Rova Ngoma (Hit the Drums) |
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Teacher: Blessing Bled Chimanga |
Hit the Drums with Coach Bled! We will focus on drum playing, different Zimbabwean rhythms, styles, and expressions on the drum. The workshop will focus on the importance of drums in the Zimbabwean music, its placement in the music and its role in the music. Other basic drum skills will be also shared such as mastering tempo, hand technique and many others. The workshop will be fun, full of energy, and memorable. |
Hi Hi Hi Hello on Marimba |
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Teacher: Danmore Kusaya |
This composition of mine is a greeting song for everyone. When I arrived in the USA I noticed how the greetings were different, there was no more “makadii” or any Shona, everyone says “Hi Hi Hi Hello.” It’s a great song for beginners, very upbeat, easy to play and fun to dance to. At least one soprano and tenor marimba without F#s will be provided in this room as requested by the teacher. Students in this workshop are invited to join the teacher during Festival Highlights on the day stage on June 26 from 4 PM on to share what they have learned. |
Taireva |
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Teacher: Jeff Brahe |
A classic mbira song arranged for marimba, with vocals included. This one really rocks! |
Ingubo Yami |
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Teacher: Larry Israel |
Students will learn Dumisani Maraire’s marimba arrangement of Ingubo Yami, “I want my skin back,” a Shona folk tale. The arrangement includes changes by all the other parts in response to the lead, therefore it provides an excellent example of how the whole band can follow as the lead ascends and descends. The piece has a somewhat unusual rhythm, and the lead and both tenors play “running notes.” |
16 key Nyunga Nyunga Mbira |
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Teacher: Kelly Takunda-Orphan |
This is an opportunity to learn 16-key nyunga nyunga mbira. Kelly will share introductory music and her approach to teaching and working with elementary school students. |
Cosmas Magaya’s Bangiza (2) |
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Teacher: Wanda Walker |
“Bangiza (2)” is a grouping of parts so named in Mbira’s Restless Dance by Cosmas Magaya and Paul Berliner. One kushaura part and two kutsinhira parts will be taught. If time allows, my distillation of variations and high lines will be presented. A strong emphasis will be placed on helping students understand the beat in all parts and how the parts are hooked to each other. |
Tamba Jaiva Dance |
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Teacher: Blessing Bled Chimanga |
Coach Bled will focus on 3 different Zimbabwean dance styles. The workshop will be very practical, with everyone learning and doing the movements. It will be fun, energetic, educational, and great for fitness. Students in this workshop are invited to join the teacher during Festival Highlights on the day stage on June 26 from 4 PM on what they have learned. |
Hosho Styles with Zimbabwean Rhythms |
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Teacher: Danmore Kusaya |
In this class I will teach different styles of hosho, for example mbira, ngetekete, etc. We’ll start with how you keep the tempo, how you can mix it up, and how you can conduct the music. I’ll also show students how to dance with the hosho. This will be so much fun and enjoyable; we’ll combine a little bit of singing and drumming if time. |
Misorodzi II |
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Teacher: Claire Jones |
This song is my arrangement for marimba ensemble of a piece taught to me on nyunga nyunga (karimba) mbira by Dumisani Maraire. It took over my heart when the COVID pandemic started raging worldwide and re-emerged with the destruction and death in Ukraine. Misorodzi means “Tears,” and this version is like a hymn expressing triumph over adversity. We will learn all 7 marimba parts plus lead variations. |
Chigwaya |
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Teacher: Daniel Lockley |
“Chigwaya” is a song from the mbira repertoire that is usually played for the njuzu, or water spirits. The song is noteworthy for it’s unusual six-beat cycle, giving it a unique flavor. |
Manhanga |
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Teacher: Sheree Seretse |
A wedding song meaning “sweet pumpkins;” come learn the basics of rhythm and melody through this infectious song that will make you feel like dancing. “Manhanga” is a contemporary song typically played not only on marimba, but also on guitars with vocals. |
Nyatsa Muroyi |
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Teacher: Salani Wamkanganise |
Students will learn “Nyatsa Muroyi”, originally played with ngoma (drums). Salani will teach both the kushaura and kutsinhira parts, as well as the song “Tamba Ngoma.” |
Cooking with Love and Kindness, the Zimbabwean Way |
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Teacher: Victoria Kapurura |
