The three main themes of this year's Sommelo festival, i.e. the kantele (the Finnish zither), the lament tradition and folk dancing, are also represented in the training programme of the festival.

The leading Finnish master players of the kantele - Arja Kastinen, Pauliina Syrjälä and Vilma Timonen - will be teaching at the international kantele music camp, organised as a part of the Sommelo festival. The music camp is aimed at both, professionally oriented and amateur players of the kantele. The kantele music camp is organised in collaboration with the Finnish Kantele Association. More information on the music course.

The lament course will be organised in the Viena Karelian cultural heritage house of Hietajärvi folklore village in Suomussalmi on 1st - 2nd July 2008. The instructor of the course is Liisa Matveinen. More information on the music course.

The themes of the dance course, run by Antti Savilampi, relate to wedding traditions of the East and West.

Sommelo folk music camp for children and young people is organised on 30th June - 4th July 2008. Further information on the camp.

> International kantele music camp in Kuhmo

> Sommelo folk music camp for children and young people on 30th June - 4th July 2008.

> "I should cry adorable eyes" - individual guidance to the lament tradition.

> Kantele course - Sommelo '08. Informations in Japanese (pdf)