Fe Fritschi
LOCATION
Berlin, tbd
DATE
21–23 November, 2025
COST
€370 workshop (active), €220 (passive)
€20 concert, reduced €18, workshop participants: €15
SCHEDULE
The FEN MASTER WORKSHOPS FOR ACCORDION take place from Friday to Sunday and offer ca. 10 hours of instruction (including breaks) in a small group. It is possible to participate passively, without an instrument.
Preliminary times:
Friday 2–7 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m.–12 p.m. / 1:30–4:30 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
FEN MASTER WORKSHOP – JAZZ ACCORDION, NOVEMBER 21–23, 2025
The accordion is not the first instrument that comes to mind when you hear the word “jazz”—and yet in recent years it has found its way into almost all styles of improvised music. If you dig a little deeper, you will discover a long tradition of the instrument, ranging from American swing virtuoso Art van Damme to Frenchman Richard Galliano’s tango-musette-jazz hybrids to modern representatives such as Vincent Peirani and others.
In this workshop, we will approach the broad topic of “jazz on the accordion.” Through playful input, we will strengthen our rhythmic skills and train our ears, look at the theory behind the most common chord progressions, and improvise on them. In doing so, we will get to the bottom of fundamental questions that are also specific to the accordion:
- How do I play the notes I hear in my head?
- How are chords and scales related?
- How do I accompany myself with my left hand and how do I play extended chords?
REQUIREMENTS
Knowledge of musical notation and the most important chord symbols (major, minor, 7, m7, maj7) is required, as well as a basic mastery of the instrument (playing simple scales and triads and tetrads should not be a problem).
ABOUT FE
Fe Fritschi studied accordion and jazz piano and has shared the stage with greats such as Colin Vallon and Norma Winstone. He is appreciated on both instruments for his melodic compositions, but also for his improvisational flexibility and willingness to take risks.
Fes’ music focuses on lyrical melodies and intricate, but never overly intellectual structures – and his engagement with such diverse genres as tango, modern jazz, free improvisation, classical and pop music subtly but audibly colors his sound. With “Body Electric,” he released an album in 2023 that combines chamber jazz with fusion. He has also been working as a lecturer since 2017.
FEN CONCERT
Cathrin Pfeifer + Fe Fritschi
Saturday, November 22
More information to come