For the mastery of Nordic folk music

Traditional music of the Nordic countries is my passion, I have spent the last year in Sweden studying folk music and now I have been selected for an even greater opportunity with the Nordic Master in Folk Music degree. Up to 6 people are chosen worldwide every 2 years and this time only 4 have been chosen.

This Masters study is a great adventure and a dream come true. Over the next 2 years, starting in August at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, I will be studying in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway, diving deep into the folk music traditions of each country and advancing my mastery of the violin. During my studies I will train along side the other students, forming a band and traveling together. We will study traditional techniques, studio recording, archive research, business skills and marketing, as well as plan and manage a tour as a band.

For my masters thesis, I will create supportive and improvisational techniques on the violin and develop them into a teaching method that I can share. Structured methods for learning how to use the violin as a supportive instrument (the usual role of guitars, drums, etc) are very limited in the genre of folk music, so I wish to explore the great potential of the violin in this area.

The cost of this study is $32,000 NZD, any contributions are greatly appreciated and will support my dream of becoming a professional musician, entertainer and teacher, and enables me to share and promote traditional music and culture.

Thank you

Henry