Interactive Middle Eastern Music & Rhythms Workshop Event
Free gatherings - 2:30 - 4 pm on Saturdays July 10th, 17th, 31st, August 14th, 21, 28th. (Follows my Saturday afternoon dance class 1-2:30 pm) Studio: 15651 Camino Del Cerro, Los Gatos, CA 95032 (408) 356-9473 Vaccination proof and masks required. www.MaShuqa.com
The function/purpose - to understand the structure and appreciate Middle Eastern dance music - a gathering with a purpose. Bring or borrow drums, tambourines. (No zils or finger cymbals). Wear a mask.
The goal of the gathering is to help dancers (and drummers and audience) to appreciate and understand the structure of Middle Eastern music. And, quite literally it will be an interactive experience - to try your hand at playing the rhythms in the music. Target audience: mainly dancers - but drummers and people who enjoy Middle Eastern music too. Bring a drum or tambourine. Or borrow a drum or tambourine. No zils. No dancing, just playing percussion.
My goals are two-fold:
1) to generate interest in Middle Eastern music and dance; and 2) to educate dancers and give them active listening skills to recognize rhythmic and lyrical patterns in Middle Eastern music.
It's not about trying to teach people the rhythms by names and patterns; or how to play a drum or tambourine - (perhaps in a future workshop, yes). Hoping to avoid the typical issues that come up with Drum Circles. People playing off beat patterns, playing louder and faster, and playing beats that have nothing to do with the music.
It is an opportunity for dancers to learn about the structure of the music and rhythms, the lyrical phrasing of music, the nuances of tempo changes, and the quality of different Middle Eastern instruments. An opportunity to listen actively to better perform improvisationally with live music.
Hoping it stimulates interest in enrolling in a future Drum Solo workshop or my dance classes. These Interactive Workshops are for music appreciation and understanding, not for dancing. Bring a camp chair.
This is a free interactive workshop with the opportunity to listen actively and learn about the structure, rhythms and lyrical musicality in Middle Eastern music.