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Here an impression of the workshop in Mirtos, Crete 2009
Seminars & Workshops Greek music
In the Greek musicworkshops, lead by Michiel Koperdraat, we concern ourselves with
different styles of Greek music, dependent on the instruments or preferences of
the participants. We will handle: orchestration, style & idiom, instrument
technique, theory on keys and rhythms, the use of ‘quarter tones’ and last
but not least improvisation, for which Greek music is so well known.
Greek music offers a lot of opportunities for singing and the use of a
host of instruments.One can draw on
thousands of Greek songs written in numerous rhythms and keys, thus enabling
oneself to travel on a journey in which one can discover one’s own
potentialities for either singing or playing an instrument. This applies both to
lead- and accompaniment instruments.
Greek songs can be performed in various ways: simple or abundant, which
is what the Greek musicians themselves do. A certain song can sometimes be found
in an abundance of versions, because every performer will give his own
interpretation – Greek musicians enjoy improvising! And that is just how
Michiel Koperdraat is conducting the workshops.
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The participants will decide together
how a piece of music will finally sound in the end. Everybody absorbs melodies
by listening carefullyso you know
beforehand everyone has his own interpretation of the melody.Because attention will be paid to the Greek arts of composition, the
melodies will gradually become more ‘Greek’. Those arts of composition will
be translated individually to each participant’s own instrument and
possibilities. Moreover, we will concern ourselves with the intonation of
melodies.
Because Greek music draws from Eastern tradition, ‘quarter (micro)
tones’ are still used a lot to give a melody its very own characteristics. It’s
great fun to indulge deeper into this: it’s very good for the hearing- and
listening skills, greatly enriches your performance and enlarges your ability to
intonate freely and playfully.
The advantage of learning music by ear is that you will develop your
hearing skills and your musical memory. Also, it strengthens the relationship
with your own instrument. Your instrument will become part of yourself much
sooner and the sounds you produce together will become more important for you,
as being the performer, you're not only serving the music, but the music
is also at the service of your own expression!
Every year we organize workshops in Greece! Work hard for a week in a
pleasant atmosphere outside in the shade enjoying a coffee or ouzo.The workshops are attended by Dutch and Greek
musicians.
More often than not, in the evenings a lot of time we will still be playing our music
on taverna pavements of the
little village where we have our workshop (locations vary).
On the pictures
you can see Michiel explaining about bouzouki-techniques and Greek music theory. Needless
to say, Greece is the best place for studying and playing Greek music. Everything around you breathes
music, and the locals love it!
In May 2003, another workshop was organized by Ano Kato, this time on
Crete. This workshop was intended especially for those who had been playing
Greek music for some time already, individually
or as a group.
Our location was the small village of Mirtos, located at the South
coast of Crete. Participants stayed in spacious apartments. In the village, at
the town hall, we had the use of a great
studio. Mornings and afternoons were filled with working sessions.
At night, we performed with gusto at the local taverns. The local people
greatly appreciated this! And at the end of the week, we had two official
presentations for all the people in the village, visitors and locals alike.
Every spring, we organize two workshop weeks. One for starting musicians
(in Epidavros), the second one for musicians who have been playing and studying
Greek music for some time already (in Mirtos, Crete).
The
workshops / seminars on Crete are organised by Ano Kato every year in the beginning of
the summer in the beautiful village of Mirtos in the South of Crete. Michiel Koperdraat
leads the seminars. We worked this time very intensly at songs of Vasilis
Tsitsanis. The seminars start eleven a clock in the morning till two a
clock, and continue from six a clock in the afternoon til eight a clock. In
between: siësta!
For these workshops we use the community building of Mirtos, a beautiful and
acousticly well sounding room with good chairs and good atmosphere. And in
the evening... then it all starts for real!
Pictures from Jaap vd Gevel and others
The end-presentation to the village people on posters on every corner, also
in Ierapetra.
It became a crowdy evening.
Breakfast at Dick in Mertiza.
Jur plays directly in your ear while you are
playing a taximi !
This time: ney, sandouri en davouli!
Oké Jannie and Hans, Ainte!
Stamatis is a real fan !
...and Jan is alfa's kefi...
...and Jur and Michiel also!
First evening in Hotel Mirtos, a real warming up.
Of coarse we start with the local spirit: tsikoudia!
In the taverna of Michalis.
Grande finale in the street in front of Hotel Mirtos with all the
locals.
For this workshops we were allowed the use of the town hall of Mirtos, a
nice, cool hall with great acoustics and comfortable chairs.
We worked hard and devotedly for the whole week: from 10 am until 1 pm,
and from 6 to 8 pm. Fortunately, in between we had time for a small siesta. And
in the evenings…. Well, that was when the fun really started!
Photographs: Leon vd Berg, Fenny Geijssen, Jaap vd Gevel and Erna
Koperdraat
The locals enjoyed themselves more and more
listening to those over-eager Dutchmen who simply could not stop playing music!
