About Us

TMSA Aims & Policies

Mission Our mission is to nurture and maintain the indigenous traditional music and song of Scotland by working with practitioners, promoters, audiences, organisations and venues to present activities and develop interest, understanding and participation. We also work strategically through advocacy and provision of information both nationally and internationally.

Vision Our vision is that:

 Scotland‟s vibrant living indigenous heritage of traditional music and song is recognised and valued within and outwith Scotland as an intrinsic part of our national identity

 people globally can access information about Scottish traditional music and song and its practitioners past and present

 there is equal and widespread access to opportunities for people within Scotland to learn, teach, attend and participate in Scottish traditional music and song at a range of levels, thus laying solid foundations for development and innovation whilst at the same time safeguarding the grassroots of our diverse heritage

 people globally can access information about any opportunities to participate in Scottish traditional music and song activities outwith Scotland

Values We value:

 the diversity of Scotland's indigenous music and song heritage that stems from the cultural, agricultural, industrial and political history of Scotland

 the inclusiveness of our heritage which unites each community, crosses generations and enables a shared understanding between communities nationally and globally.

 the grassroots traditions (intrinsically and as a source for new interpretations)

 the contribution that participants at all levels of ability make to maintaining Scotland‟s traditional arts

 the financial and social contribution that Scottish traditional music and song makes not only to local communities but also nationally and globally.

Aims

 To ensure that the indigenous traditional music and song of Scotland continues as a vibrant living heritage

 To gain national and international recognition of Scotland‟s traditional music and song as an intrinsic part of our national identity

 To ensure that information about Scotland's music and song is globally available

Objectives

 To enable people to learn, teach, attend and participate in Scottish traditional music and song at all levels of ability in venues within and outwith Scotland by providing:

o opportunities (mainly within Scotland)

o information on opportunities provided by other organisations and individuals (mainly within but also outwith Scotland)

 To work individually and with other organisations to:

o raise awareness of and inform people globally about Scotland‟s traditional music and song

o commission and conduct research related to our vision

o support practitioners and organisations working in the field of Scottish traditional music and song

 To facilitate submission of information concerning practitioners, instruments, playing and singing styles, local and national customs and other relevant facts about Scotland‟s traditional music and song. This information will be compiled and organised to create a web-based interactive archive to assist people seeking information

 To build an accessible collection of Scotland‟s traditional music and song to enable people to study, appreciate, learn and perform these tunes and songs.

 To develop the capacity of the TMSA to enable it to achieve its vision

Approaches The TMSA will undertake the following approaches:

 Support and Enable

 Advocate and Promote

 Educate and Inform

 Develop Capacity