Classes & Workshops

As an Educator Gonçalo proposes to be a mediator between the Visual & Performing Arts, Music & Design

Teaching philosophy

The pursuit of mental and physical balance
has been a cornerstone of my life.

My passion for Design and Performing Arts found resonance in the East, where ancient philosophy and martial arts thrive.
My journey began with Judo at the age of 16, and it ignited an unending exploration into meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga, and particularly, Aikido. The principles of these “arts of motion” have permeated every aspect of my teaching strategies. Whether I’m instructing a student on the proper grip of a bagpipe or guiding them through a breathing exercise, these teachings are present. They’re there when I delve into design thinking and when I help students navigate the frustrations that inevitably arise in the learning process. Architecture has instilled in me a knack for identifying patterns and understanding the inherent order in nature. Meanwhile, Design has shifted my focus away from the singularity of Artwork. Ultimately, the “repetition”, “consistency”, and “replicability” of actions and intentions have taken precedence over “singularity”. This balance between structure and fluidity, between tradition and innovation, is what defines my approach to any field of human endeavour. 

Fields of teaching

Gonçalo conducts seminars in the following fields

Music

 Events and workshops

Project & Design

Tools that help you think

Well-being

Learn to be present

Not looking for workshops?

For weekly classes & learning directly

Music

Lessons & Workshops

Learn how to play Bagpipes, Flutes & Whistles
or join in with your music instrument and learn folk repertoire from Iberia

Bagpipes Beginners workshop


Learning how to play the bagpipe 

Bagpipes are amongst the most magical, emotional, and symbolic instruments in the world. Come try them out, and learn why!

Tin Whistle beginners workshop

Learning how to play Irish tin whistle

The tin whistle is a practical and inexpensive little instrument that everyone can afford and carry in one’s pocket.

Its mellow sound is suited for most venues and music genres.

Bagpipes are not big bad bugs

Lecture about bagpipes

With a sense of humour, Gonçalo confronts the audience with their own prejudices on bagpipes, demystifying rooted notions. He interprets different bagpipes of Europe, playing both traditional repertoire and modern pieces that demonstrate the interpretive & aesthetic scope of each instrument.

Project & Design

Tools that help you think

Design process is all about getting something accomplish

Sketch it up…

From idea > to paper > to 3D drafting

Sketchup is a powerful and fun 3D
modelling software, that can be downloaded for free from the internet.

It is extremely versatile and very easy to use by young people. SketchUp allows you to change the model in a “plastic” manner that keeps you engaged as if it was a real object.

Apart from drafting, nowadays 3D printing has become a common outlet for ideas to become reality.

Pipe's great grand father

Building musical instruments – the reed pipes 

Learn how to build your own single-reed pipes, the way people have done since antiquity – with simple tools and readily available materials

Flute’s great grandfather

Building musical instruments – the cane flute

The traverse flute, made of simple cane or bamboo, is a simple & wonderful musical instrument that has been around forever.
Learn how to make it yourself.

Well-being

Learn to be…

From Music to the Visual Arts, from Meditation to Martial arts, it’s all about transcending technique
Thinking > Knowing > Being

Ukemi – The art of falling

Practicing Mindfulness through motion

A specific training of some Japanese martial arts like Judo (“the way of gentleness”) and Aikido (“the way of harmony”) is “Ukemi-Waza”, or soft fall practice.

Not to fear, recover from unbalanced positions, is of great importance to human development – Falling down and getting up again, could be perceived as a metaphor for life.

Contemplative Photography

Practicing Mindfulness through Photography

Do we really see or just watch? Do we listen or just hear? Are we really present?

Featuring now

The latest new about my teaching work

I’m a bagpipe teacher at SibA!

I’m a bagpipe teacher at SibA!

It is wonderful news that I have been asked to teach bagpipes at the Sibelius Academy. The reason to embark on the laborious process of doctoral research is, in my view, to give back to civil society. My research on the bagpipes, only makes sense, if embraced by the...

Become a bagpipe student in 2021

Become a bagpipe student in 2021

Bagpipe Lessons for Intermediate Students Helsinki 2021 Lessons for intermediate and advanced students will open in January 2021. It is important that you start your beginner's classes as soon as possible on bagpipe - on-going currently - so that you can choose next...

Address

Helsinki – Finland

Call

+358 45 251 87 27

Email

Info@GoncaloCruz.com