Archive for April, 2009

Arabic Music (Maqam) classes coming up in May

Arabic Music Classes (Maqam)
taught by Sami Abu Shumays of Zikrayat

Mondays 7:30-9:00pm
May 4, 11, 18, June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, July 6
(no class May 25th Memorial Day)
Rates:
$15/class; $50 for 4 classes;
$100 for all 9 classes.

(students may attend classes on a drop-in basis, and are not required to attend all 9 in the session)

@  Joria Productions
www.joriaproductions.com
260 W. 36th Street (7th/8th),
3rd floor

Classes open to people with any level of music experience.  Sami leads the class in singing or playing melodies in a particular Maqam (Arabic melodic mode, similar to Raga in Indian Music).  Students imitate in a call-and-response fashion on their preferred instrument, or by singing, learning the building blocks of Arabic music in a way similar to how people learn language, by repeating common phrases.  Sami makes these classes accessible to all by presenting musical phrases that are short and clear enough for beginners to imitate, but which have subtleties and details that only the most advanced students will grasp.  Each class will focus on one maqam, and over the course of several classes students will gain an understanding of several different maqamat and an appreciation for the breadth of the maqam system.

www.maqamlessons.com for more information

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