Vaidilute

Resources — Play, Practice & Share

Chord reference

Specifically for 9- and 10- string traditional kankles. The basic technique is to play chords, and then pick out melody and harmonies using other fingers. The chords for the base, and let you sing - either with your voice or you other fingers - traditional song melodies.

Techniques & exercises (coming soon)

Explanations of some simple techniques we’ve picked up over the years, possibly some lessons, excercises and practice notes (coming soon).

Latest songs

Recently added arrangements and notes.

Upcoming & Important dates

Check this section for rehearsals, gigs and important community dates. (If you have an event to add, please get in touch.)

  • Thursday 6th November 2025
    “The Boîte presents Kanklės and Sheng“
    Regina Marozienė and Dr Wang Zheng-Ting

  • Sunday 23rd November 2025
    Dainos Sambūris Choras Christmas Concert

  • Sunday rehearsals
    Most Sunday mornings - sometimes we will pause for a long weekend or community activity day.

Join us

We meet most Sunday mornings at the Lithuanian Club in Errol Street, North Melbourne. Visitors and new players are welcome — drop by for a practice, or just to say hello, and then have some lunch at the club… is a good start 😊. For enquiries or to check rehearsal times, use the About / Contact page.

The amazing world of kanklės

We are always super-excited, honoured and grateful to meet visiting kanklininkai and liaudės musicians from interstate or overseas. And we are always in awe of mucisians groups, galleris, festivals and concerts which share our love of the instrument and the traditions.

  • Regina Marozienė is a kanklininke, teacher, principal who visited Melbourne for a series of concerts with Chinese Sheng musician Dr Wang Zheng-Ting, and we were so lucky to met up with her and share our love of the instrument and music, share her knowledge, and perform together
  • Simona Smirnova is a kanklinenke, teacher, jazz musician now based in New York who has also visited Melbourne, and was incredibly generous spending time with us and having a special performance
  • Elena Railiene is a kanklinenke, teacher who spent some time in Melbourne and shared her knowledge and skills with us. We are forever grateful.
  • The Folk Music Museum in Kaunas has a whole room dedicated kanklės, plus interactive installations and amazing specimens of traditional instruments and music
  • Skambėkite, kanklės - Every four years there is a national Lithanuan Song Festival that celebrates Lithuanian folk culture, and there is a special kankles concert evening in the Church of Saint Johns in Vilnius