Date for next year: 27th – 29th March 2026
Vicki Swan & TBC
A full-on, fun packed workshop weekend for beginners as well as more experienced players of this unusual Swedish folk stringed instrument. Vicki Swan will be leading the weekend, supported by a tutor yet to be announced.
The weekend includes the opportunity for complete beginners to meet and play the instrument.
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!
We are able to stay over on Sunday night. This is subject to an extra fee and you get a buffet dinner, and breakfast. Let me and Halsway know!
Who’s it For?
This course is aimed at both total beginners, and those with some experience, up to about intermediate level.
If you are a complete beginner needing an instrument you will need to hire one for the weekend. There are several different harpas of differing levels and prices. Click on the Loan Harpas button below to meet the pool and reserve your instrument.
The Team
Vicki Swan: studied at the Royal College of Music on the double bass. She also plays the various types of bagpipes, flute, recorder, piano and nyckelharpa. On leaving music college Vicki started down the long path of folk music and was only seen on rare glimpses back in classical orchestras. You’ll find Vicki now inhabiting the troll ridden forests on the hunt for new and exciting tunes from the näcken. Vicki plays not only the standard 3-row modern chromatic, but also the 1408 sienaharpa, the 1526 moraharpa, the 1700s kontrabasharpa and the 1800s silverbasharpa. Over the pandemic Vicki has worked tirelessly on a Virtual Music Room to try to help isolated nyckelharpa players remain motivated and focussed on playing and learning. She also set up and actioned World Nyckelharpa Day. Chances are after all this time alone at home she won’t stop talking at the Halsway weekend! Seeing as this is Vicki’s website we don’t really need a link, but here is one to Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer:
http://www.swan-dyer.co.uk
Second Tutor TBC