Thread: finger cymbal solos- anyone else do this?

When dancing to just finger cymbals (or even when just drilling finger cymbals) I usually have a song playing in my head, and I am essentially playing the melody line with my cymbals. No musicians to piss off since I'm not playing over anyone's part when it's just me, but I can't handle just thinking in my head "okay, 3,3, 7, beledi variation, blah-blah-blah"

When I've been doing something forever, I tend to assume *everyone* does it, of course! ,r:; Until someone else brings it up in class...

Had a great workshop with Artemis this fall where she gave us 'permission' to play to the melody (tho she said it's controversial) as well as playing to the beat or to the rhythm, which got me thinking, maybe other people don't just play to their inner sound track.

so, does anyone else do this? How do you structure your finger cymbal solos?

Most people I've heard try a zill solo, even those who are pretty good cymbal players, can't pull it off strongly. Of course I haven't seen your zill solos so don't take this personally.

Artemis Mourat can do it, and Kawakib.

Originally Posted by ssipes

Most people I've heard try a zill solo, even those who are pretty good cymbal players, can't pull it off strongly. Of course I haven't seen your zill solos so don't take this personally.

Artemis Mourat can do it, and Kawakib.

watching Artemis was definitely inspiring!
My first solo zill (& of course the only one recorded for posterity) was awful because I was trying to show off all the cool rhythms I know, etc.

I pretty much instantly ditched that idea and just started playing what flows through my brain & I hope it has improved! I'm never quite sure tho... I do still drill rhythms too (don't want anyone to think I am COMPLETELY undisciplined )

This Pennsic, Kamille (of Rockabelly) did the most amazing zill solo. She is a lovely dancer, but what made the performance remarkable was her musicality, using different strike techniques and modulating the zills beautifully. That very much impressed me!

Z-Helene's DVD also has a great performance, where she plays with her husband (on drum). Great stuff.

I've never tried to play along to a song in my head, but I will now!

I'm glad to find out other people do this too! The first time I did a zill solo was at a restaurant I was supposed to dance outside in a tent and their cd player wasn't working so I just danced to my own zills! It was great fun because I could accent exactly when I wanted and "knew" what accent to hit!! Ha ha! I've decided to pursue this further this year and try to get really good at it. I'm lucky because Z-Helene lives near me, so I'm hitting her up for some personal classes!

I'm a student of Kawakib's and I'm learning one of her zill choreos!

The zill playing is a song unto itself, and not (as far as I know) based on any particular song - at least for this choreo and I'm pretty sure for her other two zill choreos as well.

We have also used zills to dance our tribal group improv when the CD got stuck in the player - I think that was more of a performing challenge (more people playing = more opportunities to mess up, ha ha).

I have not tried a zill solo myself (one fine day ...), but I would probably look into drum solos to structure it.

Based on a recent experience with DJ failure and having to accompany myself with zills, I want to work on this more. Though I am an improvisational dancer at heart, this is one dance that requires choreography, for me, at least, I think. I'm going to work on it and I will let you guys know how it turns out. Doing it on the fly was a real blast, though, I must say. I got the audience clapping too, so there was a steady beat to play off.

Aida Al Adawi doing a zill solo at 2:27.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywqSRPv4MCg]YouTube - Aida best belly dancer ever[/ame]

Eva Cernik rocks it like a hurricane

~~Kimahri

Oh, I can't wait- we're bringing Eva up for a workshop next fall & I am Soooo looking forward to it!

Originally Posted by Lara L

Oh, I can't wait- we're bringing Eva up for a workshop next fall & I am Soooo looking forward to it!

Love Eva Cernik, she is great, what a little dynamo!

Eva Cernik is one of my favorite dancers! I took a workshop with her in NYC, and it was simply amazing.

Like so many others, I have been my own musician due to technical difficulties. I've been thinking about doing it *on purpose* lately and will have to see how that goes. I often practice without music.

Yes, I do have a song playing in my head (or I kinda hum along under my breath) during a zill solo; sometimes I play the melody and sometimes I play to the rhythm, but I always look for ways to change it up a bit to create some interest with speed, intensity, tones, etc.

Deborah

first of all - OPA! that video norma posted was fan-freaking-tastic! wow! I don't know if I've ever watched a ten minute video on youtube all the way through before. that was sweet!

now - fill me in on when somebody would do a zill solo? I have seen them done as a troupe choreo, in fusion, cab and tribal styles, but I've never seen a cab soloist bust one out in the middle of a set. how would you do this? at what sort of venue? where in your set?