Learn to Play Swedish Folk !

Join the American Swedish Institute, our resident ASI club and Swedish guest instructors Margaretha Mattsson, Anders and Maria Larsson, and the Vikarbyns lilla spelmanslag for FREE Swedish music workshops and a concert Saturday - Sunday, August 4 and 5, 2018.

Saturday, August 4: Youth Fiddle Workshop, 9 a.m. - noon

This workshop for youth fiddlers will be taught by Margaretha Mattsson of Dalarna, Sweden. Margaretha is the director of the Vikarbyns lilla spelmanslag and several of her students will be traveling with her and will help teach the tunes that morning. is best learned by ear so this will be the approach. Very young players should have some proficiency on their instruments—at least through Suzuki book #1. Course material will be tailored to the skill level of the players. Parents are welcome to stay and observe or play if they have a fiddle. Teachers are especially encouraged to come with their students and learn the tunes too.

Sunday, August 5: Family Workshop, Noon - 3 p.m. followed by a Concert at 3 p.m.

Anders and Maria Larsson of Malmo, Sweden will present a music workshop for the whole family from 12 to 3 p.m. Everyone is invited to come to the workshop and learn Swedish fiddle tunes together on whatever instrument you can play. Maria and Anders have perfected a way to include many different instruments and many different skill levels into one fun experience for all involved. Maria will focus on teaching the tunes to fiddlers and other melody instrument players, while Anders will work with beginning fiddlers and instrument players to create an accompaniment for the tunes. All levels of musicians are welcome and we hope that the fiddlers from Saturday’s workshop will return to be part of this fun musical experience.

The weekend will culminate in Larson Hall at the American Swedish Institute with a concert led by the Vikarbyns lilla spelmanslag starting at 3 p.m. At the end of the program, the workshop participants will share the tunes they have learned at the workshops. Following the performance, the participants will have fika and play more tunes.

Cost: FREE and open to the public sponsored by the American Swedish Institute Spellmanslag

Family Workshop on the web Youth Workshop on the web

Please let us know that you’re coming by contacting ASI Spelmanslag representative Suzie Walters at:[email protected] or (651) 633-1607.