Thread: Can you please recommed workshops and instructional DVD for improving zill skills?

Hi,

I recently started dancing regularly at a restaurant and I played zills for the first time yesterday. I played during one of my songs, Sidi Mansur, and for my pop songs (dancing with people). The version for Sidi Mansur I used has a drum solo in it but I obviously didn't play during that part. I just went with the music and didn't really have a pattern. At the end, I asked the owner to give me his honest opinion on music and props I used and he said everything was great but he suggested I practice my cymbals a little more. I am a novice at playing zills and just go with the melody if I don't know the pattern.

What are your suggestions to improve? Any workshops or DVDs? I am about to purchase the "Playing Finger Cymbals with Jamila CD."

Also, does anyone know a pattern to Sidi Mansur? I like the song and know I will use it again and I would love to play the zills properly to it.

I don't think I can feel like a professional dancer until I can play the zills good.

Thanks,
Aesera

My all-time favorite is Artemis' CD: Cymbals Speak volume 1: Zill Speak

Where are you located? There may be a fantastic zill teacher in your area.

If you'll forgive the self-promotion (), I'm putting out a youtube series "Taming Your Zills" which may or may not help you, depending on exactly what issues you're having. I'm expecting to upload new installments early next week (waiting on music recordings which should arrive this weekend).

Originally Posted by Aslahan

If you'll forgive the self-promotion (), I'm putting out a youtube series "Taming Your Zills" which may or may not help you, depending on exactly what issues you're having. I'm expecting to upload new installments early next week (waiting on music recordings which should arrive this weekend).

Thank you for sharing this!! Kuddos on your video! Great explanation and the drum visuals help a ton. Will check the upcoming series.

Originally Posted by indigostars

Where are you located? There may be a fantastic zill teacher in your area.

I am in Northern California. Near San Francisco and San Jose.

Originally Posted by steffib

My all-time favorite is Artemis' CD: Cymbals Speak volume 1: Zill Speak

Thank you!

Originally Posted by Aesera

I am in Northern California. Near San Francisco and San Jose.

Go to Ma*Shuqa in Los Gatos (South Bay Area). She will give you TONS of resources and guidance in learning...basic rhythms, combinations, even little tricks and playful zilling...

She will work with you one-on-one, which might be better than a workshop or class setting for you right now. You need to be able to hear what you're doing and that can get lost when lots of people are zilling at once. She can also help you with any other restaurant dancing questions you might have.

Other options are Andrea in San Mateo, Amina in SF (she is a fabulous dancer, instructor and musician - plays with Georges Lammam's group in SF)...will try to think of some more.

So this isn't a dedicated zill dvd, but try Ruby Beh's Turkish dvd. There is a zill section that is really fast paced. If you run through it enough, it will help you work on zilling while dancing, doing more patterns than 3's on a regular basis, and doing it all faster. (If you are ever anywhere near Ruby, it would be wise to do a workshop with her on this... her zill workshop is great!).

As for self practice. I do my normal drill routine with zills. Sometimes I also like to just zill without dancing to the songs I'm going to do. This way I can focus on what the music is calling for pattern wise and kinda block out what I'm going to play.

Oh, and though I haven't seen it myself, Michelle Joyce has an instructional DVD on her Cheeky Girls Production line: Killer Ziller. Her DVDs are usually very helpful and well put together.

Though personally I would still recommend face time with a qualified teacher/instructor/coach. Especially if you're doing restaurant gigs - it will help boost your confidence in your playing!

Originally Posted by Aesera

I asked the owner to give me his honest opinion on music and props I used and he said everything was great but he suggested I practice my cymbals a little more. I am a novice at playing zills and just go with the melody if I don't know the pattern.

I wonder why you'd do something in a professional performance that you're a novice at? Why not leave the cymbals at home until you can play them well enough to be worthy of a professional gig?

That aside...

You could seek a private lesson with me when I come to the Bay Area in August for Carnival of Stars in Hercules. (Bay Area, a bit north of Rakkasah's Richmond location).

Helena Vlahos is teaching a zill workshop at Carnival of Stars. Even though I've been playing finger cymbals for 30 years, I intend to attend this myself! I admire Helena and know that I will find it valuable! Details here: Details here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134695446607781

If you're anywhere near Los Altos, try attending Luceen's weekly classes. She has her students play zills from beginning to end of each and every class. Back when I was her student, she'd always threaten to cut off our hands if we took our zills off for any reason. We wore them for veil work, sword, and everything else.

