Zimfest Update
August 12, 2007

We have made several changes to the workshop schedule, due to teacher cancellations and some low enrollments. Please log into Online Registration and review your workshop enrollment. Online registration is open until this Friday, August 17th for you to register, add or drop workshops, and make other changes to your schedule. Online registration will close at midnight Friday, August 17th (it will be view-only after that).

Teachers and Presenters Update

Unfortunately, Joe Keefe and Joel Laviolette are not able to make it to Zimfest. We have also heard from Nathan Beck, Ronnie Daliyo, Viktor Karlsson and Tomas Lindqvist that they will be able to join us this year and we are delighted to welcome them.

Nathan Beck has studied Shona music since the early 1990s including extensive study in Zimbabwe with Cosmas Magaya, Garikayi Tirikoti, and the Chigamba family. Nathan has been a member of Boka Marimba since 1992 and also plays with Njuzu. He has taught at Zimfest, Camp Tumbuka, as well as many Portland area schools. Currently, he teaches marimba and mbira at Lewis & Clark College.


Warning: mysql_result() [function.mysql-result]: Unable to jump to row 0 on MySQL result index 5 in /usr/www/users/zimfest/2007/workshops/onebio.php on line 45

Viktor Karlsson and Tomas Lindqvist from Sweden, despite their young age, have studied African marimbas for 11 years under Peta Axelsson's lead in Zimba Marimba. Zimba Marimba visited Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana on many different occasions, trying to learn more about the rich and extremely complex African music and culture - especially that from Zimbabwe. Zimba Marimba toured extensively in Europe and Africa, and they also performed at Zimfest in 2005. Aside from that, the last couple of years Viktor and Tomas have taught African marimbas at different music schools in southern Sweden. For two years, they have been running their own marimba school based in Helsingborg, Sweden, where they teach people of all ages to play Zimbabwean music. This year they visit Zimfest with one of their youth groups - Mzungo Marimba Band. Viktor and Tomas hope to bring to Zimfest a different, fresh view on how westerners, though we are all forever learning, can teach African marimbas!

Workshop Enrollment Changes

To those of you who have enrolled in classes offered by Joe Keefe or Joel Laviolette, please note that we have tried to substitute a teacher of equal quality who will either teach the class as closely as possible to what was described in the Registration Guide or teach another piece of equal skill level.

If you were registered for a class that is listed in the Changed Workshops section below, you have automatically been transferred to the new class. If you don’t want to take this new class, you have until August 17th to make any changes you would like via the online registration system. If you were registered in a cancelled or changed class, you can make workshop changes now or at Zimfest. If you choose to unenroll from any changed workshops, you will have a credit showing on your ledger; such credit may be used for other available workshops and concert tickets during the festival, you may request that we refund your money (after the festival), or you may donate it to Zimfest.

See also: Workshop Schedule

Cancelled Workshops

We have cancelled the following workshops:

  • Session #1: Introduction to Matepe Mbira, Joel Laviolette
  • Session #2: Electric Guitar Styles of Zimbabwe - Mbira Music, Joel Laviolette
  • Session #3: Kangonya Dance, John Mambira
  • Session #4: Advanced Mavembe/Gandanga Mbira: Vasina Katura, Erica Azim
  • Session #5: Intermediate/Advanced Singing: Hombi, Beauler Dyoko
  • Sessions #6 & #10: (Intensive) Beginning Mbira: Kuenda Mbire, Joel Laviolette
  • Session #7: Nyanga: Introduction and Continued Study, Joel Laviolette
  • Session #7: Instrument Maintenance: How to Get a Good Buzz, MyLinda King
  • Session #8: Electric Guitar Styles of Zimbabwe - Party Music, Joel Laviolette
  • Session #9: Advanced Mbira: Mbirimo, Joel Laviolette
  • Session #10: Intermediate Nyunga Nyunga: Nhemamusasa, Tendai Muparutsa

Added Workshops

Added Sessions

This workshop has been on the schedule, and is now offered during an additional session:

  • Session #5: Adv. Beginning Mbira-Style Hosho, Ambuya Beauler Dyoko

New Workshops

We have added these new workshops (see below for the descriptions):

  • Session #2: Chinyambera Dance, Ronnie Daliyo
  • Session #3: Mbakumba Dance, Ronnie Daliyo
  • Session #3: Intermediate Marimba: Ariko Munyaradzi, Paul Mataruse
  • Session #5: Intermediate Marimba: Sarura Wako, Ronnie Daliyo
  • Session #10: Adv. Beginning Marimba: Manhanga, Ronnie Daliyo
  • Session #10: Adv. Beginning Marimba: Chava Chimurenga, Victor Karlsson & Tomas Lindqvist
  • Session #11: Advanced Beginning Marimba: Mawere Kongonya, Paul Mataruse
  • Session #11: Advanced Marimba: Chipembere, Tendai Muparutsa

