Instrument Village

Instrument Village
Next to St. John's Church on Pikk Street

For this year’s festival theme, “To Each Their Own Instrument” a new area called the Instrument Village is being opened for the first time at the Viljandi Folk Music Festival. It is a place where complete beginners, people with some playing experience, and more advanced players can all take part in workshops and group jam sessions. For those who have visited the Garmonteque in previous years, the format will already feel familiar. However, the Instrument Village is much larger: in addition to garmons and accordions, there will also be Jew’s harps, bagpipes, kannels, talharpas, fiddles, and mandolins.

The workshop content varies as well. Alongside learning to play, participants can also get to know how the instruments are built and maintained, and learn, for example, how to play for dancing. For example, under the guidance of talharpa leaders, participants can learn new tunes, play together with experienced musicians, maintain their instruments with a master’s help, and meet musicians who are passionate about the talharpa. In the mornings, newcomers are also welcome to get acquainted with instruments and make their first bow strokes with the help of an experienced teacher.

Group leaders: Helle Suurlaht (kannel), Liisa Koemets (talharpa), Marta-Helene Hansing (violin), Tanel Jaanimäe (garmon and accordion), Jaagup Kippar (bagpipe and Jew’s harp).