Summer workshop | Rhythm and Lyrics

Rhythm and Lyrics is a music workshop led by Steinunn Jónsdóttir and Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson. The workshop is based on a songwriting course they teach at Fellaskóli, where electronic music meets Icelandic lyric writing.

Participants will gain a good insight into how a song is created by composing a beat together in a computer program and writing lyrics with the dedicated assistance of the instructors. Those who are interested will get to try their hand at recording singing or rapping, and the result will be a song composed and performed by the children themselves.

The workshop is therefore a good foundation for the songwriters and lyricists of the future, and in it, the children acquire various tools and techniques that they can use in the creative process.

Participants do not need to have any background in music or songwriting, just a burning desire to experiment and a willingness to let their creativity run wild. Those who play an instrument are, however, welcome to bring it with them.

Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson is a musician and drummer who has played here in Iceland and abroad with various artists, such as Agent Fresco, Emmsjé Gauti, Páll Óskar and Úlfur Úlfur.He studied classical percussion at the Reykjavík College of Music and jazz and rock at the FÍH School of Music, and has taught music to children alongside being a working musician for around two decades.

Steinunn Jónsdóttir has been working as a musician for over a decade and is one of the leading members of the bands Amabadama and Reykjavíkurdætur. With these bands, she has performed at concerts all over the world, released albums and written numerous songs, many of which have become very popular, including 'Hossa hossa' with Amabadama and 'Tökum af stað' with Reykjavíkurdætur. She learned to play the viola in her younger years and sang in a choir, but today she is studying rhythmic singing at the FÍH Music School. Alongside her music career, Steinunn has worked as an arts teacher, teaching dance, songwriting and lyric writing.

Together, Keli and Steinun have travelled widely around the country, composing music with Icelandic children and young people. Here you can listen to songs that children at Grundarfjörður Primary School composed in the 'Rhythm and Lyrics' workshop last spring:

The workshop is for children born in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Event on Facebook.

Registration opens on 28 April at 1 p.m. on Abler (registration link to follow).

For further information contact:

Guðrún Elísa Ragnarsdóttir, project manager

gudrun.elisa.ragnarsdottir@reykjavik.is | 411 6100