The quick facts: 25 artists from 11 European countries, 1 week full of workshops and rehearsals, recordings and 2 concerts in the outskirts of Paris. The initiative of AOLF proposed to gather - between 21 and 28 January - old and new, potential and future Ethno leaders in an attempt to sum and sublimate their common perception of what Ethno is and further develop its principles and methodology. A difficult task we may say but when you also add the music to the recipe, you know it’s going to be at least pleasant.

And so it was… a full on, hard working week with daily workshops in the first part, rehearsals in the second and then endless jam sessions to fill in the gaps. Day and night, everybody talked, taught, learned, sang and sweat music. Just like in an Ethno camp, all musicians came prepared to teach the rest a traditional tune from their country. It was more than that though, a meeting between old, new and forthcoming Ethno participants and leaders aiming to bridge the generation gap and open new Ethno horizons.

By the the end of the week, the repertoire had tunes from Sweden, Romania, Norway, Denmark, Austria, UK, Estonia, France, Spain, Bulgaria and France or over 1 hour of traditional live music with a modern twist. Just before the last day of the rehearsals the genius idea struck: why not wrap the songs around a story? But what story could fit better than a romance? And so the wonderful adventure of the musicians ended and the story of the Ethnofonik Orchestra began. It’s not something usual to hear in a concert so many traditional songs from so many different cultures performed with such a highly contagious, sheer enthusiasm. It was equally educative as it was entertaining for everyone exposed to it and a certain uplifting feeling was in the air both nights that weekend. Luckily everything was recorded and the rest of the world will hear the story soon enough. We’re pretty sure that saying goodbye the second day was hard for everyone involved after such an intense experience. It’s from these kind of moments you get the undeniable proof that music does make a difference.

Next up: Estonian Spring Ethno!

Photos

The Estonian Traditional Music Center in Viljandi organizes between 21 and 24 March a camp for young people (ages 14 - 35) interested in playing a musical instrument and to learn more about Estonian and Scottish traditional music and different styles of European traditional music.
 
The workshops will have as main musical leaders/mentors a selected string of traditional musicians like Kate Young, Merike Paberits and Jaan Jaago.

The process of learning is carried out through workshops where the participants learn the songs and techniques from the supervisors by listening and repeating. The participants are divided into two groups for the instrument workshops. In addition to the main workshops, joint workshops will also be held by Silver Sepp, Sofia Joons, Juhan Suits and Margit Kuhi. The camp will close with a concert during the Traditional Music Center birthday celebrations.

Registration
There’s 30 places to be filled in. The participation fee is 60 euros (workshops, food and accommodation).
If you want to participate - write an email to Sofia Joons sofia.joons@folk.ee.
Deadline for international participants: 1 March.

MORE INFO

Please note that all participants are expected to have previous experience in playing an instrument.

The workshop organized by AOLF between 21 to 28 January in Paris (France) is centered around sharing European traditional music and focuses on the pedagogy for a large group of learners. It’s an introduction to the world of Ethno and borrows its core methodology: non-formal education, peer to peer learning.

Some 23 artists aged between 20 to 45 years old coming from 11 European countries will participate in this workshop which closes with 2 performances which will prove this is one of the most valuable approaches to intercultural cooperation, keeping and sharing traditions between generations.

Concerts

28 January: Conservatoire Evry - 9-11 cours Mgr Roméro - 91000 EVRY- 20h - Free admission
29 January: MJC Boby Lapointe - 8 rue des maraîchers - 91140 Villebon-sur-Yvette - 20h30 - 5€/3€

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Between 21 to 28 January 2012 Paris becomes a pole for European traditional music and paves the way for the next generation of Ethno musical leaders.

The workshop organized by AOLF is centered around sharing European traditional music and focuses on the pedagogy for a large group of learners. It’s an introduction to the world of Ethno and borrows its core pedagogic method: non-formal education, peer to peer learning.

So, if you’re an amateur musician or music student and you’re at least 18 years old, we’re inviting you to apply as there are 25 participant positions to be filled in! It doesn’t matter where you come from as long as you’re from Europe. This project is funded by the European program GRUNDTVIG training which means all costs are covered, you don’t have to worry about a thing but how to get there!

Just in case the first 2 paragraphs didn’t ring any bell: don’t think it’s going to be a boring week where you’ll stay in a classroom all day long ’cause you won’t! As it’s something from the Ethno family, you’ll meet some fantastic folk artists which will become your best friends and your colleagues on stage as the workshop ends with a live performance. Keep an eye on this space for more info!

Deadline for submissions: 30 October 2011

more info
download application pack