Changed Workshops

  • Session #1: Somnyama Dance, Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye — sessions #1 & #11 have been cancelled; only session #6 remains
  • Session #1: Intermediate/Advanced Hosho, Tendai Muparutsa has changed level to Adv. Beginning/Intermediate Hosho
  • Session #1: Intermediate Mbira: Hanga, Trymore Jombo has changed level to Adv. Beginning/Intermediate Mbira: Hanga
  • Session #2: Introduction to Karimba: Butsu Mutandarika will be taught by Tendai Muparutsa
  • Session #3: Marimba for the First Time: Ncuzu, Joe Keefe has been changed to Marimba for the First Time, Nathan Beck - piece TBD
  • Session #3: (Intensive, Part 1) Intermediate/Advanced Marimba: Gandanga, Paul Mataruse has been changed to Intermediate Marimba: Ariko Munyaradzi, Paul Mataruse
  • Session #5: Marimba for the First Time: Ncuzu, Joe Keefe has been changed to Marimba for the First Time, Nathan Beck - piece TBD
  • Session #5: Advanced Marimba: Kari MuDande, Joel Laviolette has been changed to Intermediate Marimba: Sarura Wako, Ronnie Daliyo
  • Session #7: Introductory Hosho for Marimba Band will be taught by MyLinda King
  • Session #8: Mbira Drumming will be taught by Themba Mawoko
  • Session #9: Intermediate Mhande Dance, John Mambira has changed level to Mhande Dance for all levels
  • Session #10: Introductory Marimba: Nyungwe, Jaiaen Beck — Session #10 has been cancelled; session #6 remains
  • Session #10: Adv. Beginning Marimba and Singing: Ndakarere Rengwa, Joe Keefe has been changed to Adv. Beginning Marimba: Chava Chimurenga, Viktor Karlsson & Tomas Lindqvist
  • Session #11: Somnyama Dance, Lora Lue Chiorah-Dye — sessions #1 & #11 have been cancelled; only session #6 remains
  • Session #11: (Intensive, Part 2) Intermediate/Advanced Marimba: Gandanga, Paul Mataruse has been changed to Advanced Beginning Marimba: Marere Kongonya, Paul Mataruse
  • Session #11: Advanced Marimba: Mbirimo, Joel Laviolette has been changed to Advanced Marimba: Chipembere, Tendai Muparutsa

New Workshop Descriptions

Dance

Chinyambera Dance

#2 Fri. 11:15–12:45
A dance for hunters, including people who are seeking after their goals in life.
Level: All
Limit: Unlimited
Materials: Wear loose-fitting clothing comfortable for a dance class

Mbakumba Dance

#3 Fri. 2:00–3:45
Mbakumba is a traditional harvest dance from Masvingo. When there is a good harvest, people dance Mbakumba to celebrate.
Level: Intermediate
Limit: Unlimited
Materials: Wear loose clothing.

Marimba

Marimba for the First Time: Ncuzu Piece to be determined

Joe Keefe Nathan Beck
#3 Fri. 2:00–3:45
This class is for students who have never played marimba. The piece to be taught and workshop description will be provided soon.
Level: Introductory/Beginning
Limit: 8
Materials: Both audio and video taping are okay.

Marimba for the First Time: Ncuzu Piece to be determined

Joe Keefe Nathan Beck
#5 Sat. 9:00–11:00
This class is for students who have never played marimba. The piece to be taught and workshop description will be provided soon.
Level: Introductory/Beginning
Limit: 8
Materials: Both audio and video taping are okay.

Adv. Beginning Marimba: Manhanga

#10 Sun. 11:15–1:00
"Come and see how sweet the pumpkins are." And see how sweet this tune is, too!
Level: Advanced Beginning
Limit: 8

Adv. Beginning Marimba: and Singing: Ndakarere Rengwa Chava Chimurenga

Joe Keefe Viktor Karlsson & Tomas Lindqvist
#10 Sun. 11:15–1:00
Chava Chimurenga is a very melodic and fun traditional song from Zimbabwe in this arrangement played on the marimbas. The song traditionally tries to encourage men to take responsibility for their families.
Level: Advanced Beginning
Limit: 8
Materials: Both audio and video taping are okay.
Prerequisite: Must be able to play parts on five songs.

Adv. Beginning Marimba: Marere Kongonya

Paul Mataruse
#11 Sun. 4:00–6:00
This is a song from popular Zimbabwean musician Andy Brown, done in a mhande style, with fun, singing lines and a different rhythmic pattern than what you normally get in beginning classes.
Level: Advanced Beginning
Limit: 8

Intermediate Marimba: Ariko Munyaradzi

Paul Mataruse
#3 Fri. 2:00–3:45
Paul's arrangement of a Shona gospel song mixing singing and marimba parts. We will learn the marimba arrangement, and, time permitting, work on the lyrics.
Level: Intermediate
Limit: 8

Advanced Marimba: Kari MuDande Intermediate Marimba: Sarura Wako

Joel Laviolette
#5 Sat. 9:00–11:00
People love to dance to this song, which means "choose yours."
Level: Intermediate
Limit: 10
Materials: Bring a tape recorder.

Advanced Marimba: Mbirimo Chipembere

Joel Laviolette Tendai Muparutsa
#11 Sun. 4:00–6:00
Learn Tendai’s arrangement of this popular mbira piece.
Level: Advanced
Limit: 12
Materials: Bring a tape recorder.