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WIN THIS DRUM !!!
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Hello friends,
Welcome to my first newsletter. I hope it finds you well!
DVD and CD
By the grace of God, David Reihs, from dhavir productions) and I have finished my instructional DVD, Arabic Percussion with Faisal Zedan: Derbakki Fundamentals. We have been working on it since May, 2009. I am grateful to David for his encouragement and support in this project. It has been a long term goal of mine to create an educational tool to guide Middle Eastern drummers in fundamental techniques and style. I hope that the dvd will be inspirational to beginners, and refreshing to experienced drummers.
This project will be the first in a series that teaches Arabic and Middle Eastern music and drumming. I value your opinions and feedback.
The dvd addresses the physical aspect of playing the Derbakki and provides detailed explanation of the relationship between different parts of the hand and how the understanding of this relationship is fundamental to drumming. Different rhythms are demonstrated, ranging from their basic structures to the more ornamented phrases. Techniques used for basic ornamentations will also be covered in the dvd and a complete belly dance style Derbakki solo is broken down. Performances include: a derbakki improvisation, belly dance solo, two pieces with guest qanoon player Samer Farah, and a drum ‘jam’ in the Emin Percussion shop in Istanbul. The accompanying e-book will provide extra information on subjects referred to in the dvd and drum notation for all exercises and rhtyhms presented.
Along with the dvd, a music cd called ‘MADAR‘ was recorded with Samer Farah and I. Samer is a Qanoun master and my music soulmate. We met in Los Angeles in the 90′s, and Samer left for Lebanon in early 2000. We recently recorded a few traditional songs reminescent of the way we used to perform together. The cd will be available at the same time as the dvd.
All info regarding the DVD , CD, and Emin Darbuka (derbakki) Giveaway please visit dhavir.com.
Derbakki Giveaway
We are having a special Emin Percussion Darbuka Giveaway! If you buy the dvd before March 15th, 2010, your name will be entered into a drawing to win the professional Emin Darbuka that we used in the video.
I am proud to announce the formation of our new group, AJYAL (Generations). I have asked my friend, Susu Pampanin to be my partner in this project. AJYAL aims to revive the spirit that defines Arabic music and dance through dynamic percussion. After a long period of searching for like-minded musicians, we have realized our dream in this new band. The group so far include these lovely people: Nazir Latouf, oud player and singer of many different Arabic styles; Hosain Resan, violin, oud player, and singer of the Iraqi and Egyptian traditional style; TerryAnne Gutieres, frame drummer and main dancer performing traditional dances from the Arab world; and Lauri Eisler, qanoun player. AJYAL will have its second performance at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco on 22 January. We will be joined by Ms. Rachel Brice, the beautiful and talented dancer.
I have recently been collaborating with Sami Abu Shumays in New York. Sami is a very talented Arabic violinist and remarkable person who leads the group, Zikrayat. I have joined them in New York for performances and workshops between 8-18 January, 2010. I will be teaming with Zikrayat in February and May as well. I will be teaching workshops, working with an ensemble, and performing in Virginia along with Sami.
Teaching
I will be teaching workshops with Susu Pampanin and dancer, Samar Naser in the beginning of January. The workshops will focus on the relationship between belly dance and Arabic music, and how dancers and musicians work together. Please checkout Samar Naser’s website www.hiplinebellydance.com
I will be holding an Arabic frame drum workshop at the new Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California, on 30 January, 2010. The focus will be on different styles of traditional Arabic frame drumming from Syria, Egypt, the Gulf region and Morocco. I will be demonstrating different aspects about group frame drum playing from these countries.
I have also started teaching at the new world music and dance school, ZAMBALETA, in San Francisco. The school is directed by Mina Girgis, our Egyptian fellow musician. Check out their fun website www.zambaleta.org
Thanks for reading and I hope to be seeing all of you soon!
Best to all of you,
Faisal Zedan
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