I have the pleasure and luck to know this human, this woman, friend and coworker the last two years. She is generous, smiling or almost always smiling and willing to help the fellow human. Kind and not only, a very skilled musician Hello Efie

Hey Mena

Eh… Thank you very much, once more for giving me the opportunity to interview you. Εh… In order to begin I would like you to give me some information about yourself. For example, where were you born, when were you born? Do you have siblings?

Εh I was born in Kalamaria, Eh.. which is, let’s say a municipality next to municipality of Thessaloniki Eh… I was born in ’79, so now we are talking I am, let’s say 45 years old.

I am so sorry that I asked such a thing. It is not polite asking women such a question.

Nah, I’ll be 45 in May, have a little patience… Eh… and I was born in a family in which we were 4 children with lots of noice in the house. And… That’s all…

You are… in the row…

I am the second. The sandwich child just as we say in Greece.  So… until 30 years old I lived in Thessaloniki.  Before I worked as a substitute teacher in Tzia, I hadn’t left Thessaloniki.

Okay !.. As a subtitute… I see, Ok

Yes

We’ll talk about that later What was the reason for starting music?

The reason was… Nothing important… My mom has told me that I asked to learn the recorder. I don’t remember that and recorder seems boring to me, but my teacher that was giving me recorder lesson was a flutist.

Ah! you had recorder lessons

I had recorder lessons, I don’t remember why. And my teacher said: “This child I thing that she would be good on the flute” she was also teaching at Macedonian Conservatory in Thessaloniki at the center so I went there, started flute lessons because my teacher was a flutist not because I chose it.

Ok, but did you like it?

Yes I did

Were your parents playing music at all?

No, not at all… Εh… and they were very different people. My mom had a classical education so, I mean all the time, she was taking me to orchestras and such things to listen, and my father didn’t like at all that music and he was putting on rebetiko music. Our house is full of discs with rebetika and only rebetika.

And there was music at the house?

I was listening, i do, i do, yes, yes I was listening a lot, but mostly we were listening to… this is what I realize that… compared to the children that probably they don’t listen music, I am asking them: “What do you hear, what do you like?” and at their house they don’t listen to anything at all while at our house there was constantly a disk playing. Pop folk, rebetika – yes, ok- but I was hearing all the time music

Vinyl existed back then

Yes vinyl

And tapes

And tapes, but we had a turntable to put music on

I am trying to imagine it… Εh… which hours were you listening to music, you would wake up, let’s say, to go to school and you could hear music?

No, in the afternoon

In the afternoon

In the afternoon we also had for entertainment, We had… we put on… on vinyls… the fairy tales fairy tales that they have music on the background: put on vinyl with Lilipoupoli, Tenekedoupoli all those things we knew them by heart

Nitsas fairy tales

Many. Later, Hary Klien. Two hundred times we heard Hary Klien. I like the vinyl with Bulas: Shower Honey… also two hundred times.

I don’t know them.. Beautifull! So you started with recorder… you end up having lesson at the Macedonian Conservatory from which you took a degree?

 

Yes, on the ’97 I had the degree and because was the first year eh… I entered the Architectural studies at the Polytechnic university of A.U.Th. eh… I quit. I mean, I said it was good playing until now. It was nice practicing, I mean, I remember, I was going, having lessons at the University and going back home eh.. at Kalamaria to study for two hours to return back at the center where I had lab lessons and so on And one day i said: Yes, why studying as it I am going to present something or like I am going to??… so it was a decision, too much… because I was studying every day from fifth grade of the primary school… and at the vacations, Christmas and Easter and the weekends… suddenly I said no more. And indeed, I stored it in a cabinet. That’s it.

Seriously? Ok. So many hours of studying so many years reached a peak…

I said I want to be free I don’t want to have this thing every day for two hours, three hours… stop I finished… bam

Nevertheless, all that studying, all that music that you gave your time… in which way did it help you all that period?

See… it helped me build an identity because… I saw that I have an extra skill or because I was studying, I don’t know. They were saying: “ Ah you play beautifully Efie, you play beautifully Efie!”. So suddenly Efie was the one that was playing the beautiful flute. And it was good for me, it was part of my identity… how can I say… a value, I discovered what I’m worth

Eh… To whom di it give value?

