January 3rd 2025.
The winds were howling fiercely on the west coast of Scotland as Arianna Ranieri sat nervously eating a sandwich. She was on a ferry, making her way from the seaside town of Largs to the island of Cumbrae. The waves crashed against the sides of the boat, and salty water sprayed over her car. Despite the rough conditions, Arianna remained determined to reach Cumbrae. It was there that she had embarked on a groundbreaking project to provide free music lessons to the islanders.
Every Saturday, Arianna would drive her trusty Honda Jazz from Glasgow to Largs, then board a ferry to reach Cumbrae. Once there, she would teach 20 strangers how to play the violin. This was no easy feat, considering the island's remote location and small population of around 1,400 people. But for Arianna, it was a labor of love. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, she was driven by her passion for music and her desire to make it accessible to everyone.
The idea for the project came to Arianna after she toured with an ensemble called Women in Chamber Music in Rural Scotland. During their concerts, she would often hear audience members express their regrets about not being able to learn an instrument. This inspired her to create a project that would directly reach rural communities. With the support of her supervisors, she began her PhD research project at Edinburgh Napier University.
In 2023, while heavily pregnant, Arianna braved the elements and traveled to Millport, the only town on Cumbrae. Despite having a stomach the size of a bowling ball, she hiked across the island to speak with the locals about their relationship with music. After doing her research, she chose Millport as the location for her project. The town already had a well-established community choir, and the respected music director and organist Alastair Chisholm MBE was enthusiastic about seeing the island's musical community grow.
On that windy day, Arianna and her Honda Jazz made it safely to Cumbrae. The island, also known as Great Cumbrae, is roughly four miles long and two miles wide. It may not be as famous as other Scottish islands, but it is the most accessible, with just a ten-minute ferry ride from the mainland. Sandra McIntyre, who grew up on the island and returned six years ago to retire, describes it as a hidden gem.
Sandra, who has always loved music, never had the opportunity to learn an instrument. As a child, she was busy helping out on her family's farm, and as an adult, her career in banking left little time for hobbies. It wasn't until she saw a poster for Arianna's project in a candle shop on Cumbrae that she realized she had a second chance. She was one of the lucky ones to secure a spot in the project and was overjoyed to finally have the opportunity to learn an instrument.
Karin Douglas, a reflexologist originally from Rutherglen, also jumped at the chance to join the project. She had grown up listening to her grandmother play the piano at family gatherings and always wanted to learn an instrument. When she saw that there were free lessons on Cumbrae, she couldn't believe her luck. Despite being a bit nervous at first, Karin quickly felt at ease in the informal and fun atmosphere of the lessons. She was grateful for the opportunity to push herself and make new connections while learning something new.
The project has been a resounding success, with both Sandra and Karin learning to play the violin almost effortlessly. They both credit Arianna for creating such an inclusive and enjoyable environment for learning. It just goes to show that with determination and a bit of bravery, anything is possible, even on a windy Scottish island.
Arianna Ranieri had always been drawn to the windswept coast of Scotland. As she nervously nibbled on her sandwich, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. She was on a ferry, making her way from Largs to the small island of Cumbrae. The waves were crashing around her and the salt water was spraying over her car, but she was determined to reach her destination.
Despite the boat swaying back and forth, Arianna remained focused on her mission. She was determined to bring free music lessons to the island, and she had already made a special bond with the Scottish islanders. As a PhD student, she had launched a pioneering project to teach 20 complete strangers how to play the violin. Every Saturday, she would drive her trusty Honda Jazz from Glasgow to Largs, board the ferry, and sail to Cumbrae to share her passion for music.
Cumbrae, also known as Great Cumbrae, was a small island on the Ayrshire coast. It was only four miles long and two miles wide, but it was home to a close-knit community of around 1,400 people. Arianna's project was inspired by her experience touring with an ensemble called Women in Chamber Music in Rural Scotland. After speaking with audience members who expressed a desire to learn an instrument, she realized that music wasn't accessible to everyone in rural areas.
With the support of her mentors at Edinburgh Napier University, Arianna began her PhD research project to create a program that would bring music directly into rural communities. She even hiked across Cumbrae while heavily pregnant, determined to learn more about the island and its relationship with music.
Arianna chose Millport, the only town on Cumbrae, as the location for her project. She discovered a well-established community choir and a respected music director named Alastair Chisholm MBE, who was eager to see the island's connection with music continue to grow.
Despite the challenges of living on a small island, Cumbrae had its own unique charm. It was home to wild sandy beaches, the smallest cathedral in Britain, and one of the narrowest houses in the world. While it may not have been as famous as other Scottish islands like Skye or Orkney, Cumbrae was the most accessible, just a ten-minute ferry ride from the mainland.
Sandra McIntyre was one of the islanders who had a deep love for music, but had never had the opportunity to learn an instrument. Growing up on the island, she was kept busy with her family's farm, and as an adult, her career in banking left little time for hobbies. It wasn't until she saw a poster for Arianna's violin project in a local shop that she realized she had a second chance. At 61 years old, she finally had the opportunity to pursue her passion for music.
Karin Douglas, a reflexologist originally from Glasgow, also saw the project as a chance to fulfill a childhood dream. She had grown up listening to her grandmother play the piano at family parties, but never had the chance to learn an instrument herself. When she saw the opportunity for free violin lessons on Cumbrae, she knew she couldn't pass it up. Despite her initial nerves, she quickly felt at ease in the informal and welcoming environment of the music lessons.
Both Sandra and Karin were amazed by the overwhelming response to the project. People from all walks of life on the island were eager to learn how to play the violin, and the lessons became a source of joy and community for everyone involved. Despite their initial reservations, both women found themselves learning and improving almost without realizing it. Thanks to Arianna's determination and the warm reception from the islanders, the project was a resounding success.
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