Total Rhythm: Oakland World Percussion Festival 2010

WHAT: Total Rhythm, Oakland World Percussion Festival 2010
WHEN: Saturday, May 8, 2010, 9am - 6pm
WHERE: Merritt College, 12500 Campus Drive Oakland, CA 94610

"Northern California's Largest One-Day Percussion Event!"

• Dive into the rhythms and colors of Brazil!


• Learn dynamic and energizing West African and Congolese arrangements!


• Feel the power of Middle Eastern percussion, and study the beautiful, folkloric Afro-Cuban Rhythms Makuta and Iyesa.

World Percussion Workshops taught by All-Star Instructors with OVER 100 YEARS of performance, recording and teaching experience.

The Award-winning OWPF 2010 staff has performed and/or recorded with musical legends Ella Fitzgerald - McCoy Tyner - Cachao - David Byrne - Margareth Menezes - Fua Dia Congo - Gilberto Gil - Carlos Santana - Bonnie Riatt - Changuito - Joan Baez - David Rudder - Bobby McFerrin - Starlift Steel Orchestra - Calypso Rose - Giovanni Hidalgo.

Attend an individual workshop(s) or be one of the first 50 purchasers of a FULL-DAY Pass for $50! (After 50 sales, FULL-DAY pass price rises to $75).

African Marketplace * Drum, Percussion & Craft Vendors * Free Parking * Children Under 12 are free * Drums provided, or bring your own!

Oakland World Percussion Festival 2010 At-A-Glance:
8:30 am: Doors Open
9:00 am: Introductory/Welcoming Remarks/All Student JAM
9:30-11:00am: "Colors of Brazil" Workshop with Robert Wallace
11:00am-12:30pm: "Insights into West African Rhythms" Workshop with Ben Isaacs and Gabe Harris
12:30pm-1:30pm: LUNCH BREAK
12:45pm-1:30pm: James and the Hands On Fire Band will be performing
1:30pm-3:00pm: "Middle Eastern Percussion" with Susu Pampanin
3:00pm-4:30pm: "Afro-Cuban Makuta and Iyesa" with Michael Spiro
4:30pm-6:00pm: "Congolese Roots" with Kiazi Malonga
9:00pm-2:00am: Official OWPF 2010 After-Party

Full Festival Day Pass: $75 (For first 50 people: $50)
Includes FREE ADMISSION to Festival After-Party, 9pm-1am
Location in Oakland, CA to be announced.

Flyer Link: http://totalrhythm.com/owpf.pdf
For more information: http://totalrhythm.com/percussion_festival.html

The Art of FrameDrumming Workshop with Marla Leigh

Sonic Planet Productions Presents

The Art of FrameDrumming Workshop with Marla Leigh

In this compelling workshop, we will uncover the dynamic and magical world of frame drumming and rhythm from the Middle East, Africa and India as well as the art of improvisation.

You will leave this powerful and very informative percussion immersion with all of the tools necessary to become a confident, creative and fully inspired improvising drummer.

WHEN: Saturday, May 15, 10:30am-4pm & Sunday, May 16, 12 -4pm

COSTS: Saturday ONLY, $55 - Saturday and Sunday, $95

Bring a friend and each receive $5 off workshop

WHERE: Grass Valley Taiko Dojo, St Joseph’s Cultural Center, Grass Valley, CA

To Register: Call 530.432.2716 or visit http://www.sonicplanetproductions.com/

About the Instructor: Marla Leigh is a Los Angeles based professional Percussionist, Flautist, Composer and Educator, who specializes in the frame drum. She is a well-recognized teacher and performer in the world of frame drumming, and has created a unique approach both in playing and in teaching this instrument.

For more info: www.sonicplanetproductions.com 530.432.2716 www.marlaleigh.com

Drummer Kenne Thomas has written a nice book on Middle Eastern rhythms and it has been released in USA.

I haven't read it yet but it looks like a great resource for those who are interested in dumbek, riq and Middle Eastern rhythms.

Here is Kenne's website, where you can see how to buy the book.

http://www.mninter.net/~thomasjp/book-DumbekDance.html

David Kuckhermann has a new advanced frame drum DVD series out. Here's a trailer:

Frame Drums and Singing ~ Private Lessons and Workshop

with Rowan Storm
Athens Greece, 27 April - 23 June 2009

Frame Drums and Singing
~ and other Middle Eastern Percussion
~ Private Lessons and
~ Frame Drums and Singing Workshop (more info soon)

Private lessons for percussion instruments including:
- Frame Drums: bendir, tambourine (riq), daff, and Rowan Storm Dayereh, now in production at Cooperman Drums
- Darbukka, (dumbek or tumbeleki), tombak, finger cymbals

- For beginners through advanced
- Learn efficient technique, empowering you to play for many hours with stamina and confidence
- Learn to play with authority and power, from the most basic to complex rhythms
- Learn to improvise and stay grounded 'in time'
- Learn to play with ensembles of traditional music
- Learn to play with percussion groups
- Learn to sing and play simultaneously, with songs from Armenia, Greece, Turkey, Iran

- Greek, English, Persian languages spoken

ALSO:
30 and 31 May
Frame Drums and Singing ~ Weekend Workshop
with Carpet Concert
~ more info coming soon

Please contact
rowanstorm@carpetconcert.com
0030 210 3643685

Drum Classes for beginning Doumbec, Tar & Riq

If you live in the San Francisco Bay area and you are interested in beginning Doumbec, Tar & Riq classes, I highly recommend these classes with Mike Fair AKA Faraz. I first met Mike at a local drum circle several years ago and was impressed with his vast knowledge of middle eastern rhythms. When he offered classes, I immediately signed up. I've learned a lot of great technique for the Riq from Mike over the years.

