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Live out your dreams!

You are welcome to join us and live out your dreams of a different and exciting year at Seljord Folk High School! As a student with us you will be part of a dynamic environment where education, group projects, events, activities, tours and independent leisure time will constitute a well-rounded experience. Academic and personal development will be the focus from day one. If you want to be a part of this, then Seljord Folk High School is the place for you!

Seljord is the ideal location for such a school. We are located close enough to the capital and the small cities within Telemark, all of which are accessible by bus. In everyday life we have everything we need both practically and culturally. It’s been said that the school is the most beautiful in the country. Surrounded by mountains and breath-taking nature, Seljord has much to offer with its spectacular location overlooking lake Seljord... not to mention the legendary lake monster.

Seljord Folk High School rates competitively among other schools, and is continually in the process of developing new and exciting programs in music, sports, outdoor recreation and arts and crafts. There is much to look forward to this year, with Nepal being the exotic destination for the school project and group trip.

You will find information regarding our school at this page of the website. Unfortunately we have not been able to come up with a full scale English website. In our brochure as well as website we have put a lot of photos, which will give you a good picture of Seljord Folk High School. We are trying emphasizing cooperation and friendship which are two important elements behind making a year at Seljord Folk High School a very special experience in your life. Please go through this page and I am sure you will be ready to make your decision about sending an application - under the headline/flag: SØKNAD which means application.

We expect a full school next year, and can only welcome you as a student and hope that you are one of the lucky ones who will have the chance to experience a year of Seljord Folk High School ... and that the dreams you might have can come true ...

Terje Heggernes
Principal


We offer six different main subjects/lines:

Music-Live, Musical, Singer/Songwriter, Visual Art, Outdoor Adventure-Himalaya and Multisport-Himalaya,
See more detailed information about what the different lines/classes offer - under seperate sections - Go to main page and the lines/classes to see more photos!

MUSIC – Live

 

Does music mean the world to you? The Music Program is the right place for you if you want a varied and versatile music experience. Pop, rock and jazz have been combined with a range of other musical styles, which paves the way for mixing this music with styles such as folk music, ethnic and classical music.

You will get to play together with others who share the same passion for music as you, both in the music room and in concerts.  We will arrange both concerts and a tour throughout the year, to give you the opportunity to showcase your talents on stage in front of a live audience.

“This was pretty good, don’t you think?” Bård asks, having completed the last rehearsal before the tour.

Do you want to become even better at playing your instrument? Throughout the year you will receive individual guidance from one of our music instructors. We also have our own studio where you will have the chance to play with both audio and midi connected to virtual instruments and synths. Through gaining a working knowledge of studio equipment, you will be able to record and produce your own CDs.

We will also go on a study trip to London.

• study trip to London

• individual instrument lessons

• play in small groups

• play concerts

• joint choir and band practice

• different songs

• studio work

• go on tour

MUSICAL THEATER!

 

Music! Singing! Dance! Theatre! In the Musical Theater Program you will have the chance to experience all of these areas of performance. We work with voice production, choir, vocal rehearsal, dance, choreography, role interpretation and directing. We will work

“Just incredible! The performance was a complete success. I was a bit nervous after the rehearsal, but now I’m just so happy and relieved”, Christine smiles. She was among the 20 actors who danced and sang in the production of Hair.

The Musical Theatre Program also arranges a study trip to Broadway in New York. Here you will see some of the very best stars in the world perform. We promise an inspiring trip with magic experiences that you will remember long after the stage curtains have closed. Participating in the Musical Theatre Program will give you the opportunity to become a part of the magic yourself.

• study trip to New York

• musicl show - known and unknown musicals

• singing/theatre/dance

• drama and role interpretation

• choreography and scenic dance

• costumes, makeup and supplies

• performing in front of an audience

SINGER/SONGWRITER!

Do you love singing and playing an instrument? Have you written your own songs or melodies and have dreams of performing them? Then this is the year where you will get the chance to work on your own material with guidance that will improve and develop both your music and yourself.

There is something special about performing your own songs together with a band, and finally having the chance to make your music come alive. It’s a lot of fun, and an amazing experience to play along with others who also write and perform their own songs. With song writing on the daily curriculum, you will get the chance to work intensively on those songs that you’ve had in the back of your head, and a chance to develop and cultivate new musical ideas. You will also get the chance to record your songs in our very own studio. We work with a variety of sound equipment, such as Cubase, Logic and Garage Band, which will give you almost endless possibilities for mixing and producing CDs. If you are happy with the result, you can utilize the program to get your song out to others via such Internet sites as MySpace, or even publish your own music video on YouTube. The possibilities are endless, and here you have the opportunity to receive the coaching and guidance to turn your dreams into a reality.

Playing in front of an audience is an amazing experience that you will have to opportunity to have as part of this program. You will get the chance to perform in a variety of settings, beginning with the unique atmosphere created at our own private concerts. We will also make a tour to other Folk High Schools as well as arranging a concert in the well-equipped concert hall in Seljord. In addition, you will receive individual guidance on your instrument of choice and singing techniques.

 “I really feel like I’ve developed both my voice and my songs during this year”, Trudy says. “It is just unreal to get such great response from the audience after playing one of my own songs”, she smiles.

• study trip to London

• singing

• writing songs

• studio time

• create your own demo

• digital studio work

• arrangement

• perform in a concert

• tour

VISUAL ARTS (Painting and drawing)

You will feel right at home in the “Workshop”! With more than 400 square meters of room for you to play around in, the Visual Arts along with the Textiles programs will have the opportunity to utilize brush and palette, textiles and thread. Here you’ll also find a cozy fireplace perfect for social gatherings and inspiration.

Throughout the year you will have the opportunity to experiment with pencil and charcoal drawing, watercolors, oil and acrylic painting, graphics and black/white photography.

“It’s definitely a challenge trying to draw this fast”, Morten says, after one of the kroki-lessons. “It’s really good practice”, he adds, while one of the other students was getting ready to pose for the rest of the group.

If you’d like, you can also combine crafts from the different departments and learn different techniques and methods. Or you can choose to specialize and go more in depth in one particular craft method.

Together with the Textiles program, we take trips throughout the year. We will be going on a study trip to Rome, as well as visiting artists and exhibitions in the local community.

• study trip to Rome

• pencil drawing

• photography

• coal drawing

• silk and fabric paint

• watercolor

• oil and acrylic

• graphics

• kroki

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE - Himalaya!

 If you enjoy outdoor activity “on the edge”, the Outdoor Activity Program is the right place for you. You will have the chance to hike on the breath-taking Buar glacier, a sidearm of Folgefonna, the third biggest glacier in Norway and only a few hours away from Seljord by car. Ice climbing will also be one of the adventures you get to try on this trip, where you will be rewarded with the fantastic view of Western Norway. “An awesome trip”, says Johan who climbed the fascinating ice formation at the Buar Glacier in autumn 2007.

If you don’t mind getting soaking wet, rafting in wild rivers at Voss is another adventure you’ll get to experience while in the Outdoor Activity Program. With a mixture of calm and rough waters, you can experiment with different techniques – and feel the rush of adrenalin with water gushing around you. “A perfect variation between rough and more quiet parts”, Mari says contently, after an adventurous rafting ride down the river.

You also will have the experience of zigzagging down mountainsides on either skis or snowboard, or dangling on a rope from yet another mountain while you look for the next grip that will take you even higher. These are only a handful of the adventurous and exciting activities you’ll get to try throughout the year.

For our study trip, we will spend a week trekking in the Himalayas, the world’s most spectacular mountain chain! This will be an extension of the school trip to Nepal.

• 20 days trekking in the Himalayas

• practising outdoor life

• trekking in the Norwegian mountains

• canoe trips

• glacier hiking

• climbing / ice climbing

• snowboard / telemark

• hiking

• dog racing

• skiing

• kiting on the snow

• Mountain Biking

 

MULTISPORT - Himalaya!

Are you constantly in search of challenges and adventures? Then Multi Sport is the right program for you. You may have experiences such as feeling the rush when you are getting close to the mountain peak or when the kite pulls you faster and faster across the snow. Imagine letting yourself fall into nothing, only attached by the bungee string around your legs. Our playground is Hardangervidda, the biggest national park in Norway and only a short car drive away.

