encouragement, always able to pick me up from the negative self-talk I am prone to.
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Amy is a highly skilled and imaginative teacher.

Amy has worked with Licketyspit as a performer and teacher on our specialist show for 0-12 year olds Molly Whuppie over several productions. Molly Whuppie is entirely under-scored by live Harp and Fiddle music. I also know her as my daughter’s Fiddle teacher over ten years. Amy is a highly skilled and imaginative teacher.
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Amy Geddes, my friend and teacher

I first became aware of Amy’s huge teaching talent and dedication when I was a member (and later Chair) of Glasgow Fiddle Workshop. When I moved to Lochgoilhead in Argyll Amy’s support was instrumental in getting the baby Workshop up and running. I was beyond words grateful  when she volunteered to be our very first tutor, which at the time meant travelling from Edinburgh every Saturday for a full day of teaching. She actually committed to the teaching programme although at the time we had not raised a penny towards starting the classes. She also brought friends down to do a fundraising concert-and Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop opened its door for the first time. A few months later she donated ?? of her compositions to raise money for the Workshop in an auction of tunes. With this generosity, and with her wonderful teaching she built a cadre of loyal students in the first years of Lochgoilhead  Fiddle Workshop which ensured its continuance. LFW meets to this day, and has transformed cultural life in this part of Argyll.
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I prize Amy’s deep understanding of the relationship between music and dance

I have known Amy since 1998, when we met as bandmates in pioneering ensemble The Scottish Stepdance Company. Over the years since, we have frequently worked together, both performing and teaching. As a stepdancer, I prize Amy’s deep understanding of the relationship between music and dance, a level of expertise which few players in Scotland possess. She has been my closest musical collaborator and I have learnt a huge amount from her musicianship, both in a performance setting and from witnessing her teaching. Having worked with several fiddle teachers (both as colleagues and in my own learning), Amy has a rare gift for analysing individual needs in a constructive and intuitive way, and for communicating this clearly and sympathetically. On a practical level, her professionalism and work ethic also make her a great colleague to work with.

Alison Carlyle
Convenor, Scots Music Group