Here and there bottles of homemade raki found their way to the tables: fuel for
the artists!
Beautiful Mirtos!
As a matter of fact, during these weeks the workshop never stopped.
Participants kept onplaying and
performing at night too, either at the apartments up in the village, or in the
local tavernas.
So, apart from our two official presentations on the last Friday night, you could stumble upon our musicians everywhere. Practice
makes perfect!
Playing at Panayotis’ taverna Platanos.
Playing at Michalis’ taverna, and Kostas' taverna (under)
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Performance for the whole village at
Hotel Mirtos.
Here
an impression of the year before.
Both the young and the old danced and danced
and danced….!
Villagers who were able to, jammed along.
Between rehearsals, enough time was left for a little R&R. The
pictures below were taken at the apartments ‘Aliki’, high up in the
village. Here, our course-members stayed. As you can see, the view was
great! Also, the place is a little separated from the village so we could
‘make noise’ until the wee hours of morning without fear of disturbing
other people.
Time for a tasty breakfast in the village!
Playing at Michalis’ taverna.
Playing at Kostas’ Petrinos Taverna.
One of our performances for the whole village at the Beach Tavern and at
Hotel Mirtos. Lively and cheerful, and of course we played our music and danced
way into the night!
The central theme of the
workshops is: ‘everybody can
learn to improvise’. We will pay attention to the possibilities of the
participants to express themselves on their instruments. Playing improvisations
gives the musician a great way to discover his own musical possibilities.
Main starting point is that everybody can learn to improvise and therefore
being able to tell their own musical story.All it takes is a little pluck.
During the workshops you will develop a large ‘vocabulary’ which
enables you to express yourself better
on your instrument.
For good improvisation a good technique is essential. This is just the thing we will teach you
in an enjoyable way.
The workshops are meant for (amateur-)musicians who wish to develop their
musicality and for those who ‘feel stuck’. Also the ones who want to develop their composing and writing skills (as opposed to
merely perform) are very welcome.
Coaching and 'Learn orchestra's' in the Netherlands
A successful presentation of an orchestra at a show or concert depends on
many factors. It is not enough just to have a well-rehearsed play list.
Unforeseen problems can raise their ugly heads just at the supreme moment and
thus stand in the way of success. This is always disturbing, more so if the audience and the artists have been looking forward to the
performance, or if a recording session is about to take place. How does one
prevent those problems and who will take the responsibility of pointing out the
weak and/or blind spots? And what to do about stage fright?
Various groups can seek coaching by Michiel Koperdraat. For example a
musical group that wants to improve their arrangements and improvisation, or is
looking for a better way to present itself to an
audience.
Merely working at the presentation of a group alone can already improve
things a lot.Musical, individual and group presentation, alone and in combination
with the music, will be dealt with extensively.
After examining the group from different angles (from the musician, from
the audience, from the person who wants to book the group), Michiel Koperdraat
will present different suggestions. If needed, he offers the necessary trainings.
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A few years ago in The Netherlands, we founded two very enthusiastic
Greek ‘learning-orchestras’ called Sigá
to krasí and Café Aman. These orchestras study the same subjects as we do in the workshops. The
only difference is that both orchestras want to form a strong team and work on
their performance. Sigá to krasí has already staged a few concerts and has turned independent. They still
rehearse and orchestrate from time to time under the direction of Michiel Koperdraat.
A lot of intensive working,
karpousi, tsipouro, loukanika, loukoumia, it's all there !
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Orchestra in the North of Holland
After many years of coaching from Michiel Koperdraat this orchestra is independant now.
This kompanía is really doing a great job!
Individual and group lessons
Ano Kato provides both individual and group lessons for those who want to
learn to play Greek instruments and for those who want to widen their knowledge
on the Greek music theories.
Also those who want to develop their
improvisation and musical technique can turn to Ano Kato
for lessons.
A
lot of emphasis is put
on self-study. This way, one starts to develop independency a lot faster.
Lessons join in closely with skills,
experience and interest.
For young...
Possibilities:
learning to play (Greek)
instruments (bouzouki, baglamas, guitar, banjo, clarinet, accordion, darbouka)
.
learning
Greek songs
.
improving specific
plectrum- and plucking techniques
.
improvisation (central
theme: how to tell your musical story)
.
techniques (central theme:
how to become a autodidact)
.
lessons in accompaniment
with chords and arrangement
.
composition
.
developing the inner
hearing and listening skills .
.
.
The
workshops / seminars on Crete are organised by Ano Kato every year in the beginning of
the summer in the beautiful village of Mirtos in the South of Crete. Michiel Koperdraat
leads the seminars. We worked this time very intensly at songs of Vasilis
Tsitsanis. The seminars start eleven a clock in the morning till two a
clock, and continue from six a clock in the afternoon til eight a clock. In
between: siësta!
.
Here
an impression of the year before.
..
.
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