Esmée Olthuis

Making music is much more than playing an instrument alone. One can even make music without an instrument. Workshops, from my point of view, are about teaching the essence of tone, joint-play and the person behind the instrument. Improvisation in all its forms is a very suitable means of achieving this goal.
Improvisation is not the easiest but definitely the most edifying and essential way of learning. Other methods merely create by-the-book knowledge or lead on to apply common sense. I appreciate a musical process, a story, a stumbling block and especially capriciousness and magic.
Using understandable subject-matter as a starting point, throughout my workshops I try to create, perhaps unintelligible, yet graspable music. Composition, improvisation, guided improvisation (through conducting), play, pop-music, grooves, material taken from world-music, song, tonal research, graphic scores; all means are valid and have their uses.

Other instructional projects I conduct improvisation workshops for children, teenagers and adults on request. Demands vary from coaching musical and improvisational instruction to improvisation-lessons for company employees. Most wishes are negotiable and workshops can be tailored to your needs.

Any questions? Contact me.