Teachers: Sami Abu Shumays

Taught by Sami Abu Shumays of Zikrayat

Tuesdays, 7:30-9:00pm, starting January 19th through June 2010

$15/class or $50 for 4 classes

Classes are open to people with any level of music experience.  Sami leads the class in singing and playing melodies in a particular Maqam (Arabic melodic mode, similar to Raga in Indian Music).  Students imitate in a call-and-response fashion on their preferred instrument, or by singing, learning the building blocks of Arabic music in a way similar to how people learn language, by repeating common phrases.  Sami makes these classes accessible to all by presenting musical phrases that are short and clear enough for beginners to imitate, but which have subtleties and details that only the most advanced students will grasp.  Each class will focus on one maqam, and over the course of several classes students will gain an understanding of several different maqamat and an appreciation for the breadth of the maqam system.

Please visit www.maqamlessons.com for more information