You could try a private lesson with Leyla Lanty. She has spent many hours playing cymbals with Arab bands.

You could become a student of Mary Ellen Donald. She provides superb finger cymbal instruction - every dancer I know who has attended her percussion classes has become an excellent zills player. I think her classes are currently in Oakland, but check with her to find out for sure.

You could try my articles about finger cymbals, or explore the instructional books I've reviewed: Shira's Online Finger Cymbal Workshop

You could come to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive in September and attend my Zills Thrills workshop on Sunday.

Thanks for the mention, Shira. In addition to spending many hours playing zills in an Arab band, I taught cymbals at Ahlan Wa Sahlan for 4 years too.

Originally Posted by Khalilah

Oh, and though I haven't seen it myself, Michelle Joyce has an instructional DVD on her Cheeky Girls Production line: Killer Ziller. Her DVDs are usually very helpful and well put together.

Though personally I would still recommend face time with a qualified teacher/instructor/coach. Especially if you're doing restaurant gigs - it will help boost your confidence in your playing!

I have heard wonderful things about Ma Shuqa. And I'm very close to Los Gatos!
Thanks!

Originally Posted by *Shira*

I wonder why you'd do something in a professional performance that you're a novice at? Why not leave the cymbals at home until you can play them well enough to be worthy of a professional gig?

That aside...

You could seek a private lesson with me when I come to the Bay Area in August for Carnival of Stars in Hercules. (Bay Area, a bit north of Rakkasah's Richmond location).

Helena Vlahos is teaching a zill workshop at Carnival of Stars. Even though I've been playing finger cymbals for 30 years, I intend to attend this myself! I admire Helena and know that I will find it valuable! Details here: Details here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=134695446607781

If you're anywhere near Los Altos, try attending Luceen's weekly classes. She has her students play zills from beginning to end of each and every class. Back when I was her student, she'd always threaten to cut off our hands if we took our zills off for any reason. We wore them for veil work, sword, and everything else.

You could try a private lesson with Leyla Lanty. She has spent many hours playing cymbals with Arab bands.

You could become a student of Mary Ellen Donald. She provides superb finger cymbal instruction - every dancer I know who has attended her percussion classes has become an excellent zills player. I think her classes are currently in Oakland, but check with her to find out for sure.

You could try my articles about finger cymbals, or explore the instructional books I've reviewed: Shira's Online Finger Cymbal Workshop

You could come to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Bellydance Intensive in September and attend my Zills Thrills workshop on Sunday.

Thanks for the so many options!

Originally Posted by leylalanty

Thanks for the mention, Shira. In addition to spending many hours playing zills in an Arab band, I taught cymbals at Ahlan Wa Sahlan for 4 years too.

Where are you located at?

Originally Posted by Aesera

Where are you located at?

I'm in Palo Alto.

Wow, you have lots of great options. (wish I could take zills with Leyla Lanty!)

I've seen Michelle Joyce's Killer Ziller video, it's fantastic. I'm not familiar with the others.

I have three pieces of advice for you:

1) I'm with Shira, don't play them professionally until you can play them easily. Otherwise your dancing will suffer and so will your audience!

2) Zills are a percussion instrument, it's unusual to play them to the melody. Rather than thinking about learning zill 'patterns,' learn your rhythms. When you know your rhythms (Masmoudi, Saidi, Maksoum, etc) you'll be able to dance -- and play finger cymbals -- to any kind of music at all. Instead of thinking about 1-1-123-1-123 or R-R-RLR-R-RLR or however you would notate a pattern, you would think D D tkt D tkt and you'd be playing -- and dancing! -- to the Masmoudi Seghir or 'beledi' rhythm. . Knowing the rhythms in your music will not only solve your zilling problem, it will also make you a better dancer.

3) When you're working on your zilling, I recommend that you NOT practice them while sitting down! I made that mistake, and reached a point where I could zill very well.... until I tried to dance at the same time. Then I couldn't zill OR dance! So make sure you at least walk around, if not dance, while you're practicing, and hold your arms elegantly!