A full-on, fun packed workshop weekend for Nyckelharpa players – beginners as well as more experienced players of this unusual Swedish folk stringed instrument. Vicki Swan will be leading the weekend, with support from a guest tutor to be confirmed.
The weekend includes the opportunity for complete beginners to meet and play the instrument. Eight spaces are up for grabs for the complete beginner course with a loan instrument provided. Spaces fill up fast so don’t delay!
Plenty will also be on offer for the improver / intermediate level player. Workshops will cover all aspects of playing the nyckelharpa: posture, technique, bowing, Swedish tunes, British tunes, chord playing, ensemble playing (by ear), exercises and Nyckelrythmics!
Sunday B&B is available for anyone wishing to extend their weekend. Request this extra night when booking.
Who is it for?
This course is aimed at both total beginners, and those with some experience, up to about intermediate level. More advanced players should check out our ‘Harpas at Halsway: Nyckelharpa Festival’.
The Team
Vicki Swan graduated from the Royal College of Music on double bass, specialising in performance. Well known on the British folk scene she is a full time folk musician performing on nyckelharpa, bagpipes and singing. Being half Swedish the nyckelharpa was a natural choice to add to her armory of instruments and is now leading the development of the nyckelharpa in Great Britain with the UK Nyckelharpa Project and spearheaded the newly formed UK Nyckelharpa Society. In addition to various duo recordings Vicki has recently published the ‘British Session Tunes for Nyckelharpa’, a book of Duets in the Swedish Style and Scandinavian Fiddle Tunes published by Schott. Vicki is a qualified teacher, specialising in instrumental teaching and has a masters in Education (specialising in distance tuition on the Scottish smallpipes) and composes and arranges music for the nyckelharpa and other ensembles. She was a member of the ENCORE (European Nyckelharpa Co-operation – Orchestral Experience, 2013) and a tutor on the International Nyckelharpa Days in Germany in 2014, 2015 and 2020.