Review of the "Paths of Rhythm" Seminar by Kostas Dimitriou at the RGE Hall on October 15, 2017

On Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2017, a very engaging seminar took place at the RGE Hall in Rodotopi, presented by Kostas Dimitriou and titled “Paths of Rhythm.”

In a joyful atmosphere, with the participation of RGE members and other attendees who came especially for the seminar, participants had the opportunity to perform rhythmic patterns using a metronome, each time based on different time units (e.g. the same rhythmic figure counted in quarters, halves, etc.), with varied accents (e.g. sixteenth notes accented every three beats, quarter-note triplets containing subdivisions of eighth-note triplets, etc.), as well as an introduction to performing eighth notes in Swing Feel (a jazz approach).

After a short break, during which sweets and refreshments were offered, the second part of the seminar followed. This was dedicated to performing rhythmic patterns through body movement (a kind of “dance-like” approach, with rhythmic elements in feet and hands), as well as through the use of voice (e.g. division into groups and simultaneous execution of “odd groupings,” which alternated cyclically from group to group).

“Paths of Rhythm” Seminar by Kostas Dimitriou at the RGE Hall (Sunday, 15 Oct. 2017)

A very interesting seminar for every musician and music enthusiast will be presented by Kostas Dimitriou, drums instructor and founder of the Ioannina School of Music, at the RGE Hall in Rodotopi, on Sunday, October 15, 2017, at 6:00 pm.

The seminar, titled “Paths of Rhythm”, explores different ways of studying with a metronome, as well as the embodiment of rhythm, culminating in an approach to polyrhythms and what is called odd grouping.

The seminar is open to all interested participants free of charge and is a generous contribution by Kostas Dimitriou.

Three more electro-classical guitars, through donation funds, added to the collection of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble

On April 6, 2017, our association utilized the funds from the August – October 2016 donations to purchase three new electro-classical guitars. After being numbered, they were placed in the guitar storage cabinet in our hall. The total number of electro-classical guitars now possessed by our association reaches thirteen, all of which come from donations.
The total donations to the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble are available by clicking here.

Outstanding George Bechlivanoglou at His Guitar Seminar in Rodotopi, Ioannina (2016)

An amazing guitar seminar was held by George Bechlivanoglou at the RGE Hall on Saturday, November 26, 2016. He taught tirelessly for six consecutive hours, offering participants—both performers and listeners—the opportunity to gain valuable experience.

Specifically, seven performers, all members of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble, participated in the seminar. They played pieces of varying eras and difficulty, starting from simpler works, such as Pavana and Tango by F. Tárrega, and progressing to more complex and demanding pieces, such as El Último Trémolo by A. Barrios and Introduction and Rondo, Op. 2, No. 2 by D. Aguado.

Through these works, the pedagogical aspect of George Bechlivanoglou was highlighted. He analyzed each piece phrase by phrase, delved into intricate details, and vividly addressed issues of interpretation and technique.

Guitar Seminar by George Bechlivanoglou at the RGE Hall (26/11/2016)

With the generous sponsorship of the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History, a guitar seminar with soloist George Bechlivanoglou will take place at the RGE Hall in Rodotopi, Ioannina, on the afternoon of Saturday, November 26, 2016. This is another initiative by Konstantinos Vrellis, a member of our association, following a similar seminar and guitar recital organized in March 2016 with George Bechlivanoglou at the E.H.M. Hall in Ioannina.

On behalf of the RGE, we express our gratitude to the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History, and especially to Konstantinos Vrellis, for their substantial contribution to the development of musical education, particularly for young people in the wider region.

Thanks for the new August - October 2016 donations to the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble

From the end of summer until mid-autumn 2016, our association was offered a series of sponsorships involving significant amounts of money. On behalf of the Board of Directors and the members of our Guitar Ensemble, we thank the donors for their trust in our work. We commit, with absolute transparency as always, to utilize these funds in the best possible way, after assessing our needs and keeping the development of the association's infrastructure as our guiding principle.
In particular, we thank:

Jazz Seminar by the “3rd Floor Quartet” at the RGE Hall and it's musical collaboration with the RGE (28/8/2016)

The 3rd Floor Quartet is a jazz ensemble from Ioannina, consisting of professional musicians: Nikos Kypriotis on trumpet, Dimitris Nikas on piano, Efthymis Sferopoulos on double bass, and Kostas Dimitriou on drums.

We had the pleasure and opportunity to host the ensemble on Sunday, August 28, 2016, at Rodotopi, first in the RGE Hall for a highly engaging introductory seminar on jazz, followed by a concert in the courtyard of the Rodotopi Primary School together with our guitar ensemble.

Cabinet for the donated guitars

With the decisive contribution of the Municipality of Zitsa, the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble now possesses a display and storage cabinet for the ten electro-classical guitars donated to it in November 2015, on one hand, by the Brotherhood of Rodotopians of Athens (an association of residents of the village of Rodotopi living in Athens) [ten guitars] and on the other hand, by Panagiotis D. Papadiamantis and Maria P. Papadiamantis [two guitars].

Guitar storage cabinet of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble

More specifically, the Municipality of Zitsa, by providing the construction materials for the cabinet, demonstrated its sensitivity and responded to our association's request to ensure safe protection and maintenance conditions for the sponsored instruments. It should be noted that this specific cabinet has a capacity specification for six additional guitars to meet future needs.

Furthermore, upon the completion of the cabinet's construction and installation in our association's hall, plaques honoring the sponsors were placed on it, along with rules for the maintenance and protection of the instruments. At the same time, custom badges featuring the association's logo were made and affixed to each guitar, while corresponding badges were sewn onto their fabric cases.

On behalf of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble, we express our gratitude to the Municipality of Zitsa. We also thank Kostas Th. Loumis (for assembling the cabinet) and Simos Vlahos (for sewing the badges onto the guitar cases and making the cabinet cover for sun and moisture protection) for their selfless contribution.

Below are a few photos from our hall, on the occasion of the installation of the cabinet in question.

Reflection of the windows on the cabinet glass

See also:

• Three more electro-classical guitars, through funds from donations
• Donation of ten guitars by the Brotherhood of Rodotopians of Athens (an association of residents of the village of Rodotopi living in Athens) to the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble of Ioannina
• Mr. Vangelis P. Kassis has passed away, a humble man who significantly helped our association - Equipment donation by the Brotherhood of Rodotopians of Athens (an association of residents of the village of Rodotopi living in Athens)
• Thanks for the new August - October 2016 donations to the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble

Guitar Recital and Lecture by George Bechlivanoglou in Ioannina on 19 & 20/3/2016

The members of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble, following an open invitation and the initiative of the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History, had the opportunity to attend a guitar recital and lecture by George Bechlivanoglou in Ioannina. Additionally, members of our ensemble participated in lessons delivered by the artist immediately after the lecture.

The recital took place on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at 8:30 p.m., at the Society for Epirote Studies Hall, while the lecture was held the following day, Sunday, March 20, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., in the same venue.

This was another initiative by Konstantinos Vrellis and a generous contribution of the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History to the public and guitar students of Ioannina (it should be noted that, also on his initiative, a guitar recital with the young award-winning guitarist Dimitris Soukaras was organized on 17/10/2015).

On behalf of the Rodotopi Guitar Ensemble, we express our gratitude to the Pavlos Vrellis Museum of Greek History and especially to the visionary behind the idea and member of our association, Konstantinos Vrellis.

Invitation to the recital and lecture

See also: 

✓  Guitar Seminar of George Bechlivanoglou at the RGE Hall (26/11/2016)