Drake Music Scotland is saddened to hear of the death of our much loved Associate Musician David McNiven who died after a lengthy illness on 18 December 2015.
David began working with us in 2009 and we were very fortunate to have such an inspirational and dedicated teacher leading group and individual music tuition sessions here at our Edinburgh studios. David was a very popular member of our team and was particularly gifted in encouraging and helping our disabled musicians to write their own compositions. He also successfully campaigned to have the Brainfingers system recognised by the Scottish Qualifications Authority as a musical instrument and worked with Edinburgh School pupil Chris Jacquin to enable him to become the first to gain the Music Higher (with an “A” grade!) using inclusive music technology.
Video: David working at Drake Music Scotland with participant Emma Clark.
David was of course also very well known outside of Drake as a very successful musician and composer and could be found at the centre of Scotland’s TV and theatre culture for over four decades. As well as achieving a cult following with his own band Bread Love and Dreams, David wrote theme music for numerous tv programmes including Rab C Nesbitt, Naked Video and Ben Elton’s Happy Families.
David will be sorely missed by all participants, musicians and staff at Drake Music Scotland and our thoughts are with this wife Angie, daughters Anya and Lucille and son Martin.
David McNiven’s Obituary from Herald Scotland 26 December 2015