Εh… I felt it like a value, I mean all the people that were listening to me the teachers at the conservatory and the rest of the students : “Well done Efie, Well done Efie”. Eh, I was happy. I was playing at school feasts “Ah Effie nice playing!” I thought I was unique at playing the flute Εh…And it make me feel…

But you were unique

I was unique… I was well. It wasn’t student playing, I wanted to be someone good, let’s say, I was listening to the recordings from the tapes. My teacher would give me, let’ say, two tapes with different tracks from all the periods and I was listening to the flutists. I was jealous and wanted to become like them. By the passing of time I was playing those tracks. I said “Great there is a hope, I will become finally” … and all that happened… I was feeling very nice, it helped me more, I was thinking, that I have a value… like a teenager that you have a crisis… I didn’t have that identity crisis.

 

Nice, this is a part that eh…. you were living that period, now that you are, let’s say, a music teacher, Εh… why a child should learn, let’s say music? Why is it important, let’s say, someone to have a music education? Like a human, what are the benefits  of learning music? Εh… It makes you, let’s say… We know that music has lots of benefits, first of all you have to eh… thing many things simultaneously, to blow -for example if you play wind instruments- and read at the same time, to hear your sound, how you control you fingers etc. What else? Those are the technical aspect, let’s say, that I am thinking about.

Yes, no, it’ s a very good way of teaching the body to coordinate with the mind I mean. It seems to me very good education, exactly for the reasons you mentioned, eh… but also -if you managed to pass it to the child and if the child is ready to accept  something like that, to have more interiority… eh… conscience.. -the wind instruments help a lot on that- how the air comes throw your body, to have conscience of small movements, micro senses. Εh… I seem like that someone acquires a sensitivity, no in terms of the society, not that kind of sensitivity…  Εh…attention to the details

To himself

To himself

The self-control

Yes, self-control. And…. it seems to me, because it’s what i like, it seems magical, but I don’t manage to pass it to everyone. But the most important thing it seems to me is… how can I say… It seems that on it’s own it’s an enjoyment to try coordinate with others, just like playing basketball, it gives you the opportunity to play together with others.

What you are saying now… playing with others. I am taking you back to the years you were a teenager in Thessaloniki. I would like to ask, were. Εh… you playing with anyone else those years, did you have a band with other kids eh… at your age at that period? I am talking about a teenager now, Gymnasium, Lyceum…

Εh… We had about… eh… I am not sure right now, probably on Lyceum, first grade of Lyceum, third grade of Gymnasium, a band

Jethro Tull I can imagine

Ah exactly, we are so popular. It was a student band that was playing artistic-pop songs. eh… We were trying by ourselves, second vocals.. to compose extra melodic lines, eh…. I can’t say that it was so productive that period because I didn’t have good music knowledge. So, the others were helping me what to play, so I was playing with parts Nevertheless we had a great time. We also went for a trip. They took as to Symi alone, we were kids without our parents. We played at a festival. It was a nice little band, we were also having rehearsal at nights when the others were sleeping

Beautifull

Yes

Artistic-pop

Yes artistic-pop

Do you remember any song?

Εh… We had a girl… eh… now she is professional eh… singer… Εh…she reminds me of the voice of eh… Alexiou, no, more like Protopsalti Εh… and my favorite song she was singing was “Exartatai”: “What dreams you would have (TI oneiro tha ekanes)” she was singing it like that, “if you were not by my side (An den isoun sto plai mou)” … anyway remembering those accents made me crazy with that song… eh… yes…our hit was…: “Hristo you must play immediately (Hristo pexe epigontos)” a composition of Nikolopoulos, chaos when we were playing that song, I played the finger cymbals

Ah, you didn’t play only flute

No I wanted to pretend I am beautiful playing finger cymbals, yes, I had seen one woman that she was playing them and I also wanted to.. .play like her

We will continue with a little question. What does music means to you?

What music means to me.. I guess.. eh… company I can say. Just that. I mean…I feel… not a long time before I realized, I could say that I am not preoccupied with music, I don’t know an artist with his name, a few… eh…When I am listening to a song I like I am not wondering: who is the singer? what is it? what kind? when? nothing, zero. I do not have that kind of relationship with music. But I feel like when I am working on something and simultaneously there is music it is like I am entering another world, that’s why I am saying music it’s a companion to me … and eh… Efie becomes something else, she becomes dual. Some days ago I was making something for me, something creative, listening to music at the same time and I realized with what kind of energy I was workng and what I finally produced and said.. “What happened, when did that happened?”

