Anyone heard Tina Enheduanna's music CD for teaching?

[ssipes]

I received an email about this and was about to hit the spam button when I decided to check it out. It looks very interesting, but I wish they had audio clips. Anyone have this yet?

Tina Enheduanna, Oriental Dancer, Teacher and Costume Vendor, Orange County Belly Dance

I have a really hard time finding music that is slow enough for some beginners to play finger cymbals to (I don't think going half tempo works).

I also have a really hard time finding a progression of tempos to help students come up to speed on a 3/4 shimmy.

This CD sounds like it might solve the problems, but I sure wish I could listen to a bit of it before plunking down $20.

Sedonia

[ssipes]

Oh, well, my curiosity got the best of me and I just bought it. Hope it's good!

[bintbeled]

Please let us know! It's an interesting concept.

[jenlindseys]

that looks awesome! Yes...please tell if it is any good. I can see why you were tempted!

[CFerhat]

I got the same e-mail and was thinking the same thing - let us know...
Christine

[laura 2]

Originally Posted by ssipes

I also have a really hard time finding a progression of tempos to help students come up to speed on a 3/4 shimmy.

Sedonia

Definately let us know if this CD helps with that. If so, I think I'll buy a copy myself, as I've had the same issue.

[sabrinabellydancer]

i ordered it too
but, i defer to ssipes' right of first review.

all i'll say is that tina did the right thing and used real instruments

[Lilladancer]

I have it and it is good for the uses people have mentioned. I just posted a reply in the other thread asking this question... I'll cross post it here if I can find it again...

[Lilladancer]

Here it is... my post from the other thread:

Yes, I have it. It's a completely acoustic, percussion based CD that is designed with teachers in mind by a teacher, for use in drilling and classroom practice. There are also some cuts that could be used for performance, including a drum solo. I got my copy just before going on break from classes so I haven't had a chance to use it in class much yet, but the students who did experience it really liked it! I plan to integrate it further into my classes.

It's always hard to describe music to others without having a clip (from my understanding they're working on getting some onto the website) but I can say it has a very earthy, bare yet rich sound, very traditional - i.e. no synthesizers or modern instrumentation. There are a couple of cuts with melody (oud) but it's mostly pure percussion - a lot of combining of things like dumbek, djembe and zills. It includes a good variety rhythms, which is always helpful for teachers. I believe the playing time is pretty long too.

This is a CD that gives a feeling of having a live drummer drumming for your class, so if that appeals to you, I highly recommend it! I personally really like to give my students the experience of dancing to live "raw" Arabic music, and since it's pretty hard to afford to pay drummers to come to every class, this type of CD is the next best thing.

[Monica]

This does sound right up my alley. Wish there were clips.

But I gotta say--I received not one, not two, but three emails about this in the last ten or twelve days. I did not mind getting the information once, but I definitely rolled my eyes at the last one. Kinda odd.

However...it sounds like a good product, look forward to more reviews.

[ssipes]

Originally Posted by Lilladancer

Yes, I have it.

Thanks, Lilladancer. I'm guessing I'm going to really like it in terms of it being acoustic and traditional.

What I really want to know -- are the slow, medium, and fast tempos really a good spread of tempos such that the slow ones can allow beginner students to get their foot in the door with finger cymbals and 3/4 shimmies?

Well, since my copy is on its way, I will let you all know.

Sedonia

[*Shira*]

Another source of practice music for students is Mary Ellen Donald. At this link Recordings Designed for Extended Practice see the "Practice Music for Drummers and Dancers".

It consists of a medley of well-known Middle Eastern songs that use the rhythm that's the title of the track. They're played at a medium speed (not too fast) that a student dancer or cymbals player should be able to keep up with. The orchestration is simple - an oud or ney + percussion.

[Lilladancer]

Originally Posted by ssipes

Thanks, Lilladancer. I'm guessing I'm going to really like it in terms of it being acoustic and traditional.

What I really want to know -- are the slow, medium, and fast tempos really a good spread of tempos such that the slow ones can allow beginner students to get their foot in the door with finger cymbals and 3/4 shimmies?

Well, since my copy is on its way, I will let you all know.

Sedonia

I haven't listened repetitively enough yet to remember for sure, but it does start out with a slow piece using a chiftitelli rhythm (intended for warm up, but could work for anything where slow tempo is needed), and it has at least one piece that has a gradually building tempo for drilling shimmies, starting slow and getting faster and faster. It seemed to me to have a pretty good variety of tempos... but you'll be hearing it soon! Let us know what you think -

[sagira]

Go to payplay and you can listen to tracks as well as download the album quite cheaply. I quite like the album

"Sweet fruits for Heavenly Hips with Tina Enheduanna"
Sweet Fruits For Heavenly Hips With Tina Enheduanna by George Medlock MP3 Downloads + free music download on PayPlay.FM

[jahbie]

Thanks for this link, I've just spent a happy hour listening to their bellydance stuff!

Originally Posted by sagira

Go to payplay and you can listen to tracks as well as download the album quite cheaply. I quite like the album

"Sweet fruits for Heavenly Hips with Tina Enheduanna"
Sweet Fruits For Heavenly Hips With Tina Enheduanna by George Medlock MP3 Downloads + free music download on PayPlay.FM

[Lilladancer]

Oh cool - I didn't know they had put this up! And you can even download it really cheap