Putting traditional music at the heart of Scottish life

Welcome to the Traditional Music Forum

The TMF aims to develop, sustain, support and maximise the potential of traditional music in Scotland.

A key resource on traditional music for agencies and decision makers

The TMF is a key participant in the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Music, the Music Education Partnership Group, Culture Counts and Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS), the European Folk Network to name a few.

Agencies we work with include Education Scotland, Museums and Galleries Scotland, National Library of Scotland and the Social Enterprise Network.

Knowledge and Understanding

Our report Working as a Traditional Musician in Scotland looked at the economic realities of life for musicians at all career stages.

Skills Development

The TMF’s TradMentor scheme works with teaching musicians across Scotland.

Supporting Scottish Music

Scotland Online: A Directory of Musicians is the only comprehensive online resource, promoting traditional musicians working and recording in Scotland.
The website provides a directory profile to Scottish performers, which signposts where their music is available to buy and listen to, whilst helping users to navigate and find artists’ websites, Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music pages. It is an ever-expanding resource which allows people to browse, enjoy and discover new music along the way.

Enabling networking & learning across membership

At our annual Trad Talk members come together to discuss issues and take forward new ideas. Working with members, we have produced a Quality Framework and Code of Practice for organisations and musicians working in non-formal education.

A communications hub for traditional music

Through our website, newsletter and social media channels, we continually showcase the activities of our members and share news, events, and information. The support of the members enables the small staff team to do that effectively.

Members matter as members help to shape the thinking, the activities and the hands-on work of the Forum.

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The Latest from Traditional Music Forum

Traditional Music Forum Workshops Programme 2024

Announcing the Traditional Music Forum Workshops Programme for 2024! We are thrilled to unveil a series of industry-focussed workshops designed to...
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A tour of Skye during Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week to challenge stereotypes

A pair of young musicians from the Isle of Skye and Edinburgh will use the joy of music to help end...
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Scottish Music Playlist (33) – New Releases

Our latest playlist features 35 minutes of amazing new Scottish music releases from The Canny Band, Miguel Girão, Ally Forsyth, Lauren...
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