Recommended Instructional Materials

For Beginners


Foundations of Arabic Rhythm - Souhail Kaspar

This DVD provides an excellent introduction to classical Arabic doumbek and riq (tamborine) techniques and basic rhythms.

Awzan: Arab Rhythmic Modes - Souhail Kaspar with guest musician Dr. A.J. Racy. 

This CD was created as a practice tool for musicians and belly dancers, and presents many common bellydance rhythms. All tracks have percussion, and many include melodic improvisations on traditional instruments such as the nay, kawalah and buzuq.

Riqq: Arab Tambourine - Harim Nagi

This DVD focuses on riq technique, including open (caberet) and closed styles.

Practiceopedia: The Big Book of Practice Help - Philip Johnston

Though obviously written for children, it nonetheless offers many gems that people of any age can use to practice efficiently and effectively.

For Intermediate and Advanced

Egyptian Tablah (Doumbek) for Intermediate and Advanced Drummers  - Souhail Kaspar

This DVD introduces many rhythms and techniques appropriate for doumbek players ready to go beyond the fundamental basics.

Advanced Frame Drum Techniques - Yousif Sheronick

For those ready to add new skills and new sounds, this DVD offers several techniques, such as various rolls and snaps, including some for the riq.

 -- Tara Severns

Links

New World Rhythmatism

New World Rhythmatism - Official site of NWR creators Joshua Levin andDeborah Nervig. Includes practice sound recordings, video recordings and pictorial study resources, and an Active Listening Guide linking to (mostly) free music recordings that "illustrate interesting technical and cultural concepts" or are "associated with assigned readings and other NWR exercises."

New World Rhythmatism (book) - This is our textbook - order it at cost plus shipping. Hint: specify air mail if you want it any time soon.

Rhythm Collections

Arabic Rhythms (Maqam World) - with sound clips, notation, meaning, origin, use & related rhythms

Jas's Middle Eastern Rhythms FAQ - Notation, sound samples, and information about many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean rhythms. Use the MIDI Rhythm Generator to create sound clips of any rhythm you type in, and at whatever tempo you choose.
 
History and Culture

Frame Drums and Tambourines - This article by percussionist N. Scott Robinson describes and shows many types of frame drums from various regions of the world. Extensive bibliography. An edited version of the article was published in Continuum Encyclopedia of Popular Music of the World, Volume 2: Performance and Production.

Discussion Lists

Gobet Drumming - A Yahoo eGroup "for all those percussionists interested in the goblet shaped drums of Asia, North Africa, and Eastern Europe. "

Framedrummer - A Yahoo eGroup for "players to engage with each other in discussing this ancient and global family of percussion instruments."

TaKeTiNa 

TaKeTiNa - The official site
Rhythm Full Circle - site for local TaKeTiNa facilitator Deborah Masterson

Organizations

NAFDA - North American Frame Drum Association with a mission " to cultivate awareness and education among the general public and students of the artistry of frame drumming in all of its forms found in both traditional and modern cultures through its annual and regional events."

MEDAH - Middle Eastern Dance Artists of Hawaii - "Promoting the diversity of Middle Eastern and related forms of dance, music, and culture through education, instruction, and community."



International Folk Dancers of Hawaii - Meets weekly to enjoy" regional dances of Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Armenia, Turkey, Israel, Yugoslavia, and many other countries."