معرفی
Neil Wood is a Clàrsach (Scottish Traditional Harp) specialist and MPhil researcher at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS), where he serves as an Instrumental Music Instructor for East Renfrewshire Council since 2017. He teaches Scottish Harp within the Traditional Music department and actively promotes Celtic harp traditions through community education initiatives.
His educational background includes a BMus (Hons) in Traditional Music (Scottish Harp) from RCS, completed in July 2020. During his studies, he shifted focus to historically informed wire-strung harp techniques under Karen Marshalsay, exploring sources like the Welsh Robert ap Huw manuscript (1613).
Wood's research centers on reviving authentic Scottish harp practices through fingernail techniques, examining global harping traditions to enhance contemporary Scottish music. His work bridges historical scholarship with modern performance, emphasizing cultural preservation through pedagogy and community engagement.
His sole 2024 publication analyzes the tension between revival and reinvention in Scottish harp traditions, reflecting his interdisciplinary approach spanning ethnomusicology, historical performance practice, and cultural anthropology.
Wood actively mentors through the Southside Traditional Music Ensemble and Fèis Bharraigh, while serving as vice-convenor of the Glasgow Branch of the Clàrsach Society. His educational outreach includes long-term involvement with Scotland's Fèis movement, focusing on preserving intangible cultural heritage.
He maintains strong institutional ties through RCS and community projects, with current research examining cross-cultural fingernail techniques' impact on Scottish harp authenticity. His work integrates academic scholarship with practical music education to sustain Scotland's harping legacy.
