Recharging
Current mood: jedi

This past week has been a long haul at the dayjob but the paycheque will prove lucrative and very helpful for the forth coming conference in LA.
Damn! It will be here before I know it!

To add to the exhaustion there was no sleep in for my first day off in while.
I was up early awaiting the arrival of the repairman from my phone service ISP.
A caveat to you airport Extreme users out there: I would think twice before downloading the latest firmware- it's caused me no end of grief!

Fortunately the situation was remedied, but it took a good hour and change to sort it all out. I now have two new sleek boxes to assist my router and here I am, back online after 7 days of silence!
In some ways it was good to be free of the internet and its tendency to clutter the mind, but I think we'd all be hard pressed to function without it at all! You can't go back in time!

After that though, I really didn't have much energy for anything else. I will resume finishing off my portfolio piece for the conference tomorrow.

However, I did make myself drum
You know it!

We're working on fills now: more elaborate rhythm patterns from the back bone basics we already know. This is when you start to flesh out the grooves and really begin to understand how the rhythms dictate the music or the dancer.
I was watching a masterclass by Hossam Ramzy in which he stated that in Egypt, the the Tabla player is known as, "The Officer of Rhythm." And that's exactly it. It's about mastering the rhythms, the backbone of a musical piece. You are in effect the pilot of
an aural ship.
Sure, I look forward to getting into elaborate finger rolls and pops (some of which I'm already futzing around with) But in the end, if you can't keep a beat with the primary, secondary rhythms essential to Arabic/Middle Eastern music, forget it. it won't happen for you at all.

Suleiman gave us a fair bit of homework, getting our heads, hands wrapped around the secondary, even tertiary rhythms which provide structure. Some are fairly elaborate others more direct, but still a challenge to the new student who has just gotten a hold of the basic rhythms.

But I love this whole learning process and it's a great tonic to my illustration work and the other routines and elements in my life. It is both meditative and therapeutic as well as opening me up to new ideas from anything and anywhere. So yeah, it seems like it's all I'm doing, but it's not. It has however, augmented the rest of my life and creative process. So yes, I will continue to pursue this as far as I can as it can only help me further my own creative path and life.

Currently listening : Wassan Pharaon By Issam Houshan Release date: 2005-04-05

21:59 - 1 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick!
Current mood: animated
Category: Music

Right Then,

Some of you have been enquiring as to how my drum debut went.
Well my status line succinctly says it all. But I know you want details.

Dashed off from the day job and grabbed a cab with drum classmate Carol over to the gig.
I'm confident but a little anxious. Since I was working all day I haven't got any practice in as some of other classmates have. Doesn't matter, for as we gather in our rehearsal room, the mood and thoughts amongst us are the same,
"I can do this but I wish I'd got more practice in."

Suleiman emphasizes, "You can do this I wouldn't let you up on the stage otherwise, I've got a rep' to protect you know! Besides we're the coolest bunch in this show, we've got our own rehearsal space that the dancers don't have!"
We laugh.

The room is dubbed "The Cool Room," and Suleiman's cohort in the Arabesque Orchestra hangs with us as well. The mood is electric and we are psyched, feeling very much like rock stars.

We rehearse, and rehearse again and again. Suleiman is satisfied and tells us to relax grab some water and granola bars thoughtfully provided. 6:15 rolls around and we head up on stage for the Tech rehearsal. It goes nicely for the first part. We then do our next piece: a"Call and Respond," unscripted, following Suleiman as he conducts us.

THONK!

I jump the gun and come in early! My Doum echoes ominously....
Suleiman just grins and we run through it. We do an improv and that's it. It sounds good and I vow to myself not to come in early!

Some of us head back to our rehearsal room which is stuffy as the venue has no AC
(hottest day in the season so far, what a day to perform!)
The door is left partially open to allow some air in and we quietly run through the piece. I get to know my classmates a little better as my previous music training comes into play as we talk shop amongst ourselves. Some of us have no formal music training, yet we're all a skilled bunch. Suleiman has stressed formal theory will only get you so far you must practice properly and frequently to imprint this onto mind and body. You have to FEEL IT, to play it right.

We relax, and George, Suleiman's fellow drummer in the Arabesque Orchestra, comes in again and relates to us how the Dumbek bonds with you, how its subtleties and nuances are like no other drum out there. We agree. There is real cameraderie in the room. No wonder Suleiman has called this the "Cool Room!"

