Here you will find information on all workshops currently
running and those for the future. Also how you may book Chas for private tuition
or to host a group workshop.
Click
on the following to reach categorized links :
Please contact me if you would be
interested in these workshops - when there are enough numbers I will organize
some more - thanks.
REVIEW of a workshop at Victoria Rooms, Bristol
University
"The Lifelong Learning Programme got off to an exciting start last week.
On Saturday 13th October over 60 people converged on the Victoria Rooms to take
part in hands-on workshops on both Arabic Music and Percussion.
Maren Lueg and Chas Whitaker brought a dazzling array of Arabic
instruments to tutor nearly 30 enthusiastic students, some of whom were taught
traditional techniques and patterns on their own instruments. It all made for a
fantastic kaleidoscope of sound which echoed through our corridors all day
long."
Philip Harper Director of Lifelong Learning - Music Dept. Uni. Of Bristol.
Take a look at Chas' old Drum group from Bristol performing
one of Chas' compositions and get an idea of what you can learn in Chas'
Drum workshops. N.B. the footage is very dark but the sound is good !
NATIONAL DRUMMING
WORKSHOPS
I am available to run workshops for
up to around 40 people. I provide all authentic traditional drums
and percussion as well as teaching material and can cater for all
levels and experience. For costs and availability please contact me
at chas@arabicdrum.co.uk
GLASTONBURY
Saturday 6th March 12 noon to
13.30 - Dancing to Live music Maren Lueg - Get
an insight into the relationship between dancer and musician and learn more
about the instruments, musical terminology and commonly used dance moves to
interpret the live music. Maren will introduce the traditional wind instruments
and Chas will introduce the traditional percussion and commonly heard rhythms
and Carmen will assist in demonstrating suggested moves to compliment the
different sounds, rhythms and emotional feel associated with the music. Open
level.
Saturday 6th March 15.00 to
16.30 - Baladi Breakdown Live Carmen Jones - A live
music and dance workshop with Carmen Jones, Chas Whitaker and Maren Lueg.
Understand its structure, and feel the depth of emotion of the music and dance
as you travel through the Baladi journey. Open level.
Sunday 7th March 12 noon to
13.00 - Introduction to Khallij (Gulf) Rhythms Chas Whitaker
- Chas will introduce some of the commonly found rhythms from the Khalij ( Gulf
) using traditional instruments, which are all provided and some will be for
sale. Khaliji rhythms are quite easy to learn and are played in a polyrhythmic
context .i.e. different players playing different rhythms at the same time to
produce an irresistible fusion of funky grooves. No experience necessary and
beginners and dancers are all welcome to attend. Open level.
N.B. - MAJMA workshops are usually
included in a on-off weekend all inclusive ticket price - but the drumming
workshop can be booked separately for £20.00 - bookings through MAJMA -
enquiries@majmadance.co.uk
N.B. THE ARABIC BALKAN GYPSY BAND
will be performing at this event too.
8th -11th July – DRUM CAMP ( Norfolk )– I
will be running an INTRODUCTION TO FRAME DRUMMING MIDDLE
EASTERN STYLE WORKSHOP. There will also be workshops
and a performance with full band by Hossam Ramzy -
http://www.musicworldwide.org
Middle Eastern Music, Dance and Percussion Holiday in the Sinai
31st of October to 7th of November 2009
With
Chas Whitaker, Carmen Jones and Maren Lueg
at RockSea Camp, Nuweiba, The Sinai, Egypt.
Workshops for Middle
Eastern Percussion, Music and Egyptian Belly Dance with live music at
RockSea Camp. Optional tours available including overnight camel trip
into the desert, day visit to the Coloured Canyon, St Catherine
Monastery and Mount Sinai. Evening music and dance sessions in the
atmospheric Bedouin tent at RockSea Camp and possible visits from local
Bedouin musicians.
RockSea Camp is a
collection of bungalow / huts situated right on the Gulf of Aqaba near
Nuweiba, The Sinai, affording instant access to beautiful coral reefs.
Arabic percussion
includes frame drums, goblet shaped drums (Darabuka) and finger cymbals.
