Links

The Web has proved to be an invaluable source of information for my understanding and learning of Arabic/Mid. East./N. African etc. drums and rhythms. Here are some links to sites you may find of interest.

Click on the following to reach categorized links :

RHYTHMS FESTIVALS DANCERS HISTORY / CULTURAL REFERENCE

PLAYERS MUSIC / CD'S DRUM MAKERS OTHER

RHYTHMS

THE DOUMBEK PAGE AND GOBLET DRUMMING GROUP	This should be first stop you make in finding out about Doumbek/Darabuka/Tabla etc. Plus from here you can join the Goblet Drumming Group - a Yahoo Chat service where players new and experienced alike from all over the globe swap and discuss everything there is to, on goblet shaped drums. Excellent site.
Jas's-- Middle Eastern Rhythms FAQ	This should be your second stop as you will find answers to most FAQ here in relation to Arabic percussion plus the most exhaustive list of rhythms which you can play on-line in a rhythm generator so you can hear how they should sound as well as having rhythm notation.
Middle Eastern Tribe	Now go and join this discussion group at Tribe.net for even more darabuka chat !
Wikipedia - Goblet Drum	Concise link to info. on names of drums and famous players and other links.
The European Frame Drummers Associations	Everything you need to know about Frame drums - festival, players, makers, learning resources etc. - very good site.
Harry's Dum Tak Page	Nice site which allows you to click on a rhythm and hear it played. N.B. it's all in German.
TÜRK MUSİKİSİNDE	78 Turkish rhythms to learn !! At this Turkish language site.
Muwashahat Rhythms	Comprehensive list of Muwashahat rhythms at this really useful site - Maqam world.
Play Drums.com	Listen and play along to Romanian, Turkish and Egyptian rhythms.
Introduction to Finger Cymbals and patterns.	Incredibly comprehensive site on all things to do with belly dance - this link will take you to finger cymbal information and on to very good notation for Zill patterns in 4/4 and 9/8 .
Bellydance by Anthea Riq Patterns	Short page on basic patterns for the Riq
Herman Rechberger's Home Page	Very detailed look at Arabian rhythms which features a lot of information on rhythmic cycles, modes etc. It is difficult to follow - best to start with JAS's site first - this is for the advanced.
Joy Of Belly Dancing links to Mid. Eastern Drumming info.	This links to a U.S. site with useful links for all sorts of information on Arabic drumming.

FESTIVALS / CLUBS

Habiba Tangerina	Fantastic bi-monthly club in Taunton which hosts the best dancers locally and nationally - live music by myself and Maren.
Desert Groove	Fantastic club in Birmingham which hosts the best in Arabic fusion bands and entertainment.
HUBBLE BUBBLE	Fantastic club in London which hosts the best in Arabic fusion bands and entertainment.
DARBUCKA CLUB	Fantastic club in London which hosts the best in Arabic fusion bands and entertainment.
Planet Egypt	Fantastic club in London which hosts the best in Arabic bands and entertainment.
Tribe of Doris	Along with " Drum Camp Norfolk " - the best Drum Camp in the UK. N.B. - I will be teaching at this event.
Karamba and Drum Camp Homepage	Along with " Doris " - the best Drum Camp in the UK. N.B. - I will be at this event.
Middle Eastern Music and Dance Camp ( USA )	American site for a Middle Eastern music and dance camp which hosts some of the worlds best players as teachers. Tour to Turkey for 2005.
Festival-au-desert	The legendary Tourag festival in Mali with Western input.
International Bellydance Congress	I shall be teaching at this very exciting event.
	Great festival of dance here in the SW of England. N.B. - I will be teaching at this event.
	Great festival of dance here in the SW of England. N.B. - I will be teaching at this event.

DANCERS

(click on name to go to website )

Learn to Belly Dance

Great site to introduce you to the various styles of Belly Dance.

Mosaic Mag

UK based magazine for Arab dance.

Karine Butchart

Frome based dancer with Panjandrums. Joint drum and dance workshops with myself.

Zafirah

Bristol based dancer and frequent collaborator with myself.

Carmen

Bath based dancer and frequent collaborator with myself.

Jacqueline Jamal

Bristol based dancer and frequent collaborator with myself.

Anna Chandler

Bristol based dancer and frequent collaborator with myself.

Shema

See Shema performing with Chas and Maren at Shema's HABBIBA TANGERINA regular monthly club

Taunton based dancer and frequent collaborator with myself..

Raheesha

Midsomer Norton based dancer and frequent collaborator with myself.