Showtime. We file up the stairs, I breathe, meditate for a brief moment focusing on being relaxed and to enjoy the experience. It'll be over before I know it.

We go on. A rapid finger roll from Sueiman cues us to ready ourselves. A two bar intro and WE'RE OFF! I make a few mistakes but relax and come in on the next downstroke keeping pace (afterwards I find out everyone else did the same) We sound great!
Doum SAK!
We finish the first piece.

Time for the "Call and Respond." I come in right on cue! No fuck ups! YES!
The audience goes wild and responds with a loud "Woot!" They're lovin' this! The current through our bodies intensifies, what a rush! We then perform the Improv piece and it goes off flawlessly. We end with a thunderous flourish, and the audience responds enthusiastically.

Wow it's over! Just like that!

We leave the stage elated, running on adrenaline for the rest of the night.

Suleiman and fellow performers congratulate us and then our teacher reminds us that the real work begins next week. "One step forward, One step back!" As he will be a taskmaster in correcting and perfecting our technique. We look around at each other and nod in assent. This is indeed what what we want, to play and excel at this instrument, no short cuts, the tricks can wait. We all want to a solid foundation of skills to build upon. This is an incredible journey I've embarked on and I don't want to cheapen it by getting sloppy. I want to be the best I can be on this drum.

Iam so glad I did this. What an experience! What a journey!

09:02 - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Moving On...

Change is inevitable, whether we like it or not.
It really should be embraced, even when we think we're losing something good.
As I said in a few previous posts. My old social scene just doesn't do it for me anymore. And my new journey into Middle Eastern music has reinvigorated my love of ALL music. So it's not like I'm abandoning my old tastes. But as for the club scene?

Well it's the "Old Grey Mare She Ain't what She Used To be" Dept.

What brought this up? Especially after all my upbeat postings?
I was invited out to a screening put together by some friends.
It wasn't bad, I enjoyed it for what it was, but something was missing. The spark is gone, really.

In short, I've outgrown it. I'm glad really. It's been something I've been hanging onto far too much and it was hindering me. Oh I'll pop in and say "Hi," on occasion, to the friends and crowd, but I'm headed in a new direction, and I like where I'm going. I hope those I call friends will understand. But to remain means stagnation which is not an option.
Below are the lyrics in English to a song byEINSTURZENDE NEUBAUTEN

It sums it up quite eloquently. Just click on the link above to see them perform it in their native tongue.
QED

Dead Friends (around the corner)

Everything here is unchanged
it looks like everywhere
This whole area is out of my way
so I rarely come around here

Here are those who went
and those who were made to leave
Here are those for whom I appeared
in the last film in flight in free fall
Most of them are still very hungry
and they don't even have cigarettes
so they just cling to the ideas.

There is a place around the corner
where your dead friends live...

Some drift through places and thoughts
blind passengers in subways and busses
or they simply stand around and wait
Even those who couldn't wait any longer
here they have nothing else to do
Especially at night they are bothered by boredom

There is a place around the corner
where your dead friends live...

It is nothing
It is nothing
I call you by your old names
I do not change my tone of voice
I let them fall like they always fell
now that you are just not visible not touchable
and also unassailable
It's all still the the same
only you are waiting in between
not very far you're rather close
around the corner so to speak
around the corner so to speak
around the corner so to speak
It is nothing
It is nothing
It is nothing
It is

11:47 - 3 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

Drumming, Art, Ad liberatum...
Current mood: catalyzed

Well now,

It's been awfully busy here and "MyTime" on MySpace has been limited. The RHIFF festival is ramping up speed, and some of the demands plus my dayjob and other mandatory "To Dos" are driving me a tad crazy.

My debut performance with my drum class is this Saturday! We've only been taking lessons for just under 3 months and the Student Gala just jumped into our laps and WHAMMO! Suleiman our teacher says we're ready though, and given his experience and talent, that is indeed encouraging.

It'll be cool actually, it's not just some informal student recital, this is open to the public and we're meeting early for an additional practice as well as the Tech-Rehearsal.
Yeah, this is being treated like a professional gig!
I'll be dashing madly from work sharing a cab with a classmate who also works in the area and I've been invited to a good friend's party after the show! There's also the Muhtandi Drum Festival which I'll be looking into on Sunday. The weekend is shaping up to be a delightfully frenetic one!

MENTAL NOTE: I should get to the temple on Sunday morning it's been awhile and I need to calm my whirring mind down with a good dose of meditation!

I've also started work on a portfolio piece for the LA Conference in August and thinking up a second one and will print up cards to give out for one of them. I've registered for the conference and all respective activities, and of course booked the flight. I'm so stoked for this! This will be a life changing experience for the betterment of my illustration career!

Well I'm outta here for now- things to do!

ZOOOOMMMM!

08:25 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Workshop with Glen Velez
Current mood: animated
Category: Music

Yes when it rains, it pours!

Several weeks of silence, and now this effusion of thoughts!
Enjoy!

When I get into something I tend to explore all aspects of the subject.
And since the Dumbek has become something of a passion, well I 'm going to explore all related venues!

Case in point: Glen Velez.

Glen Velez is perhaps the most accomplished of frame drummers out there, full stop.
He has mastered several traditions and methods of drumming. From Middle-eastern, to European and Celtic drumming.

But it was his proficiency with Middle-eastern rhythms that intrigued me, as he has mastered the Tar, Persian Dof, and Riq! A friend alerted me that he would be in town this pastThursday, conducting a workshop. Well whatya gonna do? When an opportunity like this presents itself?

The fact that I had the effrontery to attend a workshop with no experience in frame drums is evidence of my keeness to just suck up anything and everything about hand drumming. I figured my experience on the Dumbek was enough to get me through this right?

Well... sort of.

Actually I did all right as the workshop was geared to all levels and after a brief instruction on how to hold the drum and demo of basic drum strokes we set off. I did all right, but in someways the experience was similar to learning to walk as if you've never walked before.....backwards!

For one thing, with the Dumbek, you hold your hands at 12 O'clock and 9 O'clock or 3 O'clock if you're left handed like me. With the Tar or Riq it's 6 O'clock and 3 or 9 respectively. Your 6 O'clock hand also cradles the frame in a "U" shape while using the ring finger. You employ for the most part, the ring finger for your strokes. No prob there.
So far...

Velez's instruction is a hybrid of his experience and it incorporates chanting that would appear to be a counter point rhythm to what you are drumming, but in effect, facilitates it. There are Doums and Teks but that's about it.

The main 4/4 rhythm is chanted as "Taka-dimmi, Taka-dimmi." You can actually count off each syllable on your fingers to help you get a feel. But there is no "Doum-Tek-ka, Tek -ka!" happening here per se.

In short, I had to forget my Dumbek and just Zen with it. As the class became more comfortable he improvised complementary rhythms on top of ours including a kick ass jam with the Riq!

So will I take up frame drumming any time soon?
No, I'll stick to mastering the Dumbek right now thank you, but I have entered into a bigger world.
And should the opportunity ever present itself I highly recommend taking a workshop with Glen!

Below Glen relaxes briefly as he takes questions from his enraptured audience.

10:48 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Power Of Music II
Current mood: animated
Category: Music

To continue my tangent here,

I was talking about music's immediacy that makes it such a powerful form of expression.
It's elemental actually, if you think about it the first sound that imprinted on you, was your mother's heartbeat. This is why rhythm is often the first thing that draws you to a song or piece of music. That raw, elemental force that finds you moving your body to the groove, or tapping your foot to the beat.

This is the main reason I've been drawn to the Dumbek. Hand drumming has a visceral quality that just takes hold of me, and that for lack of a better phrase I find, "Life Affirming."

Looking back, drumming has always been a part of me. My Grandfather used to love recalling the time when he stepped into the garage in Carson City: Instead of finding my step brother Monty behind the drum kit, he found 3 year old me bashing away on the skins!

He was quite impressed and considering my "Gramp," was a semi-Pro musician himself well, you can see why I like that story too! ;)

Another time my folks had come back from vacation in Bermuda and brought back a set of Bongos for me. Needless to say I drove everybody crazy banging away on them!

Back to where I am now. The Dumbek is introducing me to the sublime qualities that are inherent in Middle Eastern/Arabic music. It's challenging to describe so I would suggest checking out the following links. In most cases you can listen to samples.
If not, and you're genuinely curious, take the chance and buy it on spec,. you won't regret it.
You can at least Google or Wiki the names and learn something about the artists themselves.

Oum Kalsoum


Masters Of Belly Dance


Master Of Arabian Percussion

Mazamir Sahara

10:04 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

The Power Of Music
Current mood: jedi
Category: Music

As of late, Music has reintroduced itself into my life in a new and fresh context.

Up until two and half months ago I was finding most of what I was listening to just didn't cut it and that any new artists regardless of the genre were just sounding recycled. Nightclubs have pretty much lost their allure for good this time, and revisiting past artists wasn't doing it for me either.

The real catalyst for me was actually playing music again. Actually picking up an instrument and finding your own voice with it. Since taking up the Dumbek I've been introduced to whole new spectrum of sounds and sensations.

Although I have some knowledge of Middle-eastern/Arabic music. I'm actually getting something of "classical education." And it's just so invigorating! It has also opened my ears to music from my western world that I haven't heard in awhile and as a result comes to me with a new face.

That's the beauty of it, songs you casually appreciated, revisit you in your life in a completely different context and it's almost like Satori. You get it, and it resonates with you so profoundly.

In this case I'm talking about Jimmy Ruffin's "What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted?"
A classic for sure, but this time around I find the minor key and the lyrics resonate with me in way that's profoundly stirring. You listen to it and the chorus is not simply a rhetorical question, but an open dialogue with yourself and you are drawn into the raw emotion that resolves itself as Jimmy declares,
"I'll be looking everyday I know I'm gonna find a way."

Though this couplet in print does appear prosaic, the phrasing and melody invest an eloquence and power that transcends words. And that's the beauty of it. This is why people gravitate to music, its ability to express the human condition in ways that transcend other forms of communication.

This is not to say that the visual arts or literature or theatre can't move you equally. It is simply music's immediacy that makes it much easier for people to connect with.

All right, I'm going to continue this thread in another entry to give your eyes a break and a chance to digest what I talking about.

Currently listening : Motown Classics Gold By Various Release date: 2005-03-08

09:20 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I’m Still Here....
Current mood: adventurous
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

I realize it's been awhile Folks...

My apologies to those who diligently read and subscribe to my Blog and hello to you casual readers there's more of you than I would have imagined.

Life has not ended; anything but!
For the remainder of the year the pace will increase and at times become frenetic. They'll be some crazy times, but some incredibly fun ones too!

Here's a quick list of what to expect:

1.Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators August Conference in LA
I'm going! This industry is a "Bunny eat Bunny," one! And I need to network with the Big Guns if I want to make a mark in this industry not just for personal gain, but to make a difference as well. It's time to start educating/corrupting the future generations on what it's all about >;)

2. Also in that Dept. The OCAD Mentoring Program begins in July and the briefing for that is next Wednesday; a good 8 hours worth! Here I learn what's expected of me when I take 4 young, impressionable, first year students under my wing, in the late summer and into the fall/winter semester.
Hopefully my experience will make a difference.

3. My LAST FRICKIN' COURSE!
To due the Kafkaesque wisdom of the school registrar I must take another Humanities course and they deem the last one I took a duplicate, and no amount of reasoning from my Prof, and some patrons of clout, will convince them other wise. So back to school for ONE LAST SEMESTER.

4. ZEN AND THE ART OF DRUMMING
This one unfolds a I type. Well sort of. I obviously can't drum and type at the same time. But practice has become part of my morning ritual. The walls in my condo are well insulated, and if anyone does hear me . . . well,l I'm your alarm clock ain't I ?
-HEH!
I've met some cool drummers and some lovely and talented ladies who Belly Dance both here and in person. It's a real joy to be playing a musical instrument again. And it's really has opened up a new world.
I love My Dumbek!
You can check out more drum info HERE

5. The ReelHeart Film Festival starts in June and I need to finish the graphics for the tickets and passes within the next 36 hours. That's what I off to do now!

I will be better on keeping you all posted. And Queenie, I 've got a pic of my friend posing with her new Pansy I'll get that posted to you later this week.

Keep Flying Yo' Freak Flags!

18:41 - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Of Reconciliation, Dance , Drums and things
Current mood: accomplished

For starters, Reconciliation:

We've all had a falling out with friends, loved ones, lovers. And when passions run high, they can blind you. But when you've worked through the fog and that person gives you a chance at reconciliation... Take it. You won't regret it. It won't fix everything overnight but it will make a difference for the better. In long run, you will be grateful that you said "yes, time for peace between us."

