JUTTA & THE HI-DUKES

Euro Roots World Music

YOUTH BAND

Performing group for young and teenage musicians to explore World Music

Held after school in south-central Evanston. All instruments welcome. Participants must be able to play at least one octave on their chosen instrument and do simple sight reading.

One of the most popular jazz recordings ever made, Take Five, was written by Dave Brubeck after his visit to Bulgaria, a country known for asymmetrical time signatures like 5/8. Since that time, World Music has played an increasingly influential role in most areas of Western music, be it Classical or Pop.

This year-round afternoon program is a unique opportunity for you to acquire the practical, hands-on knowledge to play the rhythms and scales of various types of non-Western music that will help you be a well-rounded player in today s world.

Learn gorgeous musical scales like Hijaz, Sabach, and Ousak and exciting asymmetrical rhythms like Lesno (7/8) and Karshalama (9/8).

Improve your ensemble playing skills while gaining transformative understanding of cultures, such as Balkan Rom (Gypsy), Greek, Jewish, etc.

Plus, at the end of each season there will be a recital and at least one public performance to share what you have learned with the community.

Popular music is growing beyond 2/4 Time Signatures and Western Scales

This program will give you insight into how and why World Music plays an increasingly influential role in most areas of Western music, from Classical (such as Yo Yo Mas Silk Road Ensemble) to Pop (like Streetlight Manifestos Balkan/Klezmer-tinged Heres To Life.)

The World Music Youth Orchestra and Band (tm) represents a wonderful chance for you to join with other young musicians to learn how to play World Music. Register to participate and start your own World Music journey.

The World Music Youth Orchestra & Band performs both sacred and secular music from many different cultures including Balkan, Gypsy (Rom), Jewish, Greek, Scandinavian, French Canadian, etc.

Image from a Hi-Dukes Orchestra Residency
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Taught by experienced Musicians and Teachers

Jutta Distler and Terran Doehrer are full-time musicians and play various traditional ethnic instruments, like the Bulgarian end-blown flute, Greek baglama, Middle-eastern drums, and the world-famous ocarina. They are the core duet of Jutta & the Hi-Dukes, an Evanston, IL World Music band founded in 1990 that tours in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The band has a CD released on the Root-Blues record label, Earwig Music.

Distler and Doehrer also teach ethnic dance at Chicagos Arcturus Waldorf Teacher Training Program and taught ethnic and ballroom dance classes at the Chicago Waldorf School for six years.

For over three decades Distler and Doehrer have been developing and refining a dynamic method of teaching dance which helps students internalize the rhythms so that the dances quickly come alive, to be more than just a bunch of notes on a page.

Before sitting down to play, participants discover the basic feel of each rhythm by learning to do the dance associated with that rhythm. This imparts a physical reality that improves your ability to feel the musics groove.

You’ll hear some of their personal stories of playing with famous musicians (like the Macedonian Gypsy singer, Esma Redzhepova), which underline their knowledge of culture, history, language, and musical performance.

Our Mission

When young people learn ethnic dances they gain a greater understanding and appreciation of the world in which we live. The Hi-Dukes believe this is essential to civilization.

Our goal is to encourage participants from all walks of life to explore the arts of cultures other than their own while they concurrently develop their musical performance abilities and social skills.

Folks say…

We have enjoyed seeing our children grow in coordination and confidence through their lessons with you. Your classes, both the dance and violin, are highlights in our week.” Kristin and Jeff Andrews

Hi there great music teachers, Where do we begin, for there are little words to describe the gratitude and joy we feel for what you’ve taught our girls. They clearly have a wider appreciation for all kinds of music and styles of dance which we accredit to the exposure of the world music and dance you have brought to them. Thank you so very much … All our best,” The Dugo family

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