"Definitely a boost of adrenaline" Kaja says, with a big grin on her face. After a few seconds of hesitation, she dove into the air while the other students watched and waited for their chance to bungee jump. Our jump location is the Rjukan Bridge, known as the highest and most daring jump of its kind in Norway. We can guarantee that you will experience an extreme adrenaline rush, followed by a memory that will last a lifetime.

As a part of the Multi Sport team, you will face a range of exciting challenges and take part in new experiences and adventures. We will spend some time hiking high up in the mountains, where one destination is Gaustatoppen, 1883 meters above sea level. This impressive mountain is especially challenging for those with a fear of heights, as part of the hike is right along the side of the breathtakingly steep mountainside.

You will have a chance to try slope style skiing or snowboarding at Hovden ski resort, mountain biking in Bø or kayaking in the roughest parts of the Bø-river! Throughout the year you will learn different climbing techniques. Climbing on ice, rock-climbing and indoor climbing are among some of the methods you will have the opportunity to use.

Skiing and snowboarding are important activities during the winter, and you will be in a perfect location in which to experience them. We hope for our mountainsides to be covered in powder, which will give us plenty of challenging runs on either skis or snowboard. Your participation is welcomed and encouraged whether you are experienced or a beginner on the slopes. 

Our study trip goes to spectacular Himalaya, as an extension of the joint school trip to Nepal. We will spend an action-packed time trekking in these fantastic mountains. This experience will leave you with memories that will last for a lifetime!

• 20 days  trekking in the Himalayas

• kiting

• ice climbing

• kayaking

• climbing

• bungee jumping

• ski and snowboard

• mountain biking

• Physical Fitness

 

Two exiting international trips

During the year there will be two exiting international trips . One connected to the line/class you have selected and one common trip to Nepal. Music-Live travels to London,  Musical travels to New York, Singer/Songwriter travels to London , Visual Art travels to Roma, Outdoor Adventure-Himalaya and Multisport-Himalaya travel to Nepal and Himalaya.

TRIP TO NEPAL

Solidarity Project with children in Nepal

A year at Seljord Folk High School will bring you closer to the cultural country Nepal, perhaps best known for the world's highest mountain, Mount Everest. Nepal, with its 29 million inhabitants, is one of the world's poorest countries and is one of Norway's main partners for development assistance. The country has a rich culture, and Hinduism is the country's main religion. After a 10-year civil war and a recently discontinued monarchy, there is now peace in the country and faith in their future. 41% of the population is under 16 years of age, and the average age is 20 years old. Over half the population is illiterate and only 28% of women have reading and writing skills.

Seljord Folk High School has chosen Nepal as its solidarity project, and will have a special focus on children's rights, child labor, street children, the prostitution of young girls and Nepal’s generally low status in society. There are 2.6 million child workers in Nepal and 12,000 girls sold to prostitution and sex shops in India each year.

The school will work with the renowned children rights organization, CWIN, Child Workers in Nepal Concerned Center - www.cwin.org.np

The school will arrange a study trip to Nepal where the purpose will be to learn more about the country and the situation of the children. We plan to increase our awareness of the country's nature and culture and look into the CWIN's many projects and political work to promote children's rights. During the school year we will work with Nepal within our courses of study and conduct various solidarity actions in support of the children in Nepal.

Facts about Nepal:

• Nepal is located at the foot of the Himalayas, between India and China.
• Nepal is a small country, which would cover about a third of Norway's surface.
• Along the border in the north are ten of the world's 16 highest mountains. Mount Everest, locally named Sagarmatha, is the highest of the mountains.
• The climate alternates between the Arctic mountains and desert to the rainforest in the western Himalayas and the tropical jungle in the lowlands of Tara.
• Capital: Katmandu
• Official language: Nepali
• Government: Republic
• Population: 30 millions +/-
• Area: 147,181 km
• Currency: Nepali rupee
• National Day: July 7th

Norwegian lessons - common lessons and electives

For foreign students we offer Norwegian lessons  in the beginning of the school year. In addition to the major subjects all students take part in the morning assembly,a few common lessons, seminars and the school choir. The students choose among a lot of electives. For more information look at the website. Go to main page.

