The classes

Instrument Classes

Each day there will be around three or four group classes for the main instrument (violin, cello, guitar, flute), with teachers rotating between groups. In the classes, melodies, chords, and other techniques will be learned entirely by ear, without sheet music, and groups will be formed based on this learning ability. Each student is free to choose the group where they feel most comfortable and may switch groups during the week if they wish.

In fact, participants sometimes decide to try classes for other instruments — to experience, for example, what it feels like to be a fiddle player in a cello class, or a cellist in a flute class. At Crisol we promote freedom and autonomy in learning, so moving between classes is not only permitted, but actively encouraged.

Every musician's relationship with their instrument is unique. In the classrooms we find students who pick things up easily by ear but struggle technically, and others who may have spent their whole lives at a conservatory but have never stepped away from sheet music. Every musical background is different, and for that reason classes can sometimes feel like a small challenge for some. However, at Crisol we believe that everyone has their own process and their own pace of learning. That's why we aim to create more than just a classroom space: a community that accompanies and supports each musician's journey. This is not about being the best, or comparing yourself to others, or passing judgment — it's about creating a safe place where we allow ourselves to make mistakes and rediscover the joy of playing with care.

It is recommended to bring your phone or a recording device to capture classes and melodies, so you can use your free time to review what you've learned and keep practising when you get home.

Group Distribution

• Fiddle: We offer 3 fiddle levels ranging from intermediate to advanced. It is recommended to have at least a couple of years of experience with the instrument and to be comfortable in first position.
• Fiddle Beginner: This class is aimed at students with very little (or no) prior experience with the instrument. This group has a dedicated teacher with extensive experience.
• Cello: We offer 2 cello levels (intermediate and advanced). For the intermediate level, students are recommended to have a command of 1st through 4th position and a degree of fluency in performance.
• Guitar: We offer 2 guitar levels (intermediate and advanced). For the intermediate level, it is recommended to have a solid grasp of basic chord shapes and smooth transitions, as well as some command of the pick (rhythms and single-note playing).

Do you know what DADGAD is? Guitar teachers sometimes teach in alternative tunings such as Drop D or DADGAD, which are common in folk music. If you're not familiar with them, don't worry — but we recommend looking up the basic chords before the course to get more out of the classes.

• Flute: We offer 2 flute levels (intermediate and advanced). For the intermediate level, it is recommended to have a command of basic embouchure and breath support technique, allowing for good tonal stability and a command of the D major and G major fingerings.

Students below the recommended level

Crisol is an instrument course designed for people who already have some experience with their instrument — roughly from around two years of practice onwards. We do not carry out level assessments: we trust that those who sign up can use the information above to guide themselves and choose the group that best suits their starting point. That said, if someone joins the camp with a more beginner-level background, they are welcome to attend the more basic groups as an observer and to participate in classes as best they can. Classes are designed primarily as group work, so teachers will aim to maintain the collective pace and will not focus the session on resolving individual technical difficulties.

The only group specifically designed for complete beginners is Fiddle Beginner.

Other Activities

Alongside the instrument classes, Crisol has a huge range of other activities: traditional singing and dance classes every day, various workshops, forums, a costume party, swimming pool, a village square party… and, above all, sessions. Anywhere and at any time. If you're looking for new people to play with and share your favourite tunes, this is the place for you.