Victoria will show people how to prepare various dishes while she also shares the secrets of the food and the culture. Every piece of food is eaten under certain etiquette, and kindness prevails in the food-sharing process. |
Bangidza Singing |
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Teacher: Moyo Mutamba |
Whether you play mbira or marimba, vocal accompaniments can add so much to instruments. Let’s explore together some singing to one of the most sacred songs in the ceremonial mbira repertoire. |
ZiMBiRA Band Dance |
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Teacher: Helen Masvikeni-Masango |
ZiMBiRA is an Afro-fusion band that makes you dance all night long. This workshop teaches a dance routine that allows you to dance with the band ZiMBiRA. You don’t want to miss this! |
Vocal and Percussion Ensemble |
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Teacher: Zivanai Masango |
We will work on singing and percussion for arrangements typically used for accompanying dance. |
Marimba with Coach Bled |
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Teacher: Blessing Bled Chimanga |
This will be an advanced workshop to enhance your marimba skills. We will focus on the fundamentals of marimba playing, variation techniques, crazy rhythms and performance skills. The workshop will be fun, energetic and memorable. |
Siyakudumisa (Holy Cross Choir Version) |
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Teacher: Jeff Brahe |
If you’ve been in the marimba scene for a while, you’ve probably heard Michael Breez’s arrangement of this popular gospel song from Zimbabwe and South Africa. However, when I heard the Holy Spirit Choir’s version of Siyakudumisa, I knew we needed a marimba arrangement that captures this sound! It’s more syncopated, more lively and less meditative, but still very nice. |
Nyarara Baba: Mhande Rhythm with Marimba |
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Teacher: Wanda Walker |
The first half of this workshop is drumming, dancing and singing. First we will learn to play the basic Mhande drum pattern as played in Eugene, Oregon, and some variations. We’ll layer in the hosho, clapping and clave patterns. Next we’ll learn the singing lines to Nyarara Baba, which I learned from Jennifer Kyker (as Ndoenda Zvangu Kumandega). Then we’ll learn the marimba arrangement by Mandy Walker-LaFollette. Mhande is a dance form with singing and drumming, used to pray for rain and bless seeds before planting. Key of C (does not use F#s). |
Dande Kushaura and Singing |
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Teacher: Moyo Mutamba |
Come learn a fancy “Dande” focusing on kushaura! In this workshop, we will explore a twisty “Dande” on nyamaropa tuning that stands on its own as a solo piece. It is not complicated; it just has a twist that will raise the hair on the back of your neck. If we have time we will add some vocals that you can sing with your mbira or marimba band, or in the shower! |
The Role of the African Drum in the Zimbabwean Culture |
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Teacher: Tapiwa Kapurura |
I am trying to discuss an interesting concept about the role of the drum way before technology came into the Shona culture. Many simply associate the drum with entertainment. There is more to the drum than people may realize. The uses, value and relevance of the drum can change the way people look at or listen to the drumbeat. |
Mhoro Nherera Singing |
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Teacher: Salani Wamkanganise |
Salani along with his partner Kelly Takunda Orphan will teach a singing class. We will sing the jiti song (played on mbira) called “Mhoro Nherera.” Students in this workshop are invited to join the teacher during Festival Highlights on the day stage on June 26 from 4 PM on what they have learned. |
Mbakumba – Hande! |
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Teacher: Helen Masvikeni-Masango |
Mbakumba is a traditional Zimbabwean dance. We will break down the technique, and the music and have a great time dancing!!! |
Learn and Dance to Marimba |
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Teacher: Blessing Bled Chimanga |
Work with Coach Bled to enhance your marimba skills, focusing on the fundamentals of marimba playing, variation techniques, crazy rhythms and performance skills. The workshop will be fun, energetic and memorable. |
Intro To African Rhythms |
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Teacher: Daniel Lockley |
Here in the West, we are very melody-oriented; it isn’t that hard for us to break into 3-part harmony when singing “Happy Birthday.” On the other hand, when you put us in a drum circle, we often just end up playing the same rhythm as everyone else and getting stuck. In this workshop we will look at how to come up with interesting rhythms to play, first using just our bodies, and then applying it to marimba using a simple chord progression. |
Mutengeni: Mbira-style Marimba |
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Teacher: Wanda Walker |
