Five string kantele introductory workshop taught by Kay Seppala from the Finnish American Heritage Folk School, Hancock, MI.

Give me five…and you can make beautiful music on the kantele! The five string kantele – the Finnish lap harp – is for all ages and all abilities, whether or not you can read music, since it only has five notes. This class is for adults and teens; bring your own instrument, or use one of ours. (First come, first served. Multiple instruments available). Students will learn hand positioning, fingering, and chording in the traditional style; everyone will be able to play a few lovely Finnish folk tunes before the end of class. Beginners catch on quickly (instant success) and musical people will be able fly with it.
Kay also will demonstrate the 10 string kantele, and will share a bit of Finnish Folk culture, as she tells the delightful story of how the first kantele was created, complete with pike bone props! (It is a tale from the Finnish National Epic, the Kalevala.)

ABOUT PRESENTER: A third generation Finnish-American, Kay grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and moved to St. Paul as a young adult. There she began Finnish folk dancing with the Kisarit, and learned to play the 5 and 10 string kantele (Finnish lap harp) from Joyce Hakala, as a member of the Koivun Kaiku Kantele Ensemble.

Now in Hancock MI, Kay is helping to preserve Finnish folk culture through teaching Finnish folk dancing and the small kantele. She is the director of the children’s group, Kivajat Finnish Dancers, as well as Ilon Kaiku, an adult kantele ensemble for 5 and 10/11 string players. Both groups are sponsored by the Finnish American Heritage Center (now a part of Finlandia Foundation National).