What did you make?

Εh… I made a stamp and I was making my own fabric with this stamp

And you had the music like eh…

Like a background but eh… i was saying, never mind, i had… suddenly I realized I am, eh… how can I say, optimism, creativity, energy, nice pulse that didn’t stop and I said: “But how did that happen?” and… realized it was because of the music, when it stopped my soul was stressed: “It’s fine till here, maybe I should continue tomorrow?” eh… I lost my pulse and said it was the music.

I see! Wow! very nice! Εh… Efie, you have also studied at the Architectural University and you spent your time with more fine arts  eh… objects. Apart from the Architectural University eh… Do you have the degree? Did you finish studying? Do have more studies in Fine Arts?

Εh… No I didn’t, I just work on that. eh … When I finished my studies, I wanted to teach. I wanted to work with kids and not  eh… like an Architect. So, I was making crafts for kids and I was working at all day schools back then and at kids library. I was making crafts for money and start experimenting with many different materials. I watched ideas, there are millions of ideas on the internet, on books to read. the content is countless.

When did you finish university?

Four… 2004

And from 2004 you were living eh… in Thessaloniki?

Yes !

Nice eh… And as you told me before, because of your appointment you moved to… to Tzia

To Tzia

What was your job there?

I was eh… I was a specialty teacher of Structural Projects Designers. I mean I was in charge of all the specialties lessons.

Is it in Tzia? A..

They have Vocational High School

They have Vocational High School, aha!

But because there aren’t many kids, eh… in reality you are responsible for all the specialty. I mean all the hours are…

How was that?

Εh… It was difficult and the subject was not my specialty. And the kids, they had too much experience. Because their parents are builders, eh… also in stone very good, so everything I was telling them it seemed wrong eh… I was studying the booksbut they were more experienced… much more bright… eh… but I couldn’t support what I am telling them is correct. How can I support something only the book is telling me, I had lack of experience. I was feeling ridiculous

Yes, that is … the difference between practise and theory and those … who stand for experienced sometimes in my opinion they are more right, than a book says, I mean it’s incredible, only… only… only with theory you cannot act, practical exercise and experience it is definitely needed. I thing knowledge it’s just a …a step to make something better, it’ s an expedient, just say, it’s not an end in itself, I would say. Εh… And here in Syros when did you come? You were… in Tzia you weren’t occupied with music?!… or you were? Am I wrong?

No nothing, just in a small theatrical we made ..

Yes, yes!

I played a little bit of flute, we composed a song which was the soundtrack of… of the show.

With whom?

Me and the kids there. We made a theatrical team.

Okay

I had a co-teacher and she was really into theatre and with eh… some kids made that show.

Perfect. And Syros? What is the reason you came?

Εh…I came in Syros for work eh… when I was unemployed, eh… I came to work for the season in a beach bar. eh…. I met Alice Labarche which she is the conductor of the Philharmonic and I told her eh… “can I play with you?” and she answered: “Yes come on”. One day they sent me my flute from Thessaloniki and… I  played with them. It was very nice. I really had a great time and I didn’t want to leave afterwards. The… The summer, a music camp took place and Alice told me: “If you’d like come with us” and I thought that I’ll go for vacations. Εh… Εh… By the time I stepped my foot she told me: “So, I have a student now but I also have three more from the previous season eh… I don’t know what she will play, she cannot play the high notes and I don’t know how to teach her. Ιf you can, write something down for the concert at the end of the week” The kids they had never touched the instrument and she told me:  “Thing of something” I say: “Like what?” ”Eh, compose something”. Anyway, And… for me it was a huge experience. I had to write something with meaning… Eh to a kid that doesn’t even know how to hold the instrument. Within a week to managed play something.

That was at the camp?

Yes, at the camp…

At the summer camp?

Anyway, it was a huge experience, also with a person, I repeat that cannot hold the instrument, to have a lesson.. at least two and two hours in the afternoon. I mean…

It was that year I was… a fake conductor?

