Are you curious about exploring local folk music and instruments all around the world? Then this workshop is for you! A local folk musician will introduce you to the kokle, a traditional Latvian string instrument. Latvians have a saying that the kokle is given to us by God, but the bagpipes – by the Devil. It will take only a few seconds to understand why we say that. We can assure you that the kokle has one of the purest, most magical, and calming sounds among all the instruments you have ever heard. You will have an opportunity to lure out some ancient melodies from the kokle by yourself.

You will meet the musician at the entrance of the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia and then choose the best place for the workshop according to the weather – either in the pine forest, or under a roof of one of the buildings. In the beginning the folk musician  will provide you with a short background of the kokle history and different types of the instrument. Then the magical sounds of the kokle will cast a spell on you while she plays a few songs. But later – it will be your turn to play! The folk musician will teach you the basics of the kokle and up to three simple, but beautiful Latvian folk songs. Do not worry, you do not need to have any previous experience in playing music, although the ability to read sheet notes would be useful (but is not required).

You will meet the folk musician at the entrance of the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia, and she will take care of the tickets. You can get there from the city center by bus No1 (direction of Berģuciems). The timetable is available here: https://saraksti.rigassatiksme.lv/index.html#bus/1/a-b/map/en. You should get out at the bus stop “Brīvdabas muzejs”. The entrance of the museum is located 5 minutes from the bus stop.

• For 1 person – €100 (the maximum participant number is one)

• The kokle playing workshop in English
• Entrance ticket for the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia.