Description

Dates: 17-21 June, Mon-Fri 6-9pm

course fee £95 (concs £75)

The pandeiro is one of the most popular music instruments played in Brazil. It is a frame drum used in different styles of Brazilian music as well as playing a prominent role in Carnival. From basic to advanced level, this workshop will focus on different playing techniques for rhythms such as Samba, Baiao, Frevo and Funk. Students will also learn traditional songs which can be accompanied on the pandeiro. Instruments will be provided. With Adriano Adewale.

Description

Dates: 8-14 July, Mon-Fri 7-9pm, Sat 11am-5pm

course fee £90 (concs £70)

This is a unique opportunity to learn to play the sweet-sounding seven-tone Balinese gamelan based at SOAS. A gamelan is an elaborate percussion orchestra, comprising bronze gongs and metallophones which play complex interlocking melodic and rhythmic patterns led by a pair of drums. This particular gamelan, a semar pegulingan saih pitu, is unusually beautiful and is the only one of its kind in the UK. Students will be encouraged to play all of the instruments in the ensemble and will learn to play a traditional piece of Balinese music. With Andy Channing.

Description

Dates: 17-21 June, Mon-Fri 5-7pm

course fee: £85 (concs £65)

Musical expression through the voice is regarded as one of the foundations in the art of Indian Classical Music. This course offers introduction to Classical Indian voice culture and singing styles, as well as the melodic concept of the raag, including composition and improvisation within a given raag (mode). There will be basic theory, traditional warm up exercises, learning about the rhythmic structures, in-depth practical work on two raags, and more. Suitable for all levels. With Mehboob Nadeem.

Description

Dates: 1-5 July, Mon-Fri 6-9pm

course fee £95 (concs £75)

Whatever your instrument, here’s a chance to play some classic Cuban styles: Son, Mambo, Cha Cha Cha, Latin Jazz… The course will look at rhythms, structure, arrangement & improvisation within those musical forms. All levels & instruments welcome, arrangements will be customized to the instruments present!

With Sara McGuinness & Elpidio Caicedo.

Description

Dates: 17-21 June, Mon-Fri 7-9pm

course fee £95 (concs £75)

The darbuka, a hand-drum common throughout the Arab cultural sphere, originated from the Middle East around 2000 years ago. A skilled player can tease a complex range of sharp and deep sounds from this goblet shaped drum. It is an easy instrument to learn and yet has a surprising emotional range. The course will introduce basic playing techniques & essential rhythms, as well as an overview on Middle Eastern percussion. Beginners welcome, instruments will be provided. With Louai Alhenawi

Description

Dates: 17-21 June, Mon-Fri 7-9pm

course fee: £85 (concs £65)

Thought to be one of the oldest wind instruments known and made from eucalyptus branches naturally hollowed by termites, didgeridoos play an important role in the Australian Aborigine’s rich spiritual culture. As a drone instrument the didgeridoo cannot produce melodies but is capable of an astonishing variety of sounds and percussive rhythms. Beginners welcome, instruments will be provided. With Jonathan Cope.

Description

Dates: 24-28 June, Mon-Fri 5-7pm

course fee £90 (concs £70)

Of simple but incredibly varied construction, frame drums are among the oldest drums known and found all over the world. The frame drum is an affordable and light percussion instrument, making it the ideal instrument to take anywhere, play everywhere. This course will explore how to produce different sounds, how to increase body awareness and natural hand movement. You will learn to play different rhythmic patterns, perform compositions for frame drums and learn to improvise in that context.

Suitable for beginners, instruments will be provided. With Vasilis Sarikis

Description

Dates: 1-5 July, Mon-Fri 5-8pm

course fee: £95 (concs £75)

The tabla drums with their unique melodic sound are the backbone of Classical Indian music, in particular Hindustani (Northern Indian) music. This course is an introduction to the rhythmic structures (taal) of Indian Classcial music, as well as basic playing techniques, embracing both the theoretical foundations as well as hands-on drumming. Suitable for beginners, instruments will be provided. With Sanju Sahai.

Description

Dates: 21-23 June, Fri 6-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm

course fees: £90 (concs £70)

Traditional folk song (min’yo) opens doors to various aspects of Japanese culture and also to a challenging and fascinating world of music & dance. Participants will taste not only the singing and a bit of dancing but also the instruments: shamisen  3-stringed ‘banjo’, shakuhachi and shinobue bamboo flutes, and percussion. The main teachers will be the Yoshie Asano Campbell (magical singer & dancer) and Hibiki Ichikawa (master of the rocking Tsugaru-jamisen), with support from Joe Browning (shakuhachi) and others.

For all levels (though there will be no instrumental lessons for beginners). Content will be structured to meet the interests and backgrounds of those who enrol.

Description

Date: Sat 22 June, 11am - 5pm

course fee £65 (concs £45)

An ancient instrument, the mouth or jews harp exists in many forms across nearly every continent. Often disregarded as a less ‘serious’ instrument the mouth harp is capable of extreme subtlety and a wide repertoire of sounds and melodies. Open to all - everyone can play! With Jonathan Cope.

Description

Dates: 24-28 June, Mon-Fri 7-9pm

course fees: £90 (concs £70)

Come and discover the joys of klezmer with one of the UK’s top teachers and performers, Ilana Cravitz. Over the course of the week you'll learn how to play the soulful and celebratory music of East European Jews. We’ll be looking at tunes, ornamentation and accompaniment, as well as dance steps to go with the melodies that form this rich and very enjoyable musical tradition.

Open to all instruments and ages. Minimum ability: Grade 5 or equivalent playing experience.'

Description

Dates: 1-5 July, Mon-Fri 5-7pm

course fee £95 (concs £75)

The Mandinka kora is a unique instrument with 21 strings. It sounds a bit like a harp, but its intricate playing style is closer to flamenco guitar. Kadialy Kouyate comes from the south of Senegal and belongs to the great line of Kouyate griots. He is a gifted performer but also highly regarded as a kora teacher, regularly teaching under- & postgraduate courses at SOAS. This is a taster course for beginners. Instruments will be provided. With Kadialy Kouyate.

Description

Dates: 1-5 July, Mon-Fri 5-7pm

course fee £95 (concs £75)

The Mbira (also referred to as thumb piano) is central to Zimbabwean musical traditions. It is used in Shona spiritual ceremonies to call upon the spirits, through a repertoire of ancient songs, passed down through generations. More recently it has also found its way into popular music. In the course you will learn some of these songs, progressing to add vocals & variations. 
The course is suitable for beginners, but will also offer deeper insights for those with some experience. Original instruments will be available for use or purchase. With Linos Wengara Magaya & Tim Lloyd

Description

Dates: 17-21 June, Mon-Fri 5-7pm                 

course fee £90 (concs £70)
Bring your instrument (any!) and learn to play Middle Eastern music, based of the melodic concept of maqam. The course will introduce maqam theory and scales, typical rhythms and ensemble pieces arranged for the group. For fluent players on any instrument. With Louai Alhenawi.

Description

Dates: 24-28 June, Mon-Fri 7-9pm

course fees: beginners: £85 (concs £65)

Khöömii is an amazing style of overtone/harmonic singing where one person sings two or more distinct pitches at the same time. It originates among the nomads of Central Asia, particularly the mountain regions of Mongolia and Tuva. Listen to your own overtones as you discover the unknown depths and heights of your voice through these enchanting sounds. With Michael Ormiston & Candida Valentino.

Description

Date: Sat 22 June, 11am - 5pm

course fee £65 (concs £45)

Russian folk songs embrace the whole of the landscape and all of Mother Earth. Lyrical songs call to mind the vastness of Russian topography stretching toward a boundless horizon. In Russian folklore, every snowflake and every blade of grass embodies the spirits of nature – and this connection is felt within each folk song for ritual pagan holidays, exorcism and sibylline song, circle dance, laments, wedding and lyrical songs... Come and experience the Russian landscape through song!

Music lovers of all backgrounds and singing levels are invited, no experience necessary. Learning by ear. With Polina Skovoroda-Sheperd.

Description

Dates: 24-28 June, Mon-Fri 6-9pm

course fee £95 (concs £75)

The Sabar drum is played with a stick and palm technique. A form of drumming once reserved for Senegalese royalty, today, Sabar music is found at all kinds of social events such as weddings, births, as well as popular events such as wrestling matches. Sabar rhythms also define the popular Mbalax sound behind many great Senegalese artists such as Youssou N'Dour and Baaba Maal. All levels welcome, instruments provided.

With Modou Diouf.

Description

Dates: 1-5 July, Mon-Fri 7-9pm

course fee £90 (concs £70)

This course explores the wealth of Hungarian music styles, a tradition full of haunting beauty and lively zest. Learn the music mostly by ear, discover how to bring soul into each piece by exploring phrasing, tone production and embellishments, or simply by learning how to play with emotion on your instrument. Explore 10 ways of how to phrase a rhythm so each piece sounds exciting in a new and different way.

With Gundula Gruen.

Description

Dates: Fri 28 June, 9am-5pm

course fee £90 (concs £70)/certificate package: £65 (concs £55)

A day course covering the theory and practice of teaching world music performance in the classroom. The programme features lectures and hands-on sessions, including an introduction to resources; the place of world music within the GCSE curriculum, and a choice of practical workshops in African & Asian music traditions leading to take-home lesson plans. For music teachers and practising musicians with teaching aspirations. Taught by a team of staff and teaching associates from the SOAS Dept of Music.

Certificate in Teaching World Music Performance

SOAS Department of Music is providing a certificate in Teaching World Music Performance, awarded to students who successfully complete the day course World Music in the Classroom, plus any one of the full-length courses in a specific musical style.