Ekebyholm

Hi, gang….sorry for the delay in posting, but Lars’ computer completely freaked out on Sunday night, and now on Monday we haven’t got any wifi….

But now, a quick overview of Sheila’s week at Ekebyholm while Lars was taking boat trips hither and yon.

For those who don’t already know, Ekeybyholm is a boarding school most of the year, but they have various courses throughout the summer.  In Sheila’s world, “Ekebyholm” means the nyckelharpa and fiddle course held every summer, starting the day after Midsommar.  It’s held at Ekebyholm Slott (Castle) outside of Rimbo.

 

The main attraction is the fact that you get both private and group lessons for five days, starting after lunch on Sunday, and the teachers are all big names in the nyckelharpa world.  Students range from complete beginners (“I got my nyckelharpa two weeks ago”) to Riksspelmän who have been playing for decades.  You’re sorted into groups based on a self-provided list of tunes you play, or you can request to be in a group with your friends.  Groups number from 4-8 people.

People start to arrive at 9 on Sunday morning, to get their room keys and settle in before the 11 o’clock meeting.  Then lunch, and off and running.  Sheila’s group started with a double session with this year’s new teacher, Caroline Eriksson, and coveredd 3 tunes in 90 minutes.  Then there was a coffee break, followed by an hour with Ditte Andersson—one tune and much discussion of ergonomics and the best finger-positions.  Urf.  Four new tunes in four hours…good thing phones now take video!!

After dinner, there was a concert featuring all the teachers…happy to name them all for anyone who cares that much, but best-known would be Sigurd Sahlström, Magnus Holmström, Markus Svensson, David Eriksson, and Josefina Paulsson.  Check them out on YouTube, and you’ll see the level of quality here.

Monday starts the real work, when we all get half-hour private lessons with the teacher we chose before arrival.  Sheila had Markus, and wanted to learn Polska til Vik.  The tune isn’t especially difficult, but there are many opportunities for playing more expressively, as well as some fingering challenges.  Markus is an excellent teacher and there were many helpful hints throughout the four sessions. 

AND there is at least one group lesson every day as well…with different teachers.  This results in a lot of practicing….all over the campus if the weather permits (which it mostly didn’t…too chilly to sit still outside for hours).

There were concerts every evening—Monday was the Sahlström family….Sigurd, Sonia, Håkon, and Gunnel.  Ultra-traditional with a long family history of playing the music of Uppland.  Tuesday was a trio comprised of Caroline and her twin, Madeline, plus Sunniva Abbeli.  A much more modern take on folk traditions.  Wednesday is a private concert by the students, for the students.  A chance to show off other instruments, or maybe to have some fun.  One young man challenged Sigurd Sahlström to a race…Sigurd would play Tobopolketten, and Henning would try to solve 2 Rubik’s Cubes during the time.  Sigurd won…but not by much, and it was great fun to watch.

The week concludes with a concert in Rimbokyrkan (Rimbo Church).  Special performances by various teachers, scholarship students, and some Allspel by the entire group.  Unfortunately, no pics in the church, but here are all the teachers at the Wednesday concert in the Aulan:

And so…a fond farwell, until the next time!