Thread: Recommendations for Zill DVDs and CDs

Which ones do you love? Hate? Have for sale?

Got 'Killer Ziller' and I like the drills but would like a bit more information about the types of rhythms and how they fit with the music.

I just received 'Belly Dance with Zils' today. Like the variations of rhythms but, oh, man, this video needs some training wheel segments. This one also teaches the alternating hand technique.

Any suggestions on DVDs and CDs?

My fave:

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Zill-Speak-Play-Finger-Cymbals/dp/B002LNWN8G/]Amazon.com: Zill Speak - How to Play Finger Cymbals from A(lmee) to Z(ills): Elizabeth Artemis Mourat: Music[/ame]

Saw "Zill Speak" on Gilded Serpent. Got good reviews and it's probably next on my list.

Oh, and books, too? Any books?

Can't type much (sleeping cat on arm), forgive brevity and typos ...

- Dancing cymbalist is the ultimate geek-out, it is fun for the real nerd ;-)
- Mary Ellen Donald's book is a classic, but I find it a bit hard to follow sometimes. It uses Western musical notation, which I understand, but it is not intuitive for how my brain processes a percussion instrument.
- I enjoyed Mimi Spencer's zill book.

I didn't like Bellydance with Zills much- my teacher trained with FatChance so I was taught right-sided, but as a musician I can understand why alternating hands might be easier. I treated myself to Michelle's just before Christmas, but Christmas (and Vivaldi!) sort of happened to me so I haven't worked with it much.
See, in theory an organist should be a natural ziller. I play with both hands and my feet independantly in both melody and rhythm, whilst singing a harmony. Little brass discs? No problem surely...
I can play the wretched things, then I try to dance at the same time and fall over...

If "right hand/left hand" works for you, great. If not, alternate. From a musician's standpoint, it makes more sense - as long as you don't have different types of Zills on each hand.

As for CDs, I always recommend:

Zills on Fire Finger Cymbal Instruction--zils, belly dance, drum rhythm lessons

I just received Sagat Speak, the Egyptian sagat companion to Zill Speak--I've read the booklet and listened to most of the CD, and am planning to work with it tonight. It's *definitely* not for beginners, plus you need the sagat, but for those with some zill experience and a set of sagat, I think it will be invaluable. Challenging and no doubt occasionally frustrating ;-) but invaluable.

I've heard great things about Zill Speak and need a copy now. I went to Amazon but shipping is within 1-2 months. Does anyone know where I can order from and get sooner or does anyone have one they are no longer using? Will post in ISO too. Thanks

Hi beautynlaw - did you try serpentine.org?

I love Jamilla's zil CD drills...I think they're only $8 to download.

Also love Ansuya's (both) and Tobias Roberson's.

The WDNY ones are nice for drilling. They have a segment that just pays the rhythms over and over with the patterns on the screen.

Originally Posted by carpediem

Hi beautynlaw - did you try serpentine.org?

THANKS!!! I think that will work!! ,r:;

No problem! I want to order one, too, actually!

Originally Posted by carpediem

No problem! I want to order one, too, actually!

I ordered mine and shipping was free!! I am so excited. Thanks for the tip.

Jamila Salimpour's finger cymbal cd has been invaluable to me. I've been interested for a while in Killer Ziller, so the reviews on that are helpful!