The rhythms are easy in their basic forms and so several can be learned
in the workshop leading to a composition which could accompany melody or
dance. Basic technique and correct playing styles are introduced and
participants are encouraged to begin improvising and working together as
a drum orchestra. Suitable for all levels of drumming experience.
Chas
Whitaker- Darabuka / Douf / Riq / Zills.
Chas has been
teaching and performing Middle Eastern Percussion for over 15 years .
Chas has travelled extensively through the Middle East and North Africa
and has studied in several countries. He plays in several bands and
accompanies many Oriental dancers, specializing in drum solos. For more
information on Chas and Arabic percussion in general visit -
www.arabicdrum.co.uk
Middle
Eastern Music Workshop – Maren Lueg
The course would
provide a unique opportunity for musicians to explore the relationship
between Middle Eastern and Western music.
Participants will
bring their own melody instrument, which they already have a basic
proficiency on and are able to learn simple melodies either by ear or
from sheet music (provided). Arabic scales are introduced which do not
use quarter notes but sound very “eastern” and melodies based on these
scales will be learned. Improvisation is a very important element in
Arabic music and participants are encouraged to explore their
improvisational abilities in a supportive structure. Arabic music forms
and scales with quarter tones are introduced and demonstrated for
participants to help in their appreciation of Arabic music.
Maren Lueg - Arabic Nay Flute,
Mizmar and Saxophone and Silver Flute.
Maren has been teaching and performing
Middle Eastern and Balkan music for over 10 years playing Western and
Middle Eastern wind instruments. She performs regularly with British
and Arab musicians around the UK and has studied such traditional Middle
Eastern wind instruments as the Nay (bamboo flute) and Zurna (double
reed pipe) in Turkey and Egypt. Maren is currently working on her
Masters in Arabic Ney and Middle Eastern Music at the School of Oriental
and African Studies (London University). For further information and to
hear some of Maren's music please visit www.myspace.com/marenlueg
Middle
Eastern Dance to live music – Carmen Jones
These workshops
will help the dancer to gain greater understanding of Middle Eastern
rhythms and melodies and how to interpret them. There will be focus on
technique, step combinations and in developing personal expression in
the dance.
Carmen Jones
, Middle Eastern dance.
Carmen began
her love affair with Arabic dance in the early 1990's. In that time she
has acquired knowledge from many great teachers from far and wide. She
herself teaches regularly nationwide and especially has a true passion
and understanding of live music through the experience of accompanying
some of the best bands in the UK, Hossam Ramzy’s Egyptian orchestra
being one of the most recent. Carmen works closely with Chas and Maren
in several musical projects.
RockSea’s
accommodation is comprised of wooden bungalows and bamboo huts, which
can be shared between two people. Two clean and spacious toilet and
shower blocks are within easy walking distance of all accommodation.
There is one main communal meeting space where food and drinks are
served and several “arishas”, sitting areas covered loosely with canes
or other leafy materials scattered around the 400m long beach front. The
sunrise in the East, rising over the Hijaz mountain-range of Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf of Aqaba is probably the most spectacular sight in
this area.
TOURS
Overnight
Camel Trip
Overnight camel
tour into the desert led by Bedouins:
Coloured
Canyon
The Coloured Canyon
presents one of the most magnificent rock formations in the world. The
rock formations are an incomparable attraction: they vary from sandstone
to limestone; granite and veins of basalt dominate the scenery through
the entire hike. At some places, the rocks radiate crystalline colours,
at others; they have a smooth velvety appearance. The canyon is almost
800m long.
St Catharine
Monastery and Mount Sinai
One of the oldest
Christian monasteries in the world, St. Catherine's incorporates the
burning bush seen by Moses and contains many valuable icons.
Above the monastery
is Mount Sinai (or Jebel Musa, Mount Moses), where Moses received
the Ten Commandments from God. This area is sacred to three world
religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism.
