The first day of classes

August 20, 2008

The opening ceremonies went as to be expected. There were several inspirational speeches, the instructors and support staff were introduced, and we had roll call for all of the students. That afternoon we broke into our classes and went over the syllabus for the first semester. There are eleven students in first year folk music; we come from five different countries and play an entire orchestra full of intruments. After that we had library orientation and we had made it through our first day.

The first night was a welcome party. The second year music students and the instructors played during the first part of the evening. The teachers sold beverages. We were in Årestoga, which is a reconstruction (I think) of the type of log buildings you see all over Norway; this one has a small entryway for coats and shoes and a rather large main room with a stone floor. There was easily enough room for the roughly 60 people in attendance to sit at the tables with a cozy dance space in the center.

Once all of the second year students had taken their turn, the first year students were encouraged to come up and play. Timidly, a few of us left our seats, got our instruments and started to tune. A few second year students joined us. We played for at least an hour. We played whatever came up first. If someone didn't know it, they hung in there singing or playing chords until the melody hit them. It was great fun until the instructors sent us home at 11.

Birgit had announced that the after party was at her place, which, when you have that many people over means that it is also in my kitchen. I thought that was a splendid place for an after party. Three of the hardingfele students broke out their instruments and played until the early hours of the morning. They had a huge repertoire in common and it was amazing to sit and listen to them, in between talking with people and trying to get the moths back on the correct side of the glass.