HISTORY / CULTURAL REFERENCE

Mid. East Dance - Music	A guide to various instruments and drums found across the N. African / Mid. Eastern / Arabic world
Arab Gateway Musical Instruments	A guide to various instruments and drums found across the N. African / Mid. Eastern / Arabic world.
Arabian Musical Instruments	A guide to various drums found across the N. African / Mid. Eastern / Arabic world.
Oman Centre for Traditional Music - Percussion	Information on instruments and drums used in the Oman.
Traditional Music in the Yemen	Information on instruments and drums used in the Yemen.
Moroccan music	Very nice introduction to the many different styles of music found in Morocco.
Moroccan music 2	Another nice site introducing Moroccan music and instruments.
Arab Music - Part One	Good introduction to Arab Music by Ali J. Racy.

PLAYERS

Iqaat Website	Website which lists loads of links to great players based in America and worldwide.
Eric's Middle Eastern Drum Page	Website of Eric Peterson which has lots of good information on Darabuka players worldwide.
Harem Turkish Percussion Group	Site giving info. on the legendary group from Turkey.
Hossam Ramzy - Homepage	Website of " The Sultan of Swing " himself.
Uncle Mafufo	Website for Uncle Mafufo - see CDs and VIDEOS for his products reviewed
Mary Ellen Donald	Website for Mary E Donald and her tuition material and other information.
Turbo Tabla	Website for Karim Nagi aka Turbo Tabla - Great player based in the States.
Sayeed Balaha	Website for German based Egyptian drummer - see CDs for his products reviewed
John Sleiman	Website for Lebanese born now UK based drummer - very good, super - fast fingers !!
Souhail Kaspar	Website for very good drummer based in America - author of Souhail Kaspar's Drumming DVD Vol. 1, Foundations of Arabic Rhythm.
Anne Harkin's website - Middle-Eastern percussionist	Website for Anne Harkin - author of HOW TO PLAY ARABIC DRUM video. See Videos
Guy Schalom	Website for great British based player.
Raquy Danziger	Website for fascinating US based drummer with great account of her trips to Egypt plus much more. See Videos
Issam Houshan	Website for the great Bellydance Superstars drummer. See Videos
Souhail Kasper	Website for great Lebanese drummer resident in the US .See Videos
Youseh Sheronik	Website for great Lebanese drummer resident in the US
Said El Artist	Website for the Egyptian legend.
Misirli Ahmed	Website for the Turkish legend.

MUSIC / CD'S

Aladdin's Cave Music	Comprehensive UK based supplier of Arabic/Mid. East/N. African etc. CD's and videos, includes tuition items.
Hillary's Bazaar	Great shop in Edinburgh selling Belly Dance accessories as well as drums, instruments and very good range of drumming and Arabic music CDs. Available through website but need to ask for items.
Kalan Muzic	Great Turkish site for finding out about Turkish music and CD sales.
Arabix Playlist.	Listen online to the latest Arab fusion bands on this radio playlist.
Ethno techno	Great site for discovering the best in world-fusion electronica and plenty of Arabic fusion.
MAQAM.COM -Arabic Music, Middle Eastern Music, Maqam Music	Comprehensive site giving information on Arabic music, CD's, Videos, DVD's ,instruments, sheet music etc.
YouTube.com	Enter darbuka, Riq etc. and see what amazing players have been posted to watch.

DRUM MAKERS

REMO - Drums for Everyone!	US Company making copies of " World " drums and percussion.
Kevork Drums - Lebanese	Lebanese drum maker - finest quality Darabukas and Riqs..
VATAN - N.B. Website has gone !	Turkish Company producing drums and percussion.
Turkish Cymbals Drum Company	Turkish Company producing drums and percussion.
Istanbul Mehmet - Turkish	Turkish Company producing drums and percussion.
Emin Percussion - Turkish.	Turkish Company producing drums and percussion. Many see his drums as some of the best available. Watch this video I took of Emin ( in the blue ) - jamming with a friend on his signature Riq series.
Gawahart el fan - Egyptian	Website of the company many believe make the best Darabukas, and other Middle Eastern instruments
Kırmızıgül - Turkish	Turkish Company producing drums and percussion.
Cooperman Drums	Finest quality Frame Drums and Riqs.
Eli Huli - Frame Drum Maker	Finest quality Frame Drums and Riqs.
Schlagwerk Percussion	Finest quality Frame Drums and Riqs.
Kobi Hagoel signature Darabuka	Great darabuka from this fine Israeli player.
Taller De Percussion	Good looking clay Darabuka manufacturer in Spain.
Full Circle Drums	Good looking clay Darabuka manufacturer in USA.

OTHER

Humdrumstrum	Website for great community drum circle company based in Bristol.
Everything Egyptian	Website for Bristol - based seller of Egyptian Goods, as well as Luxor Holiday Accommodation and Belly Dancing Workshops
Whirling Dervish	Website for great UK based shop selling bellydance gear as well as CDs DVDs instruments etc.
Caravansary	From Sufi meditation groups, to Middle-Eastern drumming and dance classes, to Rumi readings and festivals, to Qawwali workshops

TO TOP

The European Frame Drummers Associations