Last night in class

In beginner, we discused middle eastern music and the rhythm fallahi we reviewed hip and rib cages slides and circles. Learned about crescents and stepping side to side with hip circles and crescents. We also learned weighted hip twists which are horizontal and parallel to the ground. We then worked on weighted hip lifts speeding them up to a shimmy.

The fallahi rhythm is written:
1-+-2-+-

Dk-kD-k-
DtktDktk

and a track you can purchase to listen to the rhythm can be found here Fallahi

In intermediate we discussed how to recognize kashlima, I played it a bit on the drum and we learned the two easiest ways to play kashlima on finger cymbals. We reviewed the 3/4 shimmy on the up and on the down. We then discussed how to hold your skirt, various position it can be held and how to get it there, skirt figure 8s and layering skirt moves on to grapevine, rocking step hop and kashlima walk.

Kashlima rhythm is written:
1-+-2-+-3-+-4-+-5-

D-__T-__D-__T-T-t-
D-kkT-kkD-kkT-T-t-
D-tkT-tkD-tkTkT-t-


and a track you can purchase to listen to the rhythm can be found here Kashlima (9/8)

I was asked about drumming books, the one I have and really like is Dumbek Fever: Dumbek Instructional Kit unfortunately it is currently out of print and not availble for a reasonable price. I do recommend Doumbek Technique and Rhythms for Arabic Percussion, Bellydance, and Drum Circles as a practice DVD and there is good information on rhythms on the booklet included with the CD Zill Speak - How to Play Finger Cymbals from A(lmee) to Z(ills) The booklet has a TON of excellent information and I recommend spending the money on the CD just for the booklet!