Personal guidance
Full attention for every participant
Innovative materials
See improvisation from a completely new perspective
Expert
More than 25 years of experience guiding musicians
Registered course
The course meets CRKBO quality standards
New in Drenthe
Since we've been living in Drenthe, we regularly organise improvisation weekends. To the great joy of ourselves and the participants!
The beautiful nature surrounding our house is an extra stimulus for learning to improvise. This makes a weekend of 'Improvising in Drenthe' a memorable experience.
Atmosphere
Being immersed all day in a warm bath of music and inspiration. In between, time for a walk in the Drenthe countryside (our house borders the Holtingerveld, a beautiful nature reserve). Enjoying delicious meals together in the garden when the weather permits. An alternation between focused workshops where learning takes centre stage, and occasional time for informal improvising (individually or in self-chosen small groups). Gaining many experiences in the field of music and improvisation. Optionally: singing, dancing and percussion. Musical growth and personal growth can go hand in hand.
Who is it for?
The improvisation weekends are for everyone who longs to learn to improvise (better).
Some have more experience with improvising than others. In summer 2027 we're organising the weekend 'New Inspiration for free players' for experienced improvisers.
General programme
What is fixed are the start and end times of the weekend:
-- Saturday there is arrival from 10:15 AM. The first workshop starts at 10:30 AM sharp. (If you're coming from far away and can't make the trip Saturday morning, you're welcome to stay Friday evening.)
-- Sunday around 4:00 PM we close the weekend and everyone heads home.
How the weekend will take shape is partly determined by you as participants. The weather also plays a role: for example, if it's a rainy weekend with occasional sunny moments, we plan it so that we can walk during those sunny moments. The weekend is allowed to take shape organically, in the moment.
Generally we take a short three-minute break every hour, and a longer break every two or three hours. But we can deviate from this depending on your wishes and your 'absorption capacity' ('Can you continue or are you ready for a break?')
At the beginning of the weekend everyone can make a wish: something you'd like to learn or experience during the weekend. We aim for all your wishes to be fulfilled by the end of the weekend...!
General schedule
Saturday
10:15 AM arrival
10:30 AM morning workshop
1:00 PM lunch
2:30 PM afternoon workshop
4:30 PM free time to let things sink in / improvise informally individually or in small groups / walk / cycle / enjoy the sunshine / rest
6:00 PM dinner
8:00 PM surprise programme
Sunday
8:30 AM breakfast
9:30 AM morning workshop
12:00 PM lunch
1:00 PM free time to let things sink in / improvise informally individually or in small groups / walk / cycle / enjoy the sunshine / rest
2:00 PM afternoon workshop
approximately 4:00 PM closing
What does the weekend cost?
Cost
The cost for the entire weekend, including 1x breakfast, 2x lunch, 1x dinner, optional overnight stay, and including my two improvisation books Tonediving and Free Your Music, is € 375. The Improvisation Academy is accredited by the CRKBO and is therefore exempt from VAT.
Discount?
If you really want to join a weekend but cannot afford it, please contact us. If the weekend is your dream, we believe that cost should not be an obstacle to realizing your dream...!
More information and registration
Would you like to sign up for a weekend? Click here.
If you're thinking A weekend like this might be something for me, but I'm not sure, I still have some questions, please email your questions to robijntilanus@gmail.com.
Sign up
FAQ
You can participate with any instrument. No instruments are excluded. Singers are also welcome.
The weekend location is: Dorpsstraat 39, Uffelte, The Netherlands. A beautiful farmhouse on one hectare of land, a hundred meters from a stunning nature reserve with forest, heather, sand drifts, small pools and two dolmens.
The weekends are given in a small group (minimum four, maximum ten people).
Absolutely! Overnight stays are included free of charge. Expect basic comfort, not a luxury hotel. We ask you to bring your own bottom sheet, pillowcase and duvet cover. We provide duvets, blankets and a bed. The farmhouse has two bathrooms that we share. If you prefer camping, that's also possible: there's plenty of room on our grounds to pitch your tent or park your camper. You can also choose to book a B&B or small hotel nearby if you'd like more comfort...
If you're coming from far away and can't make the trip Saturday morning, you're welcome to stay Friday evening.
Uffelte is located in the south-west corner of Drenthe. From the Randstad it's roughly an hour and a half by car (depending on your starting point). If you come by train, go to Meppel station. From there take bus 28 towards Dwingeloo. After about fifteen minutes get off at the Anserweg stop in Uffelte (Note: do NOT take the Dorpsstraat stop in Uffelte, as it's much further to walk. Also do NOT take the Dorpsstraat stop in Havelte, as that's the wrong village). From the Anserweg stop it's about a ten-minute walk to Dorpsstraat 39.
Absolutely! Please let us know your dietary requirements well in advance by email.