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Beginning
Mbira Workshop
Event: Beginning Mbira dza Vadzimu Workshop
Location: Worcester [Boston], Massachusetts
Dates: March 11, 12 and 13th 2005.
Facilitators: Solomon Murungu & Mugove Pride Chigwedere
Cost: US$288 inclusive of food, lodging.
Workshop Size: 8 participants maximum
Info: +1.978.790.4930, smurungu@tiac.net
Workshop Mantra: “Better than a thousand
days of diligent study is one day with a great teacher” –
Japanese Proverb.
Beginning Mