Dutch Stick Seminar 2005
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Positive surprises which come completely unexpectedly are particularly beautiful. This recently was confirmed, as Ron Baggerman asked me a few days before the 2. Dutch Stick Seminar 2005 took place, whether I didn't want to go along with that as a teacher completely. For a masterclass, although I had already been engaged, but I hadn't calculated with that. - I may therefore formulate this review from another perspective than last year now.
As a welcoming event the teacher concert in "De kleine Kadde" already advances to the tradition on the Friday evening. Concerning traffic engineering this venue lies really favourably next to namely the practice of organizer Frank Leurs, this one provided with once its house as free accommodation again, together with more than a sufficient drink supply. In order fixed at first and not adhered then anyway were allowed to introduce all Stick teachers after each other in a 20-25 minutes set in front of a full house. Frank Leurs made the beginning with sound-collages, already then it was my turn with a piece of Ron, and two of my compositions, followed by the famous virtuoso André Pelat. After short break it went on with the unique groove of Jim Lampi, the high musical and technical level of Bob Culbertson, with extremely laid-bake presented tunes of Youenn Landreau with rhythmically awkward, with fusion oriented speedlicks and defy organisation-stress with unbroken energy of Ron Baggerman. Also in the interplay with Frank Leurs as super singer and entertainer, with Carel Vrieling (Drums) and (Percussion) Ron showed once his high musical potential again. The third set has had different performing combinations, Ron with Bob, Bob with André etc. until the highlight in the great final with all operating artists on the stage. - Terrific evening and nice start of the seminar.
On Saturday after a breakfast the teachings starts. Like 2004 there have been built 4 main-groups with 6-8 Participants: 2 beginner , 1 intermediate and 1 advanced. One seminar-unit had 75 - 90 Minute. The Saturday was jointed in 4 units, Sunday in 2 Units in morning and 6 masterclasses (with 20 minutes each) in the afternoon.
I had chosen the topic "walking bass" as a main emphasis as regards content for my lesson. I can say nothing exactly to the contents of my colleagues here, only so much, that it was about the arrangement of topic complexes, one can work on for a long time again. Antonio Capadonna has very beautifully bought position at it to this in Ron's forum.
So-called "Small Groups" parallel to the main groups were assigned, taught by the teachers, these weren't allocated to any main group at this time. With only 2 -3 participants individual lessons were virtually offered here. The contact between teacher and students was efficient in this lessons form thick and individually particularly. This new supply in the context of the seminar became welcomed and used very much by all participants. Although the lessons times were fixed, but designed in the execution fluent, so that the length orientated itself at the contents, and this was always a bit more than planned. Only the end was fixated, Saturday and Sunday 17.00 hours respectively. On Saturday a boat waited for us at 17.00 hours like last year, that took us after a short tour to an excellent Italian dinner. Also there was sufficient opportunity for good conversations again.
The seminar evenings are whole music. After dinner we were taken to the pubs, where concert should take place again. Last year these were 4 concert locations, this year 2 locations lying thick with each, so that the seminar participants weren't apart torn in their decision which concert they should visit. One improves solution than in the previous year in short Bob Culbertson, Jim Lampi and Youenn Landreau performed on this stage, during André Pelat, Ron Baggermann, Frank Leurs and I were divided up for the other one. Bob, Jim and Youenn were supported by Carel Vrieling to the Drums, the seminar participants Bruno Ricard, Yannick Le Petit and Olivier Vuille revealed the program to on this stage (I know the latter only by the hearsay). As seminar participants performed on our stage Rochus Nobel from Munich, with a harmonical color full and very beautiful played composition, and Olivier Vuille from Neuchatel/Schweiz , with a Beatles-transcription and a song under use of its playing technique reflected extremely. We teachers took turns after this at the design of the evening. We were sympathetically accompanied by the drummer Ben Rozema.
Sunday morning passed like Saturday. In the lunch break there was much for opportunity of the interchange with everyone. Became CDs and accessories and other merchandizing articles of Ron Angeboten.
The masterclasses were held in the big hall of the cultural center "fluxus" in front of all seminar participants, teachers and helpers in the afternoon. 20 minutes for each units in which every teacher could report contents important for him essentially once again. Ron showed possibilities of the use of Stick and midi, Youenn Landreau emphasized in a masterly manner his rhythmical priorities, after his comrade-in-arms and organizer Alain Launay had pointed to this year's Tap Allaire festival 2005 in Brittany, with the appeal to seem numerous, I introduced the correlation of my uncrossed tuning with the standard tuning, as well as meaning my dealing with the dynamic potential of the Stick, Jim Lampi showed himself as one with the instrument, with Stick and voice, André Pelat introduced by a composition the special features of his new 12-string-stick, which one has four frets additional, to transcribe and play classical compositions correctly, Bob Culbertson proved to be the "Segovia" on the Stick once again and made an amusing short excursion to the avant-garde.
At 17.00 hours the seminar finished. Who had desire and time, and these were most, still could be aware of a third concert event. Frank Leurs had organised a concert evening with "his" Bigband, the excellent "East Side Big Band";(great Bigband ; very intonation strong, full of drive and swing; breadth stylistic repertoire) Many combinations came to performance within a long set of approx. 90 minutes. bigband alone, bigband featuring singer Frank Leurs, bigband featuring Stickartists Ron Baggerman or Bob Culbertson, or both together, bigband featuring André Pelat, In between times solo performances of Youenn Landreau, Jim Lampi and myself. A beautiful degree in a concert-location.
Result: For me it was a completely new experience and important another step. I think that, in future, the interest in Stick and Tapping will further manifest itself in Europe and not disappearing in the sinking again , as the end of the 80s /beginning of 90. The inspirations which start out from these meetings are enormous for me. Teachers and students can take much from each other along and advance the development together. I enjoy the time, at which unnecessary rivalry, envy and arrogance are missing.
My many thanks in conclusion are for Ron, Frank and the whole helper team once again, with technicians, support musicians and helpers for the organisation.
I particularly thank Ron and Frank, to make it possible for me as the first German Stick player to teach in the Stick community at an international level .
You have done a great job , really !!!
Mathias Sorof 2005, April, 20
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