Last night I was invited by a friend to see her perform at "Inversion: rewind." A performance showcasing the local Belly Dance talent. It was a great show! There were two very memorable performances by Orkideh and of my friend Madame Webb.

I've seen the electrictrifying Orkideh perform before and she never disappoints. Grabs the attention of everyone.
But my friend Webb, well I assumed she was good, but I did not expect to be floored by such a mesmerising sensuous display! She was definitely channelling Ishtar last night! Skills that can kill!

Belly Dancing of course leads to Dumbek and I'm starting to feel more comfortable with my drumming two weeks into classes which is encouraging considering there's a long way to go yet. Orkideh has playfully teased me that I'm looking to score with a Belly Dancer with my drum.

To that I reply with the following quote from Dan le Sac : "Thou shall not use poetry, art, or music to get inside a girl's pants- use it to get inside their heads!"

'Sides like I said in an earlier post, there's something about having a musical instrument in your hands especially a hand drum. It's beautifully primeval.

below is my gem of a Dumbek!





And this is the basic hand positioning hands at 9 O'Clock or 3 O'Clock depending whether you're right or left handed. For me, it's 3 O'Clock.





I'll post some pics later about proper technique when I have some time and a friend over to help.Putting the self timer on the camera, running into position, for several shots just doesn't cut it .

A good weekend I must say, a lot accomplished. Tomorrow even more so as I will be making serious progress on a portfolio piece to take to LA in August.

21:11 - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Making some beautiful noise!
Current mood: ninja
Category: Music

As an aside:
"I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals."
-Winston Churchill


"For your next class you will find a karatshi rhythm in a song!"

Suleiman's penetrating stare coupled with his devilish smirk, tells us he won't kill us, but we know he's not to be trifled with. Well it turns out I couldn't find a karatshi rhythm but I did bring a CD and got points for trying.
Tonight's class I felt a little off my game, but Suleiman only corrected me on a couple of things. And I believe the effort I made in practicing is paying off.

He's sharp and his ear can tell if someone's rhythm in a group of 10 of us is off.
We were all a little "Off" nevertheless, I like his method and we're all starting to feel the groove a little better.
It's an interesting mixture the group of us. Some of us like me, are somewhat new to middle eastern music.
My western music theory is helping a little but as I've discovered mastering asian music means experiencing it. No amount of theory and certainly no metronome will save you! It's hands on, literally!

I'm getting up earlier in the mornings to squeeze in about 20-25 minutes a day practicing...
Yes I'm I'm Gung Ho about this. It's been way too long since I had a musical instrument in my hands and the feeling is beautiful! I have definitely found my instrument!

I love my Gwaheret El Fan! To explain: Gwaharet El fan is like the Gibson Les Paul or Ludwig of Dumbeks, made in Cairo.

Dumbek BTW is an North American term. Depending where you are in West Asia it's known as a Darabouk, Darbouka, or Egyptian Tabla.

So how did I get hooked into this groove?

My Ex-Grilfriend is seriously into Belly Dancing (Tribal Fusion, with a leaning towards the Newer "Raks Gothique" if you like.) Well, attending some live performances got me intrigued. And yes, there are Male Belly Dancers, but I AIN'T one of 'em!

At any rate, shortly before attending a BellyDance Cabaret, the two of us were pretty much history, but still talking. Looking through the program I noticed that there was a notice for Dumbek lessons. I was intrigued, as I was quite impressed by the Dumbek's sound.

"It's a great way to meet BellyDancers, " my ex half-seriously, quipped.
I was intrigued and read her off the cuff remark as a dare.

Well... music does have therapeutic benefits right? I mean the Arabs were using music for therapy as far back as the first crusades!

And yes, it is Therapeutic. It's like rediscovering an old friend...

.... And the old friend is me!

It took two years to find the time and secure lessons and what not, but it's been worth the effort and continues to be. This will take time to even get a real groove going with this instrument, but I'm enjoying the Journey.
Isn't that what it's all about anyway?

Zen and the art of Dumbek!

DOUM-TEK--TEK-DOUM--TEK- DOUM-TEK! ....SAK!!!

I love slapping a good Sak on my drum!

21:05 - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment