histories, sometimes in the history and ideology of the folk music revival, or, as currently, in Finnish music-making in America. Most often, the researcher of a particular project is also a musician; most of the Institute's researchers work or have worked as performing musicians themselves. For example, the first director of the Institute, Heikki Laitinen, carried out a study on variation and improvisation in Kalevala music throughout the 1980s. This would hardly have been possible without our own experiments in performing the music. The dense transcriptions of Kalevala themes found in archives gave the impetus by which it was, and still is, possible for musicians to develop existing and imaginary models through improvisational practice. The research work done at the Institute is published in various formats. In addition to research reports, we also publish guides, teaching cassettes, and educational video films. Our activities encompass training, so that published research results are also dispersed in practical courses, rehearsal days, and informational seminars.