No, it was the year up to Nites. You were still a child. It was the first time I met you and I said: “A child” That’s why it makes such a big impression that now we work together and thinking: “What’s happening?”

…

Yes

It was at the hill of Mega Yialos. At Mega Yialos, finally at the concert… we made a small show. Where there was one mom reading a poem, no… one that was afraid of getting married  and his mother was telling him take that..

You always have great ideas.I have to mention that. I mean…creative, with imagination ideas… very nice… and you make them work.

Thank you Mena! The previous years probably. Now that I got old, I don’t make those small shows.

Eh… now you should have many students.

Yes!

Female, male students, at Philarmonic. How long you work there?

Εh… It’s twelve year

12 years.

Yes! Εh… So, yes! lots of kids have passed by Εh.. and eh… some of them they are still playing, they have become musicians but also lots of them quit. I mean they learn and someday they, let’s say, told me they sell the flute.

I guess all those years many people… have passed by your hands

Yes. I do not know how many. Haven’t counted. But they should be… a lot.  Because… by the time some of them stop new students are coming. I don’t know. I’ve never counted them.

Nice!

Yes! One day I must count them.

Here in Syros, you stayed because of the Philharmonic, because of the place, of Syros?

Εh… All together. I thing like, when I first came, I had no  company at all and I thought of… leaving after six months. I was telling Alice: “I will leave, I will leave, I will leave” Εh… she was only smiling probably she knew that I won’t leave. Εh… Anyway, eh after the first year I found company and I didn’t want to start a new life from the beginning so I stayed. But also, the work it seems like it suits me and that I was lucky I’ve found it. I mean to be with kids, to work together with Alice and I was thinking that period: How it’s possible to find a person that has so similar way of thinking eh… regarding the pedagogical part. I’ve never found someone like her before, so I said: “Yep, here we are”

Very Nice, Very nice to find eh… such a coworker.

Yes!

Difficult! Ιt seems difficult to mε

Difficult. That is why I cannot imagine myself leaving the island, although many times I am bored, and thinking let’s go away, but because of it I am stuck here

Here on the island what can you do? For example. Tell us two, three if you like.

You mean what else around work?

No, about art

Eh… along with music we have an artistic team  and organize exhibitions every year with a different subject. Εh.. I like that because where eight very different people with very different ideas and our meetings are still very rich, so I like it.

In what material?

I work with, I work with fabric, the others are … a… ceramist two graphists, eh… one calligraph-graphist,  eh… my friend Vasso who is kindergarten teacher but she makes lots of things and handcrafts,  A fine art-painter… eh… a lot. Yes.

Many people, great!

Many people and different approaches.

Εh… Do you believe it is better to work… rhetorical question… To work with few people or, let’s say, with one or two people and only or with more?

For me it depends the subject. If I have something very clear in mind… I want to work alone .because I want to make exactly what I have in mind. On the other hand, if I want to build an idea eh… I like to… work with more. I don’t like to work as a duet because I am afraid of the confrontation. At the duet it feels like to me what happens if we disagree, what happens next. I mean…

Yes!

I don’t like the feeling that one eh… will have to stay low or imposed.  I don’t like that. When there are more eh… I don’t feel that way.

You feel that when there are many!?

Yes. We will discuss everything with clear subject. How can I say… eh… exploitation. I mean the conversation will be richer than two opinions

Is it important to make dreams?

You drive me crazy now. Εh… For me it’s number one and… that question its very crucial because I realize in this period if I miss something is those dreams. If I don’t have dreams it feels like there is no development. Yes That’s why i said… How can i say it? Eh… to the point this question!

Εh… Would you like to share with us eh… a dream of yours if you have a dream that period or your thoughts about the future? And this is the last question

Εh… I have a dream but I don’t know if it will come true…Εh… it’s one day, it’ s very simple… one day I would like to have the time and the money …. to move to a county eh… Asia or Africa and to work as weaver or needleworker something to do with fabric. But to be a lab combined with me living there a few months or a year.

Wow!  

That’s it!

Hope…

That’s my dream

Hope you make it come true. Efie thank you very much

Thank you too.

Amazing experience and… I thing we have much more to talk about eh… maybe another time

Next time, we said enough

We said enough

Enough.

Τake care

Bye!