Former world accordion champion Graeme Mackay from Moray invited to teach Caribbean kids in Nassau
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A former world champion accordionist from Elgin has been asked to travel to Nassau to help save a dying art.
Settlers from Scotland originally introduced the accordion to the Caribbean island.
The local labourers eagerly adopted it and the generations since have created a unique form of music called ‘Scrape & Rake’.
This features a button accordion, a goatskin drum, plus a saw that’s played by using a screwdriver.
Here’s a catchy example:
However, recent years have seen been a decline in those able to teach the button accordion.
The upshot is that Graeme Mackay, who’s a full-time musician and teacher in Moray, has been invited to pass on his skills and knowledge to a group of young students.
An internationally acclaimed accordionist, Graeme has been playing the instrument since he was a boy and comes from a long line of musicians.
The 41-year-old said: “Nassau is known as a millionaires’ playground, but away from the yachts and fancy hotels, it’s anything but that for most of the locals.
“Very little of the money reaches their communities.”
Graeme added: “The accordion was introduced to the Caribbean shortly after it was invented in the 19th century and it quickly became popular because it’s very versatile and portable.
“Practically every country in the world has its own version of the accordion, and they all have slightly different ways of playing it.”
Graeme’s reputation reached the Caribbean due to a global organisation known as the CMA – Le Confédération Mondial De L’Accordeon.
Having won the world title for his category in 2021, he was inducted into the CMA and now acts an ambassador for the diatonic button accordion.
Also making the trip in August will be Graeme’s wife, Magdalena, who is going to be conducting classes in music theory with the youngsters.
Magdalena studied at the Poznan schools of musical excellence in Poland and runs both the Wellenger School of Music in Elgin and her choir Magnotes.
Rather than asking the local Nassau population for money, the couple have organised a fundraising ceilidh in Moray to help pay their way.
Graeme said: “The accordion has been used for generations for Caribbean folk music, but now they need help to carry on that legacy.
“We’re eager to help but the flights alone cost £2000. We will use the funds to cover that first, plus expenses, living costs and wages. If there is any left we will look to see how else we can help their accordion music thrive and survive for the future.”
This fundraising ceilidh be held at the Longmore Hall in Keith on Friday, May 10.
Graeme added: “We chose Keith due to the amount of inspiring young musicians in the area. The evening will include local acts like Country Quines along with a host of talent to entertain everyone.”
There’s also a gofundme page for those who can’t attend the ceilidh. Details about everything can be found at ceilidhcabin.com
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