The Lärkkulla Music Programme offers new alternative courses
You get the opportunity to become a more professional musician on the Lärkkulla Pop-and-Rock programme. We offer you a number of possibilities to advance both as a player in a band or in an ensemble as well as on an individual level.
During the academic year 2012-2013 the students will be given the opportunity to concentrate either on Pop-and-Rock or choose alternative courses such as Studio Technique or Church Music. If you decide to concentrate on Studio Technique or Church Music you will be doing your General and Theory courses with the whole group but later you will be given a choice of courses in the subject you wish to specialise in.

At Lärkkulla we strive to meet your individual needs.

Participate in a music programme which is tailor-made to suit your individual needs!

This is what we offer you:
An opportunity to perform at many different venues
Theory and Ear Training starting from Pop/Rock/Jazz- music
A boarding school environment where you are free to play and practice almost at any time
Instruction in Studio Technique in our own new studio
One-to -one tuition in your main instrument and possibly also in your side instrument
First class equipment and experienced teachers will help you achieve professionalism
Music history in the classical as well as the Pop/Rock/Jazz tradition
Arrangement and Musical Notation using the computer
A number of different alternative courses depending on your needs

We do a lot of practising in bands and other types of ensembles

You are taught one-to-one in your main instrument as well as in the side instrument of your choice
You can then use your acquired skills in the bands and ensembles you have joined.

Our brand new studio is available if you chose to concentrate on Studio Technique. We also arrange a foundation course which prepares for entrance exams to studies in Church Music.

Furthermore:

You will receive tuition in Theory and Ear Training set at your own individual level as well as tuition in the History of both Classical Music and Pop/Rock/Jazz Music. We moreover provide instruction in recording skills and we will be recording material during the whole academic year. To learn how to mix for live performances and records is central to your course in studio technique. We also teach you mastering of a recorded tune.

At the end of the year you will receive a CD which we have produced together.

You will have ample opportunity to perform in public both at Lärkkulla and other schools and venues such as pubs and restaurants.

Frequently asked questions
Question: What was the best thing at Lärkkulla while you studied there?

Student answers.

Answer 1 The feeling of togetherness between teachers and students.
Answer 2 The practical knowledge in music we gained as well as the opportunity to perform live with the group with all it entails of connecting cables and fixing microphones.
Answer 3 The high quality of tuition and the close contact between tutors and students.
Answer 4  The people and the feeling of belonging….. The food of course was always delicious.
Answer 5 Our live performances, the humorous exchanges between teachers and students. Everything!  
          

What is the music tuition like at Lärkkulla?

Student answers.

Answer 1 For me the best lessons were the band and ensemble practice sessions.
Answer 2  We were given a lot of options. It felt good to do Music Theory from scratch and gain an understanding of its significance
Answer 3  The tuition was varied. I loved playing in the band and at the gigs and enjoyed the opportunity to record music in the studio. The ensemble lessons were at times a bit disorganised but gave us an opportunity to play or sing with different people and to try new instruments.
Answer 4 I learnt a lot of new things even at the History of Music lessons although they weren´t necessarily the most entertaining.
Answer 5 I learnt to sing in different styles and it was fun but would also have appreciated some further tuition in the new Complete Vocal Technique.
Answer 6  For me the best was the Band-and Theory lessons as well as the choir. It was, however, difficult to take a course exam for electric bass. The same was actually true about all the instruments, although this was probably due to the fact that rather a lot of one´s own initiative and involvement was required.

Question: What about the Hall of Residence? Any problems?

Student answers:

Answer 1 Just great! It was cosy and the atmosphere was good. The only complaint would be that sometimes all the noise would make it difficult to fall asleep.
Answer 2 It was all just like in any family unit: moans about this and that, laughter and tears. Some evenings were great fun, others not so great.
Answer 3 It was a bit of a strain at times but on the whole the atmosphere was good. Dirty dishes were a small problem as well as the noise levels at night but most of the time everything was just nice. At Lärkkulla everything you needed and wanted was right there so occasionally one forgot to leave the building for days on end.
Question: Where does one go after Lärkkulla?
There are a number of possibilities to choose from. Below you see some of the choices the students from the academic year 2007-2008 made.
Student answers.
Answer 1 I am commencing my studies at the Sibelius Academy MUKA department this coming autumn and will most likely be involved with music on a full-time basis as a music teacher.
Answer 2 I intend to study Literature at Åbo Academy. Music will remain a hobby and I am sure to take optional music courses at the university and hope to sing in the Flora choir.
Answer 3 I am going to study Music at Canterbury in England in September. After three years there I may continue studying or work with music on a full-time basis.
Answer 4 My plan is to start Teacher´s Training in Vasa so I won´t be involved in music full-time but I intend to take all the optional music classes and make music in my free-time. One advantage of being a teacher is the long summer holiday, during which I will be able to work with music full-time.
Answer 5 I will be studying singing at the Musikhuset in Jakobstad. Maybe I will be working with music full-time but it will in any case always be a hobby for me.

Charges
Charges for board and lodging
Lärkkulla is the only Boarding School in the South of Finland where you can study Pop and Rock. Living in the Hall of Residence is in itself an on-going learning process and it is fun too. Check what our ex-students have said about it under the heading: Accounts about life at Lärkkulla. You do not need to chat on the net with your mates – they are all there face-to-face.

The fee for board and lodging is 400 € a month. We offer high standard single- room accommodation. The rooms have en suite shower and WC. Included in the price are meals served four times a day: breakfast, lunch, afternoon coffee and dinner every weekday. If you live out you pay 280 € a month.

The registry fee is 100 €/semester
Living in: 400 € a month
Living out: 280 € a month

Charges for
 An extra side instrument is 10 € a moth
 A second side instrument is 20 € a month

Student accounts about life at Lärkkulla

Anna Forsman´s account

When I think of Lärkkulla I feel warmth. It is no exaggeration to say that it was definitely one of the best years of my life. Here I found inner security and a belief in that I can succeed in what my heart desires. We were,  of course quite isolated from the world around us at Lärkkulla but for most of us it was a voluntary isolation. The atmosphere was so good that I never felt the need to be any place else.
Our class became one big happy family where there was room for everyone. Lärkkulla felt so safe .For a whole year everything was given me on a plate: food, a bed, lessons, friends, gigs etc. I was given a whole year when I could think about my future.
The studies are what you make them. You can pass without great effort but if you are prepared to work your musical ability will improve tremendously. Everyone can study at their own level both as far as theory or main instrument or side instrument goes and everyone is given the opportunity to play in band or ensemble.

Olli Liljeström´s account

I came to Lärkkulla the first year after my graduation from school. The electric base was my main instrument. I felt I was competent yet very unsure of myself as a musician.
I learnt so many really important thing a base player should know even though my tutor was guitar player ( which came as a shock in the beginning ).I learnt, above all, the importance of playing rhythmically “tight” regardless of instrument. The end result has to swing  even  when one plays slow tunes. I also learnt how to listen and the importance of listening when you play with others in a band.
There was a good spirit of fellowship amongst the students. Yet, after the year ended few remained in my life. All the good memories live on and meeting my old friends from Lärkkulla makes me very happy.
I can recommend Lärkkulla wholeheartedly to anyone with a strong interest in music who has already studied a bit on their own but wishes to learn more and is prepared to work for it.

Olli is now studying at the Sibelius Academy.