Folk High School has more to offer than your program of choice. The year you spend with us is a workshop, an experiment in cooperation and participation where you will grow as a community through your shared experience. Through work and commitment you can gain unimagined possibilities.

You can choose from a wide range of various subjects and try out activities that are completely different from those you have in your chosen program of study. You can create the plan that you think looks exciting.

You can fill your schedule in with as many electives as you want, depending on your interest and the time you have available. Community projects and events will be attended by everyone, and include singing in the choir, school trips, discussions on life in and out of school and program parties. Occasionally we will switch up the normal schedule to have a project week. For the 2009-2010 school year we are planning a Solidarity Project in Nepal as our main school trip.

Living closely together is exciting. Each student will have their own room as well as a common living room to be shared with other students in each of the dorm buildings. All meals will be eaten together in our dining hall. Students have the responsibility to achieve and maintain a pleasant community, and all participate in practical exercises such as kitchen and laundry service.

You can try your hand at many of the different electives listed below, and you can also join in on activities within other programs here at the school. Normally 20 electives  out of the list of 24 will be implemented.

1. Dance
2. Ball games
3. Martial Arts
4. Knitting
5. Choir
6. Children’s sport school
7. Painting and Drawing
8. Photography
9. Sports/Outdoor activity
10. Hunting and Fishing
11. Ceramics
12. Knife making
13. Literature and Film
14. Psychology
15. Telemark skiing
16. WEB – Homepage - Media
17. Year Book
18. Ensemble (singing and/or instrumental)
19. Studio (record and produce your own CDs)
20. Theatre
21. Textile
22. Fur Rug
23. Solidarity
24. Environment

 

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

Seljord Folk High School is situated in magnificent surroundings with a spectacular view of the town and of lake Seljord. The school buildings enclose a cozy courtyard, and your new best friends are only a short walk away. You will have your own room in one of the spacious buildings. Every building has 15 single rooms, a common room, kitchen, shower and toilet. In addition there is plenty of storage room for bikes, skis, suitcases, etc. In all the houses there is a teacher apartment, and the teacher who lives there functions as the “house teacher” and joins all the house meetings.

We have common meals where we are all gathered in the big dining hall in the main building. Here you also find the sports hall and a cozy common room with a fireplace. The Workshop is spacious and always full of life. In the lecture building you find an auditorium, the music section, library and TV-room.

You’re welcome to take a nice bath in our outdoor hot tub too!

Read more about the school at www.seljord.fhs.no

 

ABOUT SELJORD

Seljord is situated in the heart of Telemark County, both geographically and culturally. The towns, villages and local communities in Telemark are rich in culture and nature. Telemark stretches from the lowlands of the coast, lakes and rivers, to the mountain peaks and great mountain plateaus.

You will discover both old cultural heritage and contemporary art within  Seljord, as the town offers art and culture of a great range and variation, with concerts, theater and art exhibitions available to you throughout the year.

If you have a hobby or interest that you wish to keep up with throughout the year, there are plenty of possibilities within the Seljord community. Seljord has its own sport association, hunter and fisher association, a culture house with a cinema, theatre, spinning and sports hall. There is also a swimming hall and bowling alley in the downtown area.

Seljord also offers several music festivals, markets and conferences.  “Dyrskuplassen” is the local arena with an annual market that has been a cultural attraction since 1866. For three days in September, more than 70,000 people visit the market, which is among the largest of its kind in Norway.

In the neighboring town Bø, the University College of Telemark and its many students make sure there is always something going on. The local concert arena, “Kroa i Bø”, is well known all over Norway for its great concerts and attracts some of the biggest bands in Norway and occasionally some international names.

 

FACTS ABOUT SELJORD

• Seljord is 30 km from Bø, and a train ride away from Oslo and Kristiansand / Stavanger.
• From Seljord there is a bus several times daily to Oslo and Bergen / Haugesund. The journey to Oslo is approximately 3 hours.
• The highest mountain point in Seljord is 1,541 meters above sea level.
• Seljord is located on lake Seljord and has considerable tourist traffic in the summer, particularly because of the lake monster that hides in the depths of the lake.
• County: Telemark
• Area: 711 kv.km
• Population: 2,930
• Read more about Seljord on:
• www.seljord.kommune.no
• www.seljordportalen.no