RSCDS Summer School 2023: Tales from a first-time musician

When Jim Stott took me to one side in the Summer School 2022 party room and asked me to play him a reel, a jig and a Strathspey, I felt puzzled at first, then honoured when I realised he was adding me to the staff list for 2023. I went back to my regular life, looking forward to my first Summer School as a musician. Slowly over the year, this feeling left me as I began to be filled with dread: wait, why am I doing that again? Summer School is always filled with these breath-taking musicians; how am I ever going to compare to them? I am supposed to play for a whole social dance on my own?!

When I arrived on the first Sunday, however, I found that everybody was super kind, encouraging and supportive: the teachers were excited to work with me, and the musicians were extremely welcoming of a new staff member. Most of my stress disappeared during the very first class. I had the privilege to play for Debbie Roxburgh and the beginners class: things went very well, and I dare say I even had a wee bit of fun!  The rest of my stress was pulverised when I played for the social dance on Tuesday. I finished the evening high on caffeine and adrenaline and ready to start all over again: I had moved over 50 people with my music alone; how cool is that?! (I say that I was ready to start again, but I was also knackered, so it is probably for the best that I just went to crash in the party room!)
 

After that, all the stress was gone, and I just had a blast. Playing for classes is fun, and the feedback from dancers only makes me want to play more and more; I have even received three thank-you cards which are proudly displayed on the shelf in my bedroom! I had the pleasure to work with Andrew Timmins and the intermediate class in the second part of the week. I was at first intimidated by this tall Australian fella, but, as it turns out, he is no exception to the rule: he is kind and caring!

I must take this opportunity to thank two people that helped to make my week extra special. I got to meet my hero, Muriel Johnstone. I didn't know what to expect, but she is actually the most friendly and hilarious of all. I have also received tremendous support from Ewan Galloway, with lifts to venues, tips and tricks for what to do during class, tunes and recordings, and amazing party room company! (I am not sure this last point counts as “support”, but anyway.)

Thank you to all of you named in this article and unnamed, the teachers, the musicians, the rest of the staff, the dancers in my classes and all the others; this was a formidable first experience. On to week two!

Nicolas “Niols” Jeannerod
Paris Branch of the RSCDS