Our Central Southern Scotland location allows us to offer a wide and increasing range of educational services across the Central belt, in particular Lanarkshire, the Lothians, Borders, and Dumfries and Galloway.

SALES – Instruments

We are agents the award winning “Primavera” range of bowed orchestral instruments, in our, and many others, opinion, the best appointed entry level instruments in today’s market. We work closely with, and are backed by, one of the country’s leading musical instrument suppliers, The Sound Post Ltd. For further details of their range and other Educational services please visit their web site www.tsp-ltd.com. The Primavera P200 received the deserved accolade of “Instrument of the Year” at the Music Industry Awards in September 2005.

All our instruments are checked and set up by our own in-house qualified luthier before supply, a service which is appreciated by, and attracts favourable comment by teachers.

We stock a range of better appointed instruments, both new and second hand for the improving player, and can also supply from a range of entry level brass and woodwind instruments

Account facilities are available to LEA’s, Schools and accredited music colleges.
We offer generous discounts for multiple purchase, but are equally happy to supply just one instrument if required.

Sales – Accessories

We carry a vast range of accessories, spares and fittings designed to keep the musician playing.
Our ancillary website, www.stringmail.co.uk , is, we believe, the largest online resource in Europe for strings and accessories, fully covering orchestral, fretted and world music items.
Our other specialist site, www.ReedExpress.co.uk lists one the countries largest selections of reeds and essentials for brass and woodwind players.

Instrument Hire.

A range of violns, violas, cellos and Scottish harps (Clarsach) are available in various sizes for hire at competitive rates. (Please see our Hire Page).
Special rates for schools and educational establishments.
We can also supply string and small percussion instruments on one day hire for ‘Hands-on’ musical demonstrations and events. (See Below)

In Service Presentations and Demonstrations.

Our sales team would be delighted to be able to display our range of products and services at In-Service days for music and instrument teachers. We are usually able to do this in conjunction with our friends at “The Sound Post” who will be able to fully demonstrate the qualities of the “Primavera” range of bowed string instruments.

Schools Services

Through our ever growing database of contacts, we are able to arrange, or supply contacts to, music mentors offering a wide range of tuition, performance, and hands-on musical experience to schools and approved community groups.
Principal instruments covered are; fiddle/violin, guitar/mandolin, whistle, clarsach (Scottish harp), and small percussion.
To facilitate one off, hands-on musical introductions, and to offer educationalists the widest choice of tutor, we are able to supply a range of instruments at special low cost one day hire rates where such resources are not available. (Please note for Health & Safety reasons this does not apply to wind instruments, though we can supply low cost starter whistles to be retained by students, if desired, as part of the package cost or individual sale).

Other Recommended Educational Resources.

Having worked with and/or alongside the following for a number of years, we can thoroughly recommend the following educational resources:

The Multi-Story But n’ Ben.
Colin McAllister (Storyteller). One-off or multi session projects on story telling, storymaking, reminiscences, local ‘heirloom’ projects, folktales, etc.
Storytelling resource centre and links with others involved in the same field.
All ages catered for. Contact Colin on 01555 841168 or email: bluetower@btopenworld.com

Purves International Puppets.
Well known by most educationalists and their pupils!
Performances and workshops are available at their custom built “Biggar Little Theatre” which also incorporates a puppet museum and refreshment facilities.
A traveling theatre and/or workshop will come to you if desired.
School and other parties welcomed. A large variety of languages catered for.
Available all year, for children up to the age of 99.
For further details see www.purvespuppets.com or telephone 01899 220631.

Biggar Museum Trust
BMT operate several small museums in and around Biggar, including The Moat Park Heritage Centre, the Gladstone Court Museum, the Greenhill Farmhouse Museum of Covenanting, the Gasworks Museum, Brownsbank (Former home of Hugh McDiarmid), and, at Broughton, the John Buchan Centre.
School parties catered for. All museums open by appointment during closed season.
Open every day, Easter to end of September.. Contact 01899 221050.