Class #5 - Nov 8

Rhythm Review

Maqsum 4/4
           1...2...3...4...

Home       D.T...T.D...T...

Walking    D.T.K.T.D.K.T...

Frame Drum Variations:

           1...2...3...4...
Home       D.C...C.D...T...
Walking    D.C.K.C.D.K.T...

Karachi 2/4  
           1 . . . 2 . . .
           T . . k T . D .  
           C . . k C . T .   frame drum variation


Practice Tips

Cycles
Read page 22 of the NWR book for a full explanation of cycles. While you play a rhythm, practice calling out cycles of various lengths by calling "one" on the first beat of your cycle. 

Play Along!
The  ensemble Helm has a few Karachi tracks on the album Itneen. You can hear samples on their website. You can also listen to samples, purchase tracks or buy the whole album from iTunes ($.99/$9.99) or PayPlay.fm ($.88/ $8.88).

More Steering Wheel Practice 
Waiting to turn left? Practice your timing with Left Turn Rolls. 

Class #4 - Nov 1

Class Notes for Nov 1, 2009

Maqsum 4/4
1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D T . T D . T . home (listen)
D T K T D K T . walking (listen)


Another variation for frame drums:

1 . 2 . 3 . 4 .
D C . T C . T . 

Where C="Cha"

Maqsum is sometimes also called "maSmuudii saghiir" (meaning "small masmoodi" - We'll learn the bigger masmoodi later). Jas says that beladi is a folksier version of maqsum.

New Calls

Reset - Break, and the person who calls it sets a new tempo.

N to A - The named individual (A) gets the specified number (N) of beats to fill while the rest of the ensemble is silent.


Practice Suggestions

See Vanquishing Wimpy Kas in Your Car


One fun way to practice your rhythm and timing is to play along with a recording. To practice both maqsum and beladi, you might like to use a track entitled (strangely enough) "Maqsum, Beladi" by The Black Drum from the album Rakshasa. You can hear a sample or buy the whole track for about a quarter. (By the way, this album rocks, and you can (currently) buy the whole thing for $3.26).

Class # 2 - Oct 18

Class Review for Oct. 18, 2009


New Rhythm

Ayoub 2/4 (listen)
1...2...
D..kD.T.

Omar Faruk Tekbilek's composition "Whirling Dervish" from the album Whirling has a slow ayoub rhythm that speeds up in the second half. Listen to it on YouTube, or buy the track for a dollar at the iTunes Store or iMeem. 

see Notes on Notation


New Calls

"Sing it" - speak the rhythm or cycle of rhythm once, unless another number is specified

"One" - designate the beginning of a cycle

"_______" (name of rhythm) - Call the ensemble to begin playing the new rhythm at the beginning of the cycle

"Add _______" - Attach one cycle of the named rhythm to the end of the established cycle (see NWR, p. 49)

"Drop _______" - Stop playing the named rhythm (see NWR, p. 49)

"Converge in the River" - Play unison subdivisions of the pulse without any time signature or stylistic variation (see NWR, p. 49)

See Straight Roll Drill