International Handpan Retreat - May, 2025
Alexander Mercks
To all the non German speakers - you can now take part in this beautiful immersive handpan experience as well.
There’s hardly any music that inspires me as much as that of Sam and Jaron,
aka ‘Archer & Tripp '.
I am even more grateful that I will be co-hosting this workshop with the two of them.
Dive in with us and experience the world of rhythms through TaKeTiNa, allow your voice to be a surprising guide, understand how to create and enrich your own melodies and play harmonies full of depth and emotion.
Samantha Archer & Jaron Tripp
The Hard Facts
Start: 17:00 | Sunday 4th May, 2025
End: 13:00 | Friday 9th May 2025
Place: Seminarhaus Sophia
An der Elbe 2 | 29490 Neu Darchau
Northern Germany near Hamburg
Language: English
Cost: 1500 to 950€, normal price 1190€
including accommodation & food & workshop & rental handpan
5 days, 5 nights
Open for ALL levels
We will keep dividing the group.
Rental handpan (D Kurd) is available upon timely request.
About Us
Jaron Tripp
My musical journey has always been shaped by the steady, grounding force of RHYTHM.
In rhythm, I feel the pulse of life pushing us to evolve, grow, and keep moving forward.
Through diving deep into complex rhythmic structures and exploring their impact on the human nervous system during my 'Advanced TaKeTiNa Trainer' training (since 2010), I've developed a profound and very personal connection to rhythm and pulse.
When my first Hang came into my life in 2006, it was an incredible enrichment, especially because there were no traditions or established playing methods. The joy of freedom, in shaping my own path with the handpan, continues to inspire me today.
Sharing this joy and guiding people on meditative rhythmic journeys is something that always deeply touches me.
Whether it’s flowing intuitively on the handpan or diving deep into complex compositions, I absolutely love sparking your excitement for rhythmic exploration!
Samantha Archer
I am a multi-instrumentalist from the UK, and music has always been my life's essence. To me, life is music, and MELODIES are woven into everything I encounter, creating a continuous thread through my experiences.
I began playing the piano at the age of four, and I was already singing before I learned how to speak.
Whilst I am a classically trained musician, it is improvisation—both as a way to connect deeply with myself and with others—that I consider to be the most profound form of expression. This is at the heart of my workshops: being fully present in the moment, connecting with the playful inner child, and embracing personal, creative expression. There are no wrong notes or melodies—everything is allowed, and every sound tells its own unique story.
I met the Handpan in 2010, and since then, it has taken me around the globe. Through concerts, jam sessions, and exchanges with a wide variety of musicians, my playing has been greatly enriched and refined. These experiences have shaped not only my music but also my understanding of connection and listening.
I am truly excited to share my experiences with you and to accompany you on your own journey in music—whether you’re just beginning or seeking new ways to deepen your creative expression.
Alexander Mercks
Handpan is my passion—but at its heart, it’s the music. Through music, I learn to paint my emotions onto the canvas of this world. More and more, I am able to dive deeper into the world of music to create a more precise picture and express what words cannot capture.
I want to help you give voice to your innermost self—showing you how to transform your emotions into handpan sounds, connect more deeply with yourself, and create a stronger bond with your surroundings.
HARMONY will be my focus within this workshop. Over the past few years, I’ve immersed myself into chromatic playing, and I’d like to offer you simple tips to help make your handpan playing more harmonically diverse and expressive. Along the way, I want to share my fascination with the world of harmony, showing how we can express and feel more complex emotions through it.
The Place
In the north of Germany - somewhere between Hamburg, Berlin and Hanover - lies this almost forgotten village, which consists of just a few houses that tell stories from times gone by. Just a few steps away you can stroll along the Elbe river and you can be sure to meet more animals than people. The house itself is very spacious yet cosy. It offers us two large seminar rooms and several smaller common rooms.
You share a basic room with one to a maximum of three other people. Optionally, you can also sleep in your campervan, camp in the beautiful natural garden or book a room in the house next door if you need more peace and quiet. There are unfortunately no single rooms in the house.
How to get here:
By car from Hamburg/ Lüneburg, take the B 216 towards Dannenberg, in Witzeetze turn off towards Drethem, in Drethem the only possibility is to turn right, opposite the church is the house.
The nearest railway station is Leitstade, 5 km away. This is the railway line Lüneburg-Dannenberg
Bus connections: Under certain circumstances, especially in the event of delays, a bus connection can also be useful:
Bus route 5300 runs from Lüneburg to Neu Darchau. This is 6 km from the conference centre. Sometimes it is also possible to change to bus number 304 in the direction of Dannenberg. This bus stops directly in Drethem.
There is also the bus route 5304 from Lüneburg in the direction of Lüchow. This bus also stops in Pomoissel. This is 9 km away.
Taxi Kern Tel: 05862 / 9999
If you need support, we can help each other. We'll create a WhatsApp group for communication before the workshop.
If you're coming by car, please consider carpooling to reduce the carbon footprint of your journey.