ETHNO is an international music camp for youngsters aged 18-30 years, where traditional music from different countries is learned by ear in workshops led by the participants themselves. Learning and arranging the tunes is led by artistic leaders.
ETHNO Estonia is one of the biggest and oldest ethnos in the world. Usually we have 5–6 artistic leaders and 60–70 participants of which half are locals. This year we will have our 28th Ethno!
ETHNO Estonia takes place in a beautiful manor in a small village called Kõpu. It lasts for 14 days of which the last 4 we spend at Viljandi Folk Music Festival where we give 2–3 concerts and listen to many more. At the camp you can enjoy collective workshops, dance and bonfire nights, free stage concerts, road trips, special guests, creative tasks, etc. Whether you sing or play melody, harmony or percussion instrument – you are welcome!
NB! Participants will be selected according to availability of places in different instrument groups and the level of playing skills. If you’ve been to ETHNO Estonia three times in a row, others with less experience are given priority. However, you are very welcome to apply!
ETHNO camps have been regularly held in Estonia since 1997. Back then, two traditional music students, Krista Sildoja and Tuulikki Bartosik, had the chance to participate at the ETHNO camp in Falun, Sweden. This experience gave them a desire to do something similar in Estonia as well. The first traditional music camp inspired by their ETHNO experience, took place in the same year in Viljandi, right before the Viljandi Folk Music Festival, where the youngsters ended the camp with a big concert. Some of the youngsters that attended the camp then have become legends in the Estonian folk music since.
In 2000 the name of the camp was officially changed to Ethno Estonia (Eesti ETNO)
Since 2009, Margit Kuhi, has been in the forefronts of Ethno Estonia.
Memories of Ethno Estonia from the beginning years HERE
Ethno Estonia on YouTube
Ethno Estonia Youth, formerly known as Kids Ethno Estonia, is a camp for young musicians aged 13-17.
It takes place in the beautiful Kärstna manor and ends with a performance at Viljandi Folk Festival.
more info at lasteetno@gmail.com
Ethno on the road is a follow-up-project from Ethno.
Young musicians from the Ethno youth camp is picked out to be reunited for a tour session.
Together with one or several professional musicians and pedagogues the group rehearse and put together a concert programme based both on the music they learnt during Ethno but it could also be new music from their different backgrounds.
The rehearsals are organized in the same way as during original Ethno; the musicians teach each other the music (by ear) and together with the leaders make suitable arrangements for this specific group.
After rehearsals follows a concert tour which also includes school concerts as well as workshops, teaching other young people the music using the Ethno pedagogy.
The purpose of Ethno on the road is to give a selection of partipants a chance to develop their skills in performing, collaborating and arranging more as well as promoting the Ethno camp idea in general and spreading good music to the public in other areas than the community that hosts the Ethno summer camp.
This Ethno will take place at Kiidi Tourist Farm in Võrumaa. This is a magical scenic place in the South Eastern part of Estonia where we can spend a lot of time outside and in the sauna, playing music and dancing, learning about the unique traditions of rural Estonia. And of course, there will also be a concert or even a couple of them 🙂
So get out your sweaters, pack your towels and grab your instruments! It’s Winter Ethno time!
ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD
We will stay at the local tourist farm where we sleep in shared rooms. We will cook by ourselves, the main chef will be Margit – the head of the camp, and co-chefs will be the participants. Every day we can cook by the recipe of one of the participants and try out their local food. So that this could go as smoothly as possible, we kindly ask you to already write down in the registration form (additional comments) if your food would be good for breakfast/lunch/dinner and is it more of a strong savory dish or a desert.
We also remind you that February in Estonia can be around 0 to -25°C and there (hopefully!) will be (lots?) of snow. In Estonia we never know what is actually going to happen with the weather but just so you wouldn’t feel worried – the house will be warm and cozy! The Tourist Farm page: https://www.kiidi.ee/et/
Ethno Rendezvous is a 4-day gathering of ethnofanatics. The idea is to learn ethno bangers from 8 different leaders. The tunes are chosen and arranged by the leaders who then send them to the 25 participants to learn before-hand.
This camp is also a good chance for young mentors to try out their newly-learned knowledge and step into the field of Ethno mentoring!
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