Songwriting and Music Production

This workshop gives an opportunity to explore and learn about the art of songwriting and the creative processes behind it. Writing a song is a process of letting go, releasing an idea without crushing the life out of it with the weight of expectation. We will create a space for voicing our own thoughts and insights on songwriting whilst learning from each other. There will be time to reflect on some of the underlying motivations behind why we write songs, learn what we can do to remove creative barriers and ask the question: What is there to write about? We will also look into and learn some more traditional aspects of songwriting such as: the song structure, lyric writing, harmonic modulation and arrangement. The workshop will also offer its participants the chance to play some of their material to an audience. Time will be spent on practicing recording demos. Some of the songs presented at the workshop will be chosen for a proper production in the studio at a later stage. Anyone interested in the art of songwriting/music production is welcome.

Guitar Wired

What is the relationship between a song with guitar accompaniment written in the 19th century by Fernando Sor with the song “Under the bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers? How can we perform a masterpiece like Strawberry Fields Forever by the Beatles on the guitar, without the song losing its power? This workshop for acoustic / classical guitar aims to familiarise the musician-guitarist with the procedure of music making. Understanding the ‘geography’ of the fret board, acoustic exercises, aesthetic approaches, one on one lessons and a lot of group playing will be used as tools to cover the subjects of: basic and specific sound production, techniques for the guitar, repertoire, lead-sheet preparation and rearrangements. Applicable to guitarists of all levels.

Blues Guitar and Blues Music

This workshop will attempt a deep comprehensive look into the Blues, as a form of music and genre, and the guitar as a crucial, if not the main protagonist of the instruments used in it. During its course, the workshop will include: an in-depth historic recursion of the Blues beginning from the late 19th century until today, the origins and and the many different styles of the style, its instrumentation, arranging, harmony, and of course the variety of guitar styles and techniques used. The workshop applies to anyone who is interested in this style of music, regardless of musical background.

Improvisation

We understand music (and the world) by recognising patterns. The harder they are to find, the harder it is for us to find ‘meaning' in what we’re hearing. On the other hand, the more static they are, the more predictable they become and we lose interest. So the composer / improviser's main challenge is to find that fine balance between chaos and predictability, and spark interest from their listener. If the intelligent game of developing variations on a pattern is played correctly, it leads to the telling of a coherent story, rich in content on the following areas which will be discussed: rhythmic variation, dynamics, sonic areas (low – high), melodic order, timbre and colour of sound. The workshop will be divided into two parts, the morning session where all the different techniques of developing and variating will be analysed, and the afternoon where the participants will jam together, aiming to utilise these different techniques with musicality. Applicable to performers of all levels/genres.

Cretan Music

Lutist Giorgos Xylouris and lyra player Zacharias Spyridakis present a workshop on Cretan music which invites the following instruments: lute, lyra, mandolin, tampoura (sazi), violin, guitar and percussion. A short introduction to the history of Cretan music and Cretan song will be given, using the lute and the lyra as reference instruments. The two will cover several different techniques, tunings and a wide repertoire. The workshop participants will be grouped into music ensembles, which will perform in concerts during the Music Village.

Spontaneous Collaborative Music

This is a workshop about group creativity that aims to share essential tools to help develop a stronger sense of musicianship. The workshops will be focusing on rhythmic strength, musical conduction and analysis. Over the course of the week students will work towards the absorption of many different styles and engage in lateral thinking, aiming to improvise and perform whilst hearing the group as one entity. The workshop will be delivered through group playing and will contain practical exercises that anyone can use. All levels and instruments are welcome.

From The Text

Τheater director Athena Kasiou focuses on the techniques of reconstructing a text with the intention of locating the information that it provides regarding its surrounding world, its characters, its circumstances, its intentions, its main themes and facts, keeping in mind its potential evolution into a theatrical performance. Through exercises, specific scenes will be brought to life, shining a light on what makes a scene immediate and spontaneous. This workshop is applicable to actors, directors, writers, and individuals that have a relationship, or want to have a relationship with the theatrical world.

Around the world with music!

In this interactive workshop, children will have the opportunity to get in touch with cultures from different parts of the world through musical games, traditional children’s songs and bizarre fairytales. The children will also be taught how to distinguish a song from speech, to use voices they have hidden inside them, and breathe correctly while they perform funny vocal exercises. Appropriate for ages from 5 to 12. Two 2-hour long workshops will be given on the 28th and 29th of July - 5.30 to 7.30pm.

The Power of your Voice

This vocal workshop will explore some of the strengths of the human voice in a journey of song-learning from the music traditions of the Mediterranean. The songs will be taught in a group, developing the relationships and dynamics of the participants within it. The workshop will include experimentations with several non-conventional sounds that the voice can produce as a musical instrument, as well as theoretical analysis of sound production and advice on healthy and correct voicing. The workshop is applicable for anyone who wants to develop their vocal abilities through group work, regardless of occupation or musical background.