This is the ensemble class taught by Olli Varis. These students are also in their second year. They were making new arrangements of traditional tunes. It was great to listen to them! I shared song from Michoacan called “Jucheti Consuelito”, and Bau taught us “Lay Down Little Doggies.”

Maria

When we were in Helsinki, we visited the Sibelius Academy’s Folk Music Department.

This is a recording of one of the ensemble classes playing Flatbush Waltz and a song named Sirba from Romania.. These students are in their second year at the school, and their teacher is Eero Grundstrom, a former student of the Folk Music Department. There were two clarinet players in the class, one of whom has a Klezmer band.

Maria

Here is a recording of some of the Rapper Dancers playing North Umbrian pipes.

Hi!

This is a tune that Ruth Ball taught me in a practice room at The Sage Gateshead. It’s called Dustanburgh Rant. A rant is a type of dance.

Maria

Barbie’s class was really fun. Steve, Bau and I got to accompany them…

Maria

This instrument is totally awesome. This is Emilia Lajunen showing Bau and I how the Jouhikko works. I totally want one!

Maria

Boogie’s class was awesome! She taught us a West Coast step called “The Mike and Ike!”

Maria

I wanted to tell you about one of the places we visited in Helsinki - The Global Music Centre.

http://globalmusic.fi/in_english/index.html

It’s an amazing place and is supported by the Ministry of Education. The have a great library of books and music from all over the world… and their books and CDs are catalogued in their public library system.

They organize a world music festival called the Etnosoi! Festival.

They house a Global Mobile Studio which they’ve taken to Ethiopia, Tanzania (the first country they visited, I think), Zanzibar, Setumaa, Siberia, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Finland, etc.

They are involved “…with the Sibelius Academy (Continuing Education Centre), and music schools and institutes around Finland to develop multi-cultural music education on a more permanent basis.”

While we were there they were recording an artist from Ghana, and I think were going to produce his record under their label.

Jaana-Maria Jukkara, the director of The Global Music Centre, showed us around and was very open and warm…she gave us a handful of CDs that will be in the resource center.

Basically, it’s an awesome place and you should definately check out their website!

M

So, I’ve had a few days to reflect (and find my voice, I almost went back to Helsinki to get it!

As my compadres have already said, the trip was really amazing. We met so many people and musicians with big hearts. I know that they are just as excited as we are about future partnerships - and I know they will happen.

The best part was making new friendships with my fellow teachers. I had respect for them before, and I now I have even more. I knew Robert and Barb already and feel that I’m even closer to them (Barb and I did some girl bonding, as we were roomies throughout the trip) I had never spent much time with Joe, Steve, Boogie, or Bau and now we’re buddies.. I love this group bunches!

I’m very grateful to work in a place with a global persective. I know that there will be more of these trips and I’m glad. It’s so important to visit people from other countries and other walks of life. It’s important to learn their music and where it comes from, it’s important to learn a bit of their language. I have grown exponentially because of this trip.

I know it’s after-the-fact, but I’m going to be posting some pics, small videos, and sound samples over the next week so you can feel a small bit of what we experienced. It’s a little slow, but be patient, and keep checking!

Moi, Moi! (Goodbye, in Finnish)

M:)