Interest in Kaustinen-originating, folk music based Näppäri pedagogy has grown greatly in recent years. This is reflected in record participation figures – around 100 children and young people in the year-round group in Kaustinen, 360 participants from all over the country in the early summer Näppäri course in Kaustinen, and around 550 participants in the Näppäri concert at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, which this year includes the Folkskandia event, participated by 100 guest players from five countries.
Another step forward is the launch of näppäri-based education at the Central Ostrobothnia Conservatory and the launch of a näppäri specialisation option in music pedagogy at Centria University of Applied Sciences. International interest in Näppärit is also growing, partly due to the inclusion of Kaustinen fiddle playing in the UNESCO representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of the humanity, which has attracted numerous international visitors to learn about Näppäri pedagogy.
The Näppärimusaa 6 music book, published by the Folk Music Institute at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, responds to demand with a selection of new Näppäri music. The selection of fourteen tunes has been compiled with international interest in mind. The selection includes tunes from Kaustinen, other parts of Finland and Scandinavia, as well as some Scottish and Texan spices, all arranged in the näppäri style. The book contains parts for violins and other string instruments of different levels, as well as accompaniment. Background information is provided in both Finnish and English.
Näppärimusaa 6, Kansanmusiikki-instituutti KIJ 121. Edited by Pilvi Järvelä, Siiri Virkkala, Elina Havia and Alina Kivivuori. 54 pages, bound.
In addition to the Näppärimusaa 6 music book, the Folk Music Institute publishes the traditional Kaustinen jam book at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival. The jam workshops held at Café Mondo at noon during the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival have become an institution. This year's jam songs range from Sysmä and Belgium to Quebec, and the jams are led by Le Diable à Cinq, Antti Paalanen, Freija and WÖR, among others.
Kaustisen jamivihko 2025. Folk Music Institute KIJ 122. 30 pages, bound.
Jam workshops at the Folk Music Festival from Tuesday to Saturday daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Café Mondo.