Wanda learned this traditional mbira song from Chartwell Dutiro (found on the CD Spirit Talk Mbira / Ndonga Mahwe). She arranged it for marimba with her band, Jenaguru. The lyrics are “Kashiri kamambo, Kangaka chamhedza; Nhengeni / Mutengeni,” which means “The small bird of the king might swallow the nhengeni, the fruit of the mutengeni tree.” Jenaguru members are happy to have added this very danceable song to their set list. Key of G, ionian mode (uses F#s). If time, basic singing lines will be taught. You may listen to this arrangement through a link on this web page: http://www.marimbaworks.com/WWalker/ |
Gandanga on Mbira |
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Teacher: Danmore Kusaya |
“Gandanga” means soldier. When soldiers come back after the war, everyone will be celebrating with them. The soldiers will be telling everyone, “We want to eat meat; we don’t want to eat vegetables.” There is some backstory to this that I will be sharing as well. We’ll start by talking about how to hold the mbira and which notes to start with when you are a beginner. I’ll be teaching how to play the mbira in a gentle and soothing way. |
Non-Zimbabweans playing Zimbabwean Music: A Discussion |
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Teacher: Kelly Takunda-Orphan |
A discussion of colonialism, racism and responsibility: What are the implications of being white, and/or non-Zimbabwean and playing music from Zimbabwe? Let’s take a chance with one another and go deeper in a facilitated session to discuss and reflect on our responsibility towards music that does come from our ancestors. This is an opportunity for more intimate reflection where we can share our thinking. Our goal is to gain understanding of concrete ways we can work towards racial justice as we celebrate Zimbabwean people, culture and music. |
Hosho! |
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Teacher: Salani Wamkanganise |
Come and deepen your understanding and technique of hosho playing. Salani will share his approach to playing hosho. |
Njuzu |
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Teacher: Daniel Lockley |
This is a song by Stella Chiweshe that I arranged for marimba. It’s a fairly easy song that will still have enough twists and turns to keep seasoned players engaged! |
Feel the Beat with Amaxoxo |
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Teacher: Gary Spalter |
“Amaxoxo” is the sound of frogs in the Ndebele language. Composed by Alport Mhlanga, one of Dumi’s teachers at Kwanongoma College, “Amaxoxo” is a great song for newer players to hone their skills and to feel the four beats typical of mbira-style music. Some parts are simple, while others are more challenging. |
Huku Ine Ronda |
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Teacher: Danmore Kusaya |
“Huku ine ronda” talks about a man who was married to five wives who became jealous of one another. It’s a very important song because this same song helped bring freedom to the Shona women. I will be sharing a little story about it. |
Multi-Instrument Ensemble |
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Teacher: Zivanai Masango |
Bring an instrument of your choice, be it guitar, voice, horn, ngoma, marimba or mbira. We will work on putting all these together into a solid arrangement. |
Perception of Mbira Music in Zimbabwe |
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Teacher: Tsitsi Hantuba |
I will share firsthand experience on how mbira music is generally perceived in Zimbabwe and how that perception has been evolving over time. I will also share details about the role that the nonprofit organization Humwe is playing in addressing those perceptions and in preserving traditional music and culture. |
Zimbabwean and South African Choral Singing |
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Teacher: Lynn Wyckoff |
Raise your voices in song! You will learn two or three songs from the Zimbabwean and South African choral traditions, plus a few simple dance steps to groove with the music. |
Zimbabwean Drumming |
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Teacher: Sheree Seretse |
Students will explore the role of variations and improvisations on some traditional Zimbabwean drum patterns. |
Njuzu_2 |
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Teacher: Daniel Lockley |
This is a song by Stella Chiweshe that I arranged for marimba. It’s a fairly easy song that will still have enough twists and turns to keep seasoned players engaged! |
River of Tears |
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Teacher: Jeff Brahe |
Back in the good old days, there was a band called Andé Marimba. One of our greatest hits was this song, composed by Chris Berry. Now it can be one of your greatest hits too! |
Yabaka |
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Teacher: Zivanai Masango |
A fun, lighthearted marimba arrangement will be taught. |
Muka Tiende |
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Teacher: Moyo Mutamba |
“Muka Tiende” is one of my favorite songs for its breadth and versatility. Together, we will explore a complex kushaura part to add to whatever you already play on dzavadzimu. |
