Young Trad Finalist: Mairi Chaimbeul

Please turn on JavaScript.

In order to see this content you need to have both Javascript enabled and Flash installed. Visit BBC Webwise for full instructions.

Mairi Chaimbeul

Watch clarsach player Mairi Chaimbeul perform at the Young Trad Musician of the Year final 2011.

Age: 18

Hails from: Skye

Instrument: Clarsach and voice

Q&A

What do you love and what do you hate about your instrument?

I love the range of pitch, volume and sound. I hate the awkward size it has to be to get this range! (Still not quite as much as I hate the inevitable question "Don't you wish you played the tin whistle/piccolo/cazoo etc etc?" - the answer is no, by the way!)

What keeps you in practising while you could be out having a laugh?

Obviously practising is a big part of music but it's also all about being out and having a laugh with it! It's such a big part of my life that I can't imagine not...

Has anyone in particular inspired you as a musician?

From a young age I was inspired by the Gaelic singing teaching I received through primary school from Kirsteen Graham and by the clarsach teaching of Mary Strachan and fiddle from Christine Martin. I have also had tremendous inspiration from the music, teaching, and support of Catriona McKay, who has been a fundamental influence in my musical journey. The teaching of Richard Ingham and others has also been a very significant inspiration. I am also constantly inspired by my listening, from EST to James MacMillan, from Michael Marra to Toumani Diabate to John 'Hoddan' MacDonald and many many more.

What music do you listen to when you're not practising (not necessarily folk music!)

I listen to a huge range of music from trad/folk to lots of world and jazz music, from classical to rock and pop. Recently i've been listening alot to the amazing Ella Fitzgerald complete songbooks, the live in japan Steps Ahead album 'Smokin' in the pit', the gorgeous new album White Nights from Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Lisa Hannigan 'Sea Sew', and Joni Mitchell's record Blue, amongst others.

Is there a piece of music that you always like to play/sing and why?

There are lots of puirt-a-beul (mouth music) that I've been singing forever that I always come back to. And singing the beatles song Yesterday in every style you can think of is always fun... (Don't worry, I don't do that on my own...!)