Two special kantele workshops in summer 2025

February 12, 2025

Two special small kantele workshops focusing on improvisation and creative music-making will be organised in the summer of 2025:

• 18-20 July 2025, The Heritage of the Karelian Kantele at the Cultural Centre and Conference Hotel Sofia, Kallvikinniementie 35, 00980 Helsinki
• 8-10 August 2025, Dialogue of Creativity at the Kallio-Kuninkala, the Järvenpää Campus of the University of the Arts Helsinki, Ristinummentie 6, 04400 Järvenpää

The central theme of both workshops is creative music making, but they approach it from slightly different perspectives.

The workshops are part of Arja Kastinen‘s research project at the Sibelius Academy of the University of the Arts Helsinki: Kantele of the Runosong Culture and the Dialogue of Creativity. Participants pay only for food and accommodation and, in the case of the Sofia Cultural Centre, for the rental of the workshop space.

Small kantele workshop ”The Heritage of the Karelian Kantele” at the Cultural Centre and Conference Hotel Sofia 18-20 July 2025

The workshop will introduce you to the aesthetics of Karelian kantele music within the Runosong culture and how to create new music based on it.

You will learn the playing techniques, scales and improvisation of the old-style kantele. We will explore the nature of the sound field produced by small kanteles and its effect on the music. You will also learn about the themes of the church bell imitations of orthodox Karelian kantele players and the use of their variations in improvisation.

We use kanteles from 5 to 15 strings. Participants will be provided with materials including sheet music. However, it is not necessary to be able to read music as the workshop is mainly based on the principles of aural music making.

Anyone interested is welcome, regardless of musical background. If you don’t have your own instrument, you can borrow a kantele from Arja for the duration of the workshop.

The Sofia Cultural Centre and Conference Hotel is located in Kallahdenniemi, accessible through the beautiful Kallahdenharju nature reserve. Discover Sofia: https://www.sofia.fi/en/

The weekend price of €212 includes tuition (12 lessons), two dinners, two lunches, two afternoon coffees and two light evening snacks. We start with dinner on Friday at 5pm and finish with coffee on Sunday at 3pm.

Accommodation (with breakfast) in a double room from €50/person/day and in a single room from €90/person/day.

A maximum of 10 people can participate in the order of registration. Enquiries and binding registrations by 13 June 2025 by e-mail: kantele@temps.fi.

Small Kantele Workshop “Dialogue of Creativity” at the Kallio-Kuninkala 8-10 August 2025

The workshop will explore the aesthetics of small kantele improvisation in Runosong culture and its application as part of collaborative music making today.

We will practise a variety of playing techniques and will focus on the sound field that is created by the kantele and on how to improvise within this sound field.

No particular musical background is required. If you don’t have a kantele, you can borrow one for the duration of the workshop.

The workshop will test learning materials developed in the Kantele of Runosong Culture and Dialogue of Creativity project.

The main aim is to enjoy making music together and to find ways of communicating musically.

The workshop starts on Friday 8 August at 5pm and finishes on Sunday 10 August at 3pm. There will be 12 lessons.
The weekend will take place in Metsä-Kuninkala.

The workshop is part of a research project at the University of the Arts Helsinki, which means that tuition and facilities are free for participants. Meals and accommodation cost a total of €188.80 per person. Accommodation is in single rooms. Meals include 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 afternoon coffees, 2 dinners and 2 light evening snacks.

The workshop will accommodate a maximum of 8 people in the order of registration. Enquiries and binding registrations by 30 June 2025 by email: kantele@temps.fi.