If a Scottish musical education is what you seek, then look no farther than Perthshire in Scotland. From the traditional fiddle and pipes to the ballads celebrating life, love, and loss throughout the ages, many important figures in the development of Scottish music were concentrated within this area. If looking to take music-themed hotel breaks Scotland is the ideal place.
 
Eighteenth century Perthshire was home to one of the most famous Scottish musicians -- Neill Gow. Creating a creative centrifuge for Scottish traditional music, Gow is considered the best fiddler and dancie (a traveling dance instructor and bard) to have graced Scottish shores. He wrote copious amounts of original music that is still used today and his life and accomplishments are celebrated at the annual Neill Gow Fiddle Festival which takes place in Dunkeld and Birnum. Another Perthshire native whose efforts at song collecting and composition were integral to preserving and continuing the tradition of Scottish lyricism is Lady Caroline Nairn. If it were not for her efforts, the older traditional Scottish ballads and lyrics may have been lost.
 
Given the high caliber of Perthshire’s musical heritage it is no surprise that the region continues to be home to skilled and talented traditional musicians. Dougie MacLean, a native of Dunblane, has been producing mellifluous music since 1976, beginning in the band The Tannahill Weavers. Maclean was honoured with the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2011 for contributions to culture. Another notable figure is Gordon Duncan. A gifted bagpiper whose talent was well-regarded throughout Scotland and the world, his contributions to traditional music were cut short with his death at the age of 41. Pete Clark is another contemporary Scottish fiddler from Perthshire who specializes in the work of Neill Gow.
 
Almost everyone in Perthshire can tell you more about their favourite traditional musician. From Perthshire hotels to pubs, music is part of the culture and character of the local population. If you want to know more about Scottish music, Perthshire is the place to start.