Hurdy-gurdy beginners to half advanced – Adriana Borger
This workshop is especially for anyone who has not been playing for very long, maybe is still a beginner… but no longer wants to start from the very beginning. So this workshop is for anyone who has already started playing the hurdy-gurdy, starters that is. Adriana writes:
“During this workshop we will work on techniques and topics that will help you on your way to advance your playing, both on a technical and a musical level. We’ll keep an eye out on our basic playing posture and techniques to make sure that the fundamentals stay strong. From there on we can advance further on the trompette technique, and we will look at the impact that phrasing and articulation can have on a melody.
In this course, I mostly hope to be able to provide some tools that can help you to get to work on and with a (new) melody. We will get started on the lesson material on the day of the course itself. These will be simple melodies that we can build upon throughout the day. This way we will not only look at the material itself, but also at the way in which you can get started on new material. The melodies mentioned above will also be provided in the form of sheet music, for whom that may benefit.”
Level of playing
Participants have started playing, but haven’t played the instrument for a very long time. E.g. they started playing last year and know their way around the instrument a bit. Players took part in the beginner workshop of our workshop weekend in April, or the beginner workshops of the Saturday course, for example.
About Adriana Borger
After graduating from her instrument building studies from the KASK & Conservatory in Ghent, Adriana has set up a workshop in Groningen, where she performs repairs and maintenance work on hurdy-gurdies, as well as doing other instrument building-related commissions.
“I’ve been active on stage since 2019. Hurdy-gurdy is without a doubt the instrument I feel most at home with, but I also very much love to fulfil the lower alto part in a vocal harmony. Through the years I have played in various musical projects that challenged me to broaden my horizon and apply my instrument in new and exciting ways. Exploring a wider range of styles is something that greatly interests and inspires me.
I am currently active as a permanent band member in Idun’s Apples (pagan folk) and Vlier (balfolk), but I also always enjoy working as a session musician in various kinds of musical projects!“
Listen to Adriana:
- with Havan – Fifty ways
- with Vlier – Andro
- with Vlier – Instrumentenproeverij Castlefest
- with Idun’s Apples – Instrumentenproeverij Castlefest
- with Idun’s Apples – The Pocket Song
- with Idun’s Apples – Workshopweekend 2026
- with Idun’s Apples – Midzomerfair
- with Meidi Goh’s Heartstrings – Wings of a Swallow
- with Waldkauz – Castlefest 2019