Bagpipes (half) advanced- Olle Geris (Be)

This workshop is intended for players who have mastered the basic technique and are ready to deepen their skills, as well as for players who are already more advanced. In this workshop, the teacher will use various beautiful melodies to work on techniques and embellishments.

In this workshop, Olle will use various beautiful melodies to explore techniques and embellishments. She writes:

“Have you already mastered the art of bagpipe playing, but find that you can’t resist using those same two fingers to embellish your melodies?

Would you like to immerse yourself in playing techniques and embellishments on the bagpipes for a few days, primarily to bring out the cadence and danceability of a melody to the fullest, but also for your own pleasure to take on the challenge of using “those other fingers”? If, in addition to new melodies, you also want to take home new techniques and practice examples, then this course is just the thing for you!

All melodies are taught in groups and by ear!
The scores will be made available to participants at the beginning of the workshop but will not be used during group work, so it is very important that you can easily pick things up by ear and that you know all the notes on your shawm. Bring your favourite melodies with you; the dancers will be delighted if we play them together in the evening!”

Level of playing

Participants have a good command of the playing pressure, they do not have to think about blowing & pushing and can keep a constant tone. They know all the notes on the shawm (minor, major and playing the higher notes) and can play them fluently and reasonably in tune, you dare to play a few melodies in public. A few years of playing experience is needed to be able to keep up with the melodies that will be learned by ear. The scores will be made available to participants at the beginning of the workshop but will not be used during group work.
In comparison with our Saturday course: this workshop is intended for approximately the same level as the intermediate to advanced course that Wouter Kuyper currently teaches. Consult with your teacher if necessary.

Olle will not work with scores in this workshop.

Maximum aantal deelnemers: 12

Olle Geris

Olle grew up in a very artistic and musical family. As a child, she learned to play the flute, but soon shared her father’s passion for the bagpipes, and they took bagpipe lessons together with Jean-Pierre Van Hees in Brussels.

When she was given the opportunity to start as an apprentice in Remy Dubois’ workshop, she concentrated fully on her training in bagpipe making. In 1995, she received support for this as a “Laureate of the Belgian Scholarship of the Roeping Foundation”. In the same year, she and Machteld Truyens won first prize at the “Concours de St. Chartier” in France.

International performances with various groups and leading various workshops at home and abroad, including:

• Bal Folk with Willem Schot
• Early Music with Swart&Co, Zefiro Torna, Camerata Trajectina, Rans en Flagel, Rondinella
• Baroque Music with William Christie et les Arts Florissants
• Folk; Göze, Idool 1900, Duo Maarten Decombel & Toon Van Mierlo
• Bagpipe duo with Toon Van Mierlo.

In 2009, Olle took over the studio “d’Un Souffle à l’Autre” and, together with her master, founded the International Centre for Research on Historical Musical Instruments “1681 à Wislez” vzw. Since 2024, she has been artistic advisor to the Royale Académie d’Été de Wallonie.

Listen to Olle:
• On Muchosac
• Live Sessions 2021 with Toon van Mierlo and Maarten Decombel – Bagpipe Duet
• Live Sessions 2021 with Toon van Mierlo and Maarten Decombel – Rozemarijn (singing)