“The Portuguese guitar is losing its characteristics”, said José Manuel Neto, who considers that “this 'workshop' will help to reinforce the differentiating factors of the Portuguese guitar, otherwise they will be diluted and lost.”

The musician, who regularly accompanies Camané and Mariza, among other Fado singers, considers that, if the Portuguese guitar loses its characteristics, it will become "almost identical to the classical 12-string guitar".

The Portuguese guitar workshop will take place on October 4th and November 7th, at the Museu do Fado, in Lisbon.

The viola workshops, by Carlos Manuel Proença, are also held at the Museu do Fado, on 14 October and 11 November.

Carlos Manuel Proença, 51, studied music at the Academia de Amadores de Música and, in 2006, Casa da Imprensa awarded him the Francisco Carvalhinho Prize. Two years later he received the Amália Award for the Best Instrumentalist.