Thread: Suggestions for the perfect beginner class CD

I teach a couple of Egyptian style beginner classes each week and live in a small city. All of my students are beginner hobbyists of varying ages, just out for a fun evening and exercise. Often they will ask for music to practice with but are not interested in purchasing on line and we have no local vendor. I would like to purchase a quantity of CDs to sell to students in the $15 range (which will have to include exchange, S+H, duties).
Is there one you can recommend???,r:;
I have just ordered a copy of BellyliciousRaks (Aleya) from cdbaby to check out. They offer discounts for multiple cds purchased. I've read a couple of reviews and it sounds decent.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

I buy quantities of Gems of the Middle East by Mary Ellen Donald. (I get volume 1, but they all have good music.) The set has primarily Egyptian music, played on percussion and kanoun.

Full price for one of the CD's is around $20, but with buying in bulk I can charge my students a discounted price of $15 per CD.

There's a review on my web site at Dancer's Guide to Middle Eastern Music if you'd like more detail. To buy in bulk, contact Mary Ellen Donald directly. She has contact info on her web site at Mary Ellen Donald Home Page

My first cds as a beginner were all of George Abdo's and I believe Omar Faruk Tekbilek...then the cd-obsession began in full.
..l;,

id suggest anything by cairo orchestra... they do all the real bigname classic songs so students can get to know the peices, and its fully orchestrated music which sounds good to my ears. i use it alot for my beginners class.

Vina & Nina's Essential Bellydance is pretty good and has a wide variety of songs.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Bellydance-Neena-Veena/dp/B0007A2ASI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1224702699&sr=1-1]Amazon.com: Essential Bellydance: Neena & Veena: Music[/ame]

It's available from Amazon as a cd and as a download. I don't know if you can get it wholesale from them.

Leyla Lanty has a very nice egyptian style cd
CD Baby: KHALIL ABBOUD / LEYLA LANTY: Golden Days Enchanting Nights
They offer a good deal for 2 or more copies of a cd. Leyla is on this list, btw.

I should add that one of the nice things about the Gems of the Middle East series is that it has some optional companion books. There is one book with the translations for the songs used on all three CD's. There are three books (one for each CD) which are "rhythm study guides" that interested students can use at home to dissect the songs, grasp the rhythms employed, and then practice with them.

I hate to be boring, but I think the first Bellydance Superstars CD is a real winner. It's got a good variety of tracks, including some classic songs like Betwanes Beek, coupled with newer ME pop that's easy for beginners to dance to.

Depending upon how many CDs you order, you may be able to open a wholesale account with Hollywood Music Centre (= Peko Records). Just email them to ask.

Thanks for your suggestions ladies, I've got some checking out to do!
Your tips and suggestions are invaluable to me.
I LOVE BHUZZZZZZZ!

I second the recommendation for the Bellydance Superstars CD. It's got a little something for everyone. Now this is all just my opinion... George Abdo and Cairo Orchestra is great music that every bellydancer should eventually familiarize herself with, but let's be honest....how many baby bellies ("beginner hobbyists," especially) get into that kind of stuff right away?

I vividly remember my Level 1 classmates and I wrinkling our noses at the very sound of a mizmar. Music like what is found on "Bellydance Superstars" is more accessible to Western ears, and will get them hooked. I think the third bellydance class I ever went to, the teacher played "Talakik," and I went home that day and bought the BDSS CD because I loved that song so much. :Abiggrin: And it does have a taste of the more classical stuff on there too.

I love the more "classical" music now, but it took me a while to develop an appreciation for it. (Your mileage may vary.)

Another good one is "Egyptian Nights"....by DJ Wassi, I think. It's a bunch of upbeat Arabic pop songs mixed so that they're all about the same tempo. It's very upbeat, a lot of fun, and perfect for drilling.

For something different, I use "Shik Shak Shok" (the re-release of Saher el Arcordian). I use this with all my beginners. But you have to like beledi flavoured quarter tone sax!

You may want to do a little scouting around in your local area. If you have a Borders or a Barnes and Noble, chances are they may have some ME music in there...I'd offer the class something that they might not necessarily find right off the rack ;)

if you're looking for more rhythm based, Solace's "Rhythm of the Dance" is good....I'll 3rd or 4th the BDSS one, beginners love poppy stuff. I've found that it's a good "spirit lifter" for some students, especially at the end of class for a sharing circle/follow the leader kind of thing

Originally Posted by catwomyn

Vina & Nina's Essential Bellydance is pretty good and has a wide variety of songs.

Amazon.com: Essential Bellydance: Neena & Veena: Music

It's available from Amazon as a cd and as a download. I don't know if you can get it wholesale from them.

Leyla Lanty has a very nice egyptian style cd
CD Baby: KHALIL ABBOUD / LEYLA LANTY: Golden Days Enchanting Nights
They offer a good deal for 2 or more copies of a cd. Leyla is on this list, btw.

Thank you! It's also available on Amazon.com as a CD and MP3, also a few other MP3 sites. CDBaby usually has the best promotions on 2 or more CDs.

some of my favorite beginner's cds are:

Good mix of music:
Bellydance Superstars

The classics
10 Songs Every Bellydancer Should Know

Little sample of everything
The Soul of Cairo