Introducing: Lauri, ISM Drum Teacher

Lauri has been playing drums and percussion instruments from the age of five. He studied drums, piano, bass, singing, music theory, and band playing at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Töölön musiikkikoulu in Helsinki and Ebeli in Espoo. He has been working with children in schools and kindergartens for thirteen years, giving private drumming lessons and organising band camps. Currently, Lauri is working on his doctoral thesis in the field of cultural studies at the University of Helsinki. His favorite music genres include Nordic jazz, British progressive rock, French chanson and Tuvan throat-singing.

If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing?

With so many interesting opportunities available, I am unwilling to choose any single career path. Besides being a musician, I am working on my doctoral thesis in cultural studies at the University of Helsinki. I also work as a school attending assistant, mostly with autistic children.

Where did you study?

I studied drums, piano, bass, singing, music theory and and band playing at the Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Töölön musiikkikoulu in Helsinki and Ebeli in Espoo.

Who is your favourite musician/composer?

I enjoy the diversity of music, preferring beautiful melodies and witty lyrics. These are combined for example in the music of the French band Noir Désir.

What has been your most special musical experience to date?

Almost ten years ago I got the opportunity to play on the former main stage of Pori Jazz, the biggest jazz festival in Finland. As a child, my parents had taken me to festival every year, and now, on the stage, I could almost sense the energy of the great artists who had performed there before me. One's first gig at the legendary rock club Tavastia is also an experience to remember.

Do you have any secret/not-so-secret (unmusical) talents?

I can juggle with three balls.

Tea or Coffee? Coffee.

Dogs or Cats? Cats.

Salad or Pizza? Pizza.

What is your favourite country to visit?

I enjoy traveling, having visited nearly every country in Europe. Some of my favourite countries to visit have been Kenya, Laos, Japan and Belarus.

Do you have any hobbies?

I do like reading. My favourite sports include football, mölkky, and disc golf.

Finland 100 Concert

On the 6th of December, 1917, Finland became an independent state. This independence was hard won after many years of struggling under both Swedish and Russian rule. This year sees the celebration of 100 years of independence and ISM Finland is joining the festivities by hosting a Finland 100 concert with the European School of Helsinki.

At 18:00 on March 16th, ISM Finland and ESH will host an hour long concert with performances by both students and teachers of Finnish folk and Finnish-composed music. Everyone is welcome! So come and join us for a musical celebration of Finland!

You can join the Facebook event here or stay up to date with our news by liking our Facebook page.

You should also be sure to check out the official Suomi 100 / Finland 100 website for all sorts of activities and festivities happening throughout the year.

Introducing: Melisa Cano, ISM piano teacher

1. Where are you from and what instruments do you play? I am from Spain and I play the piano.
   
   
2. If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing? Maybe I would be and architect.
    
3. Where did you study? I studied at the “Higher Conservatory of Music Eduardo Martínez Torner” in Spain.
    
4. Where are you studying now? I am studying at Metropolia University, but I will finish my studies here this year.
    
5. Tea or coffee? Tea.
    
6. Cats or dogs? I definitely prefer cats!
    
7. Salad or Pizza? Both are great.
    
8. What is your favourite country to visit? Spain, I always go there when I am on holidays.
    
9. Do you have hobbies? Drawing and reading.
    
10. Do you have any pets? What are their names? I have a cat in Spain who is already 17 years old! He is called “Gato” (cat in Spanish).

Welcome Back!

Happy New Year!
We at ISM cannot wait to make more music with you in 2017!

All private and group lessons start again this week, with carousel and playschool classes starting again from January 16th. If you'd still like to enroll for the Spring semester, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

We've got a lot to look forward this Spring. We're offering a series of guitar workshops focusing on different guitars and music from around the world, we'll also be offering evenings of ethnic music involving African drumming, and, of course, we'll be hosting two concerts this semester celebrating everything our students have learned. It's going to be a jam-packed, wonderful semester, and we hope you'll join us for all these activities!

ISM Winter Concert and ISH Holiday Fair

Introducing: Silvo Vatanen, ISM Guitar and wind teacher

Where are you from and what instruments do you play?

I was born in Hanko but lived my childhood in Järvenpää and now live in Helsinki. I play flute, South American flutes like quena and zampoña, charango (small 10-stringed instrument from South America), and guitar.

If you weren’t a musician what would you be doing?
Maybe a sound/music therapist

Where did you study?
I studied at the Folk Music Department of Sibelius Academy

Where are you studying now?
At a moment I don’t study.

What was the thing that got you interested in music?
My father plays piano and organ and he was my first teacher as a child. Later I became interested in native cultures of both North and South America, and also the music.

Who is your favourite musician/composer?
Don’t have just one. I like many kinds of music. Very difficult to say just one. Bach, Väsen, Ale Möller, Jonas Simonsson, Timo Alakotila, Iegor Reznikoff, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Maija Vilkkumaa, Los Kjarkas, Illapu, Lucho Quequezana...

Tea or coffee?
Both

Cats or dogs?
Both

Salad or Pizza?
Both

What is your favourite season?
Early autumn

What is your favourite food?
Indian food, pizza

Do you have hobbies?
Reading books about philosophy/religion

Do you have children? What are their names?
One daughter called Emilia

Introducing: Elias Trygg, ISM flute teacher

Where are you from and what instruments do you play?

I am from Finland and I was born in Helsinki. I play the flute as my main instrument but I can play a bit of saxophone and piano too. 

If you weren't a musician what would you be doing? 

If I weren’t a musician I would probably be a painter or carpenter. My profession would be something to do with different forms and materials anyway...

Where did you study?

I studied in the music institute of Lahti University and in the Conservatoire national de Rennes in France. In addition I have studied in many international masterclasses.

 Where are you studying now?

At the moment I do not study anywhere, but I have planned to participate in the entrance examination of one German music university if I'll find more time to concentrate on the program. If that will be impossible I'll study privately with the flute professor of that university anyway. I like studying!

What was the thing that got you interested in music?

I was born into a musical family, my father played tenor saxophone and sang very well. He also played accordion, guitar and piano. My older siblings were and still are musicians too. Basically I just heard music all the time when I grew up. I wanted to become a composer and would have liked to play the violin but my dad gave me a flute as a birthday gift.

Who is your favourite musician/composer?

Mozart and Debussy

What has been your most special musical experience to date?

I cannot say that, there are quite a few of those..

Tea or coffee? 
Definitely coffee, but Tea is also fine sometimes.

Cats or dogs? 
I'm a catman

Salad or Pizza?
Depends on the fillings!

What is your favourite country to visit?
I lived and studied in France so it feels like being my second home country! I love also Austria. I adore also the old Japanese culture and I'm going to visit Japan as soon as possible!

What is your favourite season? 
All the others except winter.

Do you have children? What are their names?
Yes! I have a one year old daughter! Her name is Irene