A note on Richard

Richard plays and teaches several instruments across a handful of instrument families. His particular passion is Scottish traditional music. He studied Gaelic Language and Culture at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, giving him a deep appreciation and understanding of this tradition.

In addition to working with his own private clients, Richard is the Vice Chairperson of Fèis Ghallaibh and and tutors regularly for Fèisean nan Gàidheal through weekly lessons, weekend workshops, summer music schools, primary school classes, and online. His music tuition is available in Scottish Gaelic, Scots, and English. Over the years, he has also delivered training sessions to a number of other tutors.

Richard plays the piano in the Addie Harper Cèilidh Band and the Harper Country Band, and often accompanies fellow traditional musicians at the Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club, of which he is a board member. He also accompanies friends and pupils at the Caithness Music Festival. From 2015 to 2021, he served as musical director at the Wick Players, where he was involved in extensive musical arranging, teaching, recording, and theatre performance. He has appeared on several episodes of the TV show Caithness Music Television (hosted by button box virtuoso Brandon McPhee) and the online show Carmichael’s Ceilidh (hosted by the legendary John Carmichael), as well as on several albums by the late Fergie MacDonald, the Cèilidh King.

Richard has experience teaching pupils of all ages and abilities. He aims to give his pupils both the skills and the confidence to perform publicly, applying what they learn from music to other settings — academic, social, and beyond.

In his free time, Richard enjoys learning languages and improving his chess game. He likes to travel and is especially keen to try the local food wherever he goes — perhaps as a reward for learning to order it in the local language! Last year, in 2025, he managed to see (and eat!) a wee bit of Italy, Ireland, Poland and Croatia.