Location: South of Ulaanbaatar by 8 hours
Community Fee: $323USD for 8 days/ 7 nights
Additional In-Country Travel Expenses
Rural bus to Mandalgovi (1 way): $8 USD
Rural jeep to first ger and pickup (approx.): $125 USD
Booking & travel orientation w/ handbook: $25 USD
Among the unique contributions of Mongolia to the world's musical culture are the long songs, one of the greatest features of the Mongolian music (overtone singing) and the Morin Khuur or commonly known as the horse-headed fiddle. This program is gives you an opportunity to learn how to play Mongolian traditional Horse Head Fiddle under a famous master of the instrument; Mr. Nergui, is prized by UNESCO and has hundreds of Mongolian and International students.
Day One - Visit local family and meet your teacher: In the morning at 8am you will depart from UB by public bus for 260kms to Mandalgovi town. When you get off from bus our local faciliator will meet you at bus station with your driver that will take you to Ulziit soum (100kms). Upon arrival, Ms. Uigarmaa’s family will welcome you with a nice dinner and milk tea – you will at her home.
Day Two - Introduction to Major and Minor chords, scales: After breakfast you will learn components of horse fiddle and then Mr. Nergui will introduce you to major and minor scales. After a productive morning, you will take a break and have a lunch. After your meal you will continue your lesson with the learning of major and minor chords. In the evening, Ms. Uigarmaa will prepare your dinner and you will have an opportunity to walk around Ulzit village with her before retiring for the evening.
Day Three - Learn how to properly tune the horse-head fiddle: After breakfast you will review previous lesson with your teacher and will continue your education on how to properly tune the horse head. After an eventful morning with your instructor, you will take a break and have a lunch. After your meal, you will continue your lesson till the evening dinner with the family and some evening playful games like with ankle bones that is a common game among nomadic children before retiring for the night.
Day Four - Introduction to the advanced scales: After breakfast you will learn more advance scales as you’ve already learnt the basic major and minor scales. In the afternoon, you will take a break and have a lunch to which you will continue your lesson till the evening dinner. After dinner you will have more time to take it easy and play games such as the finger game with nomadic children before your evening rest.
Day Five - Learn to play Densee huu song: After breakfast your will review all previous lessons and now you will learn how to play music. The traditional musical piece that you will learn is called “Densuu huu”, this piece is considered to be easy for beginners. You will take a break and have a lunch in the afternoon and then continue your lesson till the evening. After dinner, you will have time to just hang-out and play a billiard with local guys before retiring for the night.
Day Six - Learn to play other songs: After breakfast your will review all previous lessons and now you will learn how to play other musical pieces that are also easy for beginners to learn. You will take a break and have a lunch in the afternoon and then continue your lesson till the evening. This evening you will drive to Ban cliff (6kms) and as the sunsets you have a wonderful opportunity to listen traditional long songs and the melodies of fiddle. Afterwards you will return back and rest with the family.
Day Seven - Reveiw: Today we will review all our lessons to prepare for a small friendly exhibition with local musicians that is set for the next day.
Day Eight - Small competition with local musicians: After breakfast you will exhibit your skills with local musicians and showcase what you have learnt on horse fiddle. During this small concert you will have an opportunity to mingle with the local musicians. Then you will be welcomed farewell lunch with your teacher and Ms. Uigarmaa’s family. Afterwards you will depart to Mandalgovi town by jeep (100kms).
Included services:
All nomadic breakfast, lunch and dinner which are stated on itinerary
Home stay at family’s Ger
Professional horse head fiddle master’s salary
Boiled water on route
Reservation services for two ways bus tickets between UB and Mandalgovi
Local jeep arrangement service by facilitator
Local hotel or guest house reservation service by facilitator
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