Workshop Participant Playing Levels

In order for teachers to accomplish the goals of their classes, it is important that participants sign up for classes that are appropriate to their experience and playing level. Signing up for a class that is beyond your level creates major problems for the teacher and the other students. Please refer to the following guidelines when choosing your classes:

Introductory: Appropriate for those who have never touched the instrument through folks who have played less than one year.

Beginning: These people have played for at least one year and can play a couple parts on at least five songs.

Intermediate: Those who’ve played at least three years, can play a few parts on at least 10 pieces, have good technique, understand the form and structure of the pieces, and can catch cues and understand how to move through sections.

Advanced: Those who meet the above Intermediate criteria, PLUS: learn quickly, are comfortable playing fast, and have at least 3 years playing at performance level. For marimba, understand concepts such as kutsinhira and kushaura. For mbira, able to learn a kushaura and kutsinhira part in one workshop.

Don’t Forget!

Bring any instruments you may need for your workshops, and consider sharing your instruments and/or bringing extras. Please contact us at 2002@zimfest.org if you will have extra instruments available.

Bring pens, paper, earplugs, coffee mugs — whatever you need to make yourself comfortable through workshops and long days on the go. We recommend a hand-held tape recorder with plenty of blank tapes and extra batteries for workshops. Please ask your workshop instructors for permission to tape if the workshop description doesn’t indicate “Audio taping OK.”