Two retreat-like kantele courses in summer 2014

March 26, 2014

Would you like to learn to play the 5-string kantele for your own pleasure?                                                                          Come to the retreat center Pohjolan Valo in Rymättylä, Naantali, and participate

THE KANTELE RETREAT June 27–29, 2014.

The course is meant for adults who wish to stop for a moment to experience kantele music and refresh themselves by producing their own music on their own terms.  Previous musical background is not required. You are able to loan an instrument for the course at the center.  During the spare time you can wander the forest routes or by the lake.       Website: www.pohjolanvalo.fi

The price, 260 €, contains 10 lessons, food, accommodation, a concert during Saturday, and lake side sauna on Saturday evening. Accommodation is in 2–4 bedded rooms.  The meals contain fish and vegetable-based organic food.

The teacher, D.Mus. Arja Kastinen, plays also a concert for the course participants; a 45 min. improvisation, during which the listeners can lay on matresses, sit or wander around, as they wish. During the actual course, the participants are taught the basic playing techniques on the 5-string kantele and they are encouraged to produce their own music. In addition to the modern steel string kanteles, also brass and bronze string kanteles are explored.

The course can accommodate 12 participants. Registration by the 30th of May, at the latest. The contact details are below.

THE ADVANCED SMALL KANTELE COURSE August 1-3, 2014

The advanced course is for all kinds of small kanteles from 5 to 15 strings, and the participants are expected to have the basic playing skills already. We learn improvisation and better mastery of playing techniques, and the creation of different timbres. The main focus, however, remains in the personal relationship with the player and the instrument.

The price, 260 €, contains 10 lessons, food, accommodation, a concert during Saturday, and lake side sauna on Saturday evening. Accommodation and meals as described above.

The course can accommodate 12 participants. Registration by June the 30th, at the latest.

Both courses will start with dinner at 5 p.m. on Friday, and end with lunch at 12 on Sunday.

REGISTRATION: anne.ranta@pohjolanvalo.fi  Tel: +358 50 3547222

Request for information on the course contents: arja.kastinen@www.temps.fi, Tel: +358 400 797227