If enough
participants are interested we can also organize a hike up Mount Sinai
for sunset or sunrise, which is a fantastic experience. You need warm
clothing and good hiking boots for this tour. This is a 2-3 hours hike
up and 2-3 hours down
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Nuweiba
The Harbour town
Nuweiba offers golden sand beaches, bazaars and restaurants. Nuweiba is
about 20 minutes drive from RockSea Camp . A taxi ride to Nuweiba costs
about £4-5 return .Nuweiba is a less developed tourist resort on the
coast of South Sinai, 70 km south of Taba and 180 km north of Sharm el
Sheikh . In the early 80s Nuweiba was the favourite destination for
independent travellers due to its ideal central location and its natural
beauty. Nuweiba today is still an insider tip for tourists and
travellers who are looking for a holiday off the beaten path.
Nuweiba can
roughly be divided into 3 main sections:
Nuweiba Tarabin
Nuweiba Tarabin,
the northern part, consists of a thick grove of palms, a shallow bay and
the ruins of a Turkish fort. Tarabin is known for its lively
orientalatmosphere. Restaurant by restaurant and bazaar next to bazaar
gives you the impression of a colourful oriental market place. Along the
beach you find lively outdoors restaurants furnished in Bedouin style
with carpets and cushions that invite to lay back and relax and let the
time pass by.
Nuweiba Dunes:
The Dunes are the
extension and connection between Nuweiba Town and Nuweiba Muzeina. Along
the shore a conglomerate of many camps and family owned hotels exist on
a beautiful sandy beaches with spectacular coral reefs. The Dunes are
divided in "Duna" and "Small Duna". Most of the campsites and hotels are
built in the southern "Small Duna", while "Duna" stayed a romantic
virgin place with simple accommodation of thatched beach bungalows, a
few family owned small hotels and some small restaurants with brilliant
views.
Nuweiba Port
Originally Nuweiba
port was the summer location for the Muzeina tribe. It was a sparsely
inhabited oasis, which came only into life in the late summer, when the
Muzeina flocked to the palm groves to pick dates. The thriving trade
encouraged the Muzeina clan to settle. They are running their own
businesses by renting out their places as shops or other facilities to
the Egyptian newcomers.
Nuweiba has a
vibrant shopping area and several Banks and ATM machines.
Diving and Snorkelling
RockSea: RockSea has its own
private access to a coral reef teeming with wildlife and fantastic coral
structures.
Ras
El Shetan : Another Bedouin-camp that is about 30
minutes walk or 5 minutes by taxi, from RockSea Camp, has two diving
places, there are magnificent coral reefs at Ras-Satan, a famous
destination for divers, which has been protected for the past fifteen
years.
TRANSPORT:
Easyjet Flights
from London Gatwick:
Flights are around
£250 return if you book long enough in advance on
www.easyjet.com
Thomson Flights
from: Bristol, Cardiff, East Midlands, London Gatwick, London Luton,
Manchester, Newcastle between
From Birmingham,
Manchester and London Gatwick to Taba.
You need to book
your Airport Transfer with RockSea Camp or us directly; we try to get as
many people as possible on each transfer.
EXTENDING YOUR HOLIDAY:
You are welcome to
arrive earlier then the 31st of October but it is important
that you let us know so we can book accommodation for you at RockSea .We
will be staying until the 12th of November at RockSea you
are welcome to join us. We might organize additional tours such as a
trip to Petra in Jordan.There is also a possibility of joining us on our
music research trip to Cairo after the 12th of November for
more information about this please contact Chas and Maren.
STOP PRESS - AFTER THE GREAT SUCCESS WITH THE 2009 HOLIDAY WE INTEND
TO RUN ANOTHER HOLIDAY - CONTACT CHAS TO GO ON HIS MAILING LIST TO
GET THE LATEST UPDATES.
Check out what we got up last year - Workshops /
Parties with visiting musicians / Camel trek into the Sinai with local
Bedouin / Trek up Mount Sinai / Chilling at Rock Sea Camp.
Workshops
Parties with
visiting musicians.
Camel trek
into the Sinai with local Bedouin
Trek up Mount
Sinai
Chilling at
Rock Sea Camp
Feedback
"It was the best thing I have ever done,
both educational and culturally immersive. It has inspired my
passion for Arabic music even further"
"We did everything i wanted to do and more
- trip of a lifetime. I would recommend it to anyone, especially
those with an interest in Arabic culture" Jeff Scroggins.
