Romani Balkan music
Discover the rich and captivating world of Romani music, a vibrant tradition shaped by centuries of cultural exchange and the nomadic spirit of the Romani people. With roots tracing back to northern India and a journey that spans across Europe, Romani music has evolved into a diverse tapestry of sounds. 

In this workshop, you’ll dive deep into the lively rhythms and melodies of the Romani from the Balkans, exploring both slow, emotive ballads and fast-paced, danceable tunes. Influenced by musical traditions from Albania, Romania, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and beyond, this experience will immerse you in the heart of Romani music's unique cultural fusion.

When you hear the music, you can’t sit still. And as a musician, you really want to know how to play it! How do all these odd time signatures work? Is it as complicated as it seems? How do the Greeks get this sound out of their violin? How do you put a exciting gypsy beat on an accordion? Why does Bulgarian sound different than Serbian or Bosnian? What are the differences between the styles? What musical refinements can be discovered on different instruments? Joris van Beek (violinist) and Wilco Oomkes (accordionist) or De BalkanBrothers know the peculiarities of Balkan music. They have been playing and studying it at a high level for years and strive to pass on this knowledge. Together with the BalkanBrothers you dive into the klezmer and Balkan repertoire. Approach Balkan music, learn to play style-specific embellishments on your instrument and discover a lot of new repertoire! 
It doesn’t matter if you are (semi) advanced or professional – this weekend has something for all musicians!

We put together two bands of participants and distribute melody, chord and bass instruments sensibly. The mentors take turns during the workshop days. This guarantees a varied teaching style. There is something for everyone, be it from the melodic, harmonic or rhythmic perspective.

In the workshops we explore numerous styles, we fly over the Balkans from a bird’s eye view. Each teacher has their own focus and teaching style, allowing each “band” to explore a wide musical range.

Mail: workshops@klangfolk.de

Schedule (31.1.-02.02.2024)
in FranzWerk – bei den Pferdeställen 8, 72070 Tübingen

Freitag
• 18.30 – 19.00        Arrival
• 19.00 – 20.15        1. session in groups
• 20.30 – 21.45        2. session all together

Samstag
• 10.00 – 10.30        Arrival
• 10.30 – 12.00        1. session in groups
• 12.00 – 13.00        lunch break
• 13.15 – 14.45        2. session all together
• 14.45 – 15.30        coffee/tea break
• 15.30 – 17.00        3. session all together
• 17.30 – 19.30        Dinner break
• 20.30                     concert of the BalkanBrothers + Jam afterwards

Sonntag
• 11.00 – 11.30        Arrival
• 11.30 – 13.00        1. session in groups
• 13.00 – 14.15        coffee/tea break
• 14.15 – 15.45        last session all together

Free participation contributions:
Generosity Rate - 300€ (or more)
This is the rate for generous participants. With this rate you will support the workshop mentors, organisers and participants that cannot contribute as much!

Middle Rate – 175€ 
This is the middle contribution we aim for to make the workshop happen.
We offer free contributions to take travel costs and different life situations of the participants into account.

Basic Rate - 100€
We want you to be able to participate, so we offer free contributions to take travel costs and different life situations of the participants into account. If money refrained you from participating, please contact us.

Note: 
After registration you will receive the Klangfolk bank account. Registration is only complete and your place guaranteed once your contribution and your name have been received in the bank account.
If you cancel your participation within one month before the event, you will receive 50% of your participation fee back. If you cancel at short notice, the participation fee cannot be refunded.
KlangFolk e.V. would like to document and use audio, images and videos in which you could be seen.

Apply here!
Mail: workshops@klangfolk.de

Wilco Oomkes
Raised with Balkan music, Wilco Oomkes started playing the accordion at the age of 7. He now has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in classical accordion with minors in jazz and pedagogy. Diversity and versatility in music are important to him, and he looks for them in all the projects he does. He works as a freelance accordionist, arranger/composer and session musician. He teaches and performs regularly with theater productions, classical music stages, his ensemble Butwhatabout, Balkan and OT AZOJ. Since he has been playing Balkan music since he was 7 and has been visiting the Balkans for more than 10 years, he is able to share his knowledge of Balkan music, especially Bulgarian music.

www.wilco-oomkes.com

Joris van Beek
Like Wilco, Joris began playing and listening to Balkan music at a young age. At 15 he formed his first band and never stopped playing. He studied Turkish and Greek styles at Codarts, Rotterdam and pedagogy in The Hague (bachelor’s and master’s degree, music pedagogy according to the Kodaly concept). Joris shares his passion for music daily at the International School in Rotterdam. In 1994 he was one of the founders of OT AZOJ and since 1997 he is part of the Balkan swing band Sultan. Between 2003 and 2014 he was part of the klezmer theater band Di Gojim. Visiting the Balkans is an annual routine and as such learning Balkan archery techniques is something he is passionate about.

BalkanBrothers
Since 2019 Joris and Wilco are part of The BalkanBrothers (http://www.balkanbrothers.nl/).
This is a trio with Bart de Kater (known for playing in several famous classical music ensembles). Together they created the successful workshop series BalkanBeatsEverything (BBE) and play concerts wherever an exciting concert is needed.

Welt

Niederländisch

Englisch

Deutsch

b. den Pferdeställen 8

1725873300-e2dccf25

KlangFolk e.V.

Dies ist der Tarif für großzügige Teilnehmende. Mit diesem Beitrag unterstützt Du die Mentoren, Organisatoren und Teilnehmende, die nicht so viel beitragen können! / This is the rate for generous participants. With this rate you will support the workshop mentors, organisers and participants that cannot contribute as much!

Großzügigkeitsbeitrag – 300 € (oder mehr) / Generosity Rate - 300€ (or more)

Dies ist der mittlere Beitrag, den wir anstreben, um den Workshop möglich zu machen. Wir bieten freie Beiträge an, um Reisekosten und unterschiedliche Lebenssituationen der Teilnehmenden zu berücksichtigen. / This is the middle contribution we aim for to make the workshop happen. We offer free contributions to take travel costs and different life situations of the participants into account.

Mittlerer Beitrag – 175 € / Middle Rate – 175€ 

Da wir möchten, dass Du teilnehmen kannst, bieten wir freie Beiträge an, um Reisekosten und unterschiedliche Lebenssituationen der Teilnehmenden zu berücksichtigen. Sollte Geld Dich von der Teilnahme abhalten, kontaktiere uns bitte. / We want you to be able to participate, so we offer free contributions to take travel costs and different life situations of the participants into account. If money refrained you from participating, please contact us.

Grundbeitrag - 100€ / Basic Rate - 100€

Introduction to Balkan Music - learn all the tricks!