04-12-2022
Article rédigé par Hervé Lascaux
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It was from the 4th to 9th of April, the 35th international acoustic workshop hosted by Musique Acoustique asbl in Virton, Belgium. About one hundred students in many special workshops : rhythm guitar, finger picking guitar, flat picking guitar, gipsy guitar, mandolin, irish fiddle, ukulele, harmonica, upright bass, dobro, singing and banjo.
After two empty years (guess why), it was a real pleasure to come back in Virton, meet again the other students, teachers and promoters.
Practice in the chosen workshop was scheduled every morning and afternoon, but there was also a possibility to participate in other ones in the end of the afternoon, ie "the place of the upright bass" or "Bela Fleck banjo style"… and Téo used to visit each workshop for the rhythm work.
The first three evenings, the students could perform on stage with reel sound system, engineer and lights ! A true oportunity to experience with a (friendly) public. This was also a special occasion to play Old Time Tunes (just learned in the afternoon) with Darius, who is able to put 15 to 20 musicians to play together in a really short time.
On thursday evening, the teachers' concert, a wondeful moment with great players such as Lluis Gomez, Elsa Grégoire, François Vaiana, Henrich Novak, André Klenes, Joan Pau Cumellas, Alexandre Falcone, Kieran and Lorcan Fahy, Jesper Rübner-Petersen, Diego simon, Roberto Dalla Vecchia, Stéphane Wertz and André Vandomber.
On friday evening, presentation of the different workshops' work. The result showed the quality of the teaching. The students were of very different skills, but the teachers managed to offer each one adapted teaching. Some were totally new to performance, other ones were used to it.
Let us not forget the pleasant ambience and good vibes. The jam with two, three or many more musicians, and many music styles like bluegrass, swing , old time, gipsy… and the friday night dance.
Last but not least, the local Orval beer, offering more friendliness.
The quality in organizing, the helpfulness of the team were really great. So no hesitation. I'll go again next year !