After the
holiday in Sinai some people came along with us to Cairo to
watch lots of live concerts and check out the music shops - here
is a video of us going to Mohammed Ali Street to look at the
drums on sale.
PERSONAL ONE-ONE
TUITION
I am available to give
private one to one tuition for the complete beginner and for students
with experience who wish to learn more about playing the instruments and
rhythms or playing for dancers etc. Lessons can be recorded and tailored
so the student has plenty of information to work on for the future. For
costs and availability please contact me at
chas@arabicdrum.co.uk
See part of a one to one lesson I
gave at Tribe Of Doris 2006 covering Saiddi and Malfuf
improvisational techniques and the Karsilimas rhythm. For the full DVD
including split-finger technique, please contact me at
chas@arabicdrum.co.uk
- a copy of the DVD is £10.00 plus P+P.
Chas is available to teach students of all ages and
abilities up to approx. 40 students in one go, presenting an
Introduction to Arabic percussion.
Teaching at the Student Union at Saint
Brendan's Sixth Form Collage Bristol.
TESTIMONIALS
Chas teaching pupils at Sheldon School:
"Thank you for such fantastic workshops last
week. The content was really accessible, your approach was excellent and
the pupils were really able to engage with what was expected of them on
the instruments. Many thanks for a great day" - Jane Dobson - Head Of Music - Sheldon School.
Chas, Carmen and Maren teaching at Molescroft
Primary School, Hull for there Arabic Arts Week
" What a fantastic week ! The children and staff at Molescroft
Primary have just been transported from Yorkshire to Arabia thanks to
the brilliant workshops led by Chas, Maren and Carmen. The children
drummed, then enjoyed the melody, they danced and they all performed at
an unforgettable Hafla put together by our visitors - 400 children in
large groups getting into the spirit and sharing the intercultural
experience. Workshops for children of all ages from 5-11, were
professionally led and pitched at just the right level of interest and
challenge. As a year One teacher I am impressed that children in my
class knew the names and several forms of Arabic percussion and rhythms
! Thanks Chas Maren and Carmen. You've given these lucky children a very
enriching experience they won't forget in a hurry.
Trevor Lilley
Molescroft Primary
School
" I must express my sincere thanks
for your workshops and spectacular involvement in our Arabian
International Week and evening. The children, staff and parents
thoroughly enjoyed working with you and your involvement in
co-ordination of the drumming, music and dancing on the evening for over
two and a half hours was definitely the icing on the cake. Watching the
mass participation of our pupils and seeing their obvious delight was
reason enough to have organized the events and workshops. Clearly your
skills and talents were much appreciated and highly effective in
enabling pupils from 5 - 11 yrs. to be able to participate fully
following only one workshop per class per discipline. This is also
credit to your enthusiasm for Arabian music, dance and drumming with
which you infected us all and inspired the staff and parents.
Yours sincerely
Michael Loncaster -
Headteacher
Molescroft Primary School
WORKSHOPS FOR DANCERS
Chas can provide workshops for the dancer
to understand more about the relationship between dancer and musician,
for all levels.
Workshop for dancers
to recognize commonly heard rhythms from across the Mid East/N.
Africa/Turkey - learning on traditional drums, zills and handclapping.
Workshops for
dancers to learn how to interpret different rhythms in their dance. (
with dance teacher ).
Workshops for
dancers to learn how to dance to melody on traditional wind instruments
- Ney, Zurna, Turkish Clarinet, Saxophone and silver Flute. ( with Maren
Lueg - see OTHER BANDS )
As above but with
drums too.
Workshop for more
experienced dancers to learn the basics of working with a drummer -
rhythms, drum solos, phraseology, rolls etc.
Joint drum and dance
workshop - Workshop for dancers to learn a choreography whilst drummers
learn the rhythms to accompany the dancers.
As above but with
melody too.
As you can see we can
cover a vast area of topics and combine them in many different ways -
these are just examples - please contact me on
chas@arabicdrum.co.uk if you
have special requests or for more information on detail, availability,
cost etc.
Workshops which include
melody or dance instruction will be led by Maren Lueg (music)
