musical overview
dates & info
The first handpan group workshop will take place on Saturday, July 27, 2024 from 11:30 am to 3 pm in the southwest of the island of Madeira (PT). It is intended for absolute beginners and those interested who want to get to know the instrument and its effects for themselves and do not yet have their own instrument. The cost is initially €69 (€49 for people on low incomes), later €79 (€59) in the capital Funchal. The courses will be held in English (unless otherwise indicated) and translated into German/Portuguese if required/possible. Please bring something to snack on and drink as well as some (changing) clothes for indoors and outdoors, as the workshops in the southwest of the island takes place outdoors when the weather is good, but there can always be a bit of a wind. Click here to register!
At the monthly Open Doors Music Gathering you can get to know me and my instruments and try them out without obligation, ask any questions and see if you would like to learn the instrument. There will then be a course for absolute beginners every month, alternating between different locations on the island as needed. Other practice formats such as weekly handpan ensembles and individual 1:1 lessons are in preparation. From autumn/winter, courses for advanced students (with their own handpan) are also planned, depending on demand, and from winter 2024/spring 2025 there will also be guest workshops and concerts by handpan artists such as Kabeçao and others. The first handpan retreat will take place in spring 2025, and the first international handpan gathering on Madeira with artists and makers from all over the world is intended for 2026.
The absolute beginners' course will focus on striking techniques, first rhythms and melodies, and other exercises to build up your playing skills as essential components of the workshop. After the workshop, you have the opportunity to rent a handpan to continue to implement what you have learned at home and to develop your independent playing. When you buy a handpan, the rental fee will be 100% offset against the purchase price. Handpans will be provided for the course. You will also have the opportunity to discover other manufacturers, tunes and scales and try them out. Participation in the workshop is only possible with registration. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at any time. If a course is already fully booked and you would like to be on the waiting list, write an e-mail to me or use the contact form below.
The handpans are provided by my partner Sound Sculpture Mainz and used in the workshops. You can also rent and buy them; other models from manufacturers MAG, Teana, Ugur, Noblet, Leaf, Panstream, Nala, halo, Tiznajo, Yishama and others are available from me and can be tested depending on availability. The entire Sound Sculpture sortiment can be ordered through me; you can then play it here on site and then decide whether you would like to rent or buy a handpan. Bags from HardCase Technologies, stands, care products and others are also available here. If you need online course material or printed teaching material to continue practicing at home, I can recommend something. For example, MasterTheHandpan by David Charrier or Handpandojo by David Kuckhermann are the best places to start.
My handpan offer
workshops
Are you a beginner or advanced player who would like to learn together with me or with a well-known guest lecturer and other students in a handpan group workshop on Madeira? Then write to me.