Mike is the drummer for Meridian Major.

Come enjoy the fun & easy "sing-song" style to playing drums with Faraz.
Costs: $15 - $20 per session, early reservations rewarded with lowest fee.

In San Jose on April 30 @ 7:15PM At Khajulahs' Studio
In Sunnyvale on April 27 @1:30PM At Lunatic Fringe Studio

WHERE: Khajulah’s Home Studio
609 Minor Avenue
San Jose, CA 95125
(Between Downtown SJ and Willow Glen, near 280, Bird Exit. Easy access via public trannsportation: light rail and bus route 64)
To secure your space, please contact Patrice/Khajulah: patrice-khajulah AT excite DOT com408-279-8524
www.khajulah.com

For more information, please contact Mike/Faraz: msfair AT comcast DOT net
650-369-2368
www.meridianmajor.com

Old blog postings:
http://riqq.blogspot.com/2006/03/my-drum-teacher-mike-fair-aka-faraz.html
http://riqq.blogspot.com/2007/10/drum-lessons-with-mike-fair.html

Tobias Roberson has a new Finger Cymbal DVD

Tobias Roberson, has a new DVD out covering finger cymbal or zills. I haven't seen it, but this could be an interesting DVD. Tobias is a bay area musician, and teacher. If you live in the bay area be sure to check out his performances with various belly dancing troups and other traveling artists.

Jas's Middle Eastern Rhythms

If you are looking for one of the most definite, online resources for Middle Eastern Drumming Rhythms, then the best place that I have found is Jas's Middle Eastern Rhythms page.

Jas lists a few hundred rhythms in notation form along with a MIDI file (very useful if you can't quite get the rhythm).


Also, there is a FAQ page on the site with ton's of great information. It's in a variety of languages.


Finally, one of the really cool gems is the online Rhythm generator, which will produce and play a custom Rhythm for you. You can also have it generate a MIDI file for you to store and play back offline or with your synthesizer: http://www.khafif.com/rhy/rhygen.html

Hatem Ammous Demonstrates Tunesian Rhythms Part 4

In part 4 of this video podcast series, David Kuckhermann interviews music professor Hatem Ammous, while on a recent trip to Tunesia.

Here, Professor Ammous demonstrates the Tunesian rhythm "Barwel" on all three drums.

Hatem Ammous Demonstrates Tunesian Rhythms Part 3

In part 3 of this video podcast series, David Kuckhermann interviews music professor Hatem Ammous, while on a recent trip to Tunesia.


Here, Professor Ammous demonstrates the Sufi and Tunesian rhythm "Btaihi", illustrating the Sufi method, the modern method and the popular method of playing it on the Bendir. He also plays it on the Dourbouka. I really like the finger work on this rhythm.



Also, in this video Professor Ammous demostrates the Tunesian method for playing the Riq (known in Tunesia as the "Tar"). He then goes on to play the rhythm "Btaihi" on the Riq. It's a unique and really cool method of 'turning' the drum, keeping the right hand stationary in space.



He finishs the session playing the rhythm "M'dawar" on all three drums.



So far, this is my favorite video of the series!

Hatem Ammous Demonstrates Tunesian Rhythms Part 2

In part 2 of this video podcast series, David Kuckhermann interviews music professor Hatem Ammous, while on a recent trip to Tunesia.



Here, Professor Ammous demonstrates the oriental rhythm "M'rabaa Bedwi" and the Sufi rhythm "Aji" Al Ghita rhythms on both the Bendir and Dourbouka, illustrating the different interpretations of the rhythms with respect to the Dum and Tek for each drum.

Hatem Ammous Demonstrates Tunesian Rhythms Part 1

In this video, David Kuckhermann interviews music professor Hatem Ammous, while on a recent trip to Tunesia. David has pulled together some amazing online drum lessons and his DVD is full of great techniques and rhythms for the frame drums. This online video is really well produced.



Here, Professor Ammous demonstrates the Fazzeni and Al Ghita rhythms on both the Bendir and Dourbouka, illustrating the different interpretations of the rhythms with respect to the Dum and Tek for each drum. It's interesting that he makes a point of saying that the Darbouka is for classical rhythms.

How Cooperman Makes Drums

Here's a couple of video's highlighting the Cooperman Drum Company in Vermont.

Lapstyle Frame drumming by David Kuckhermann

Here is an other short instructional video on lapstyle frame drumming by David Kuckhermann.

Riq instruction with David Kuckhermann

Here's another instructional video by David Kuckhermann. This video focuses on Riq playing techniques.

Frame Drum Lesson with David Kuckhermann

David has produced an awesome DVD on Framedrumming. Here's a short video on playing frame drum in the upright position:

Glen Velez Finger Snap Lesson

Here's a short video on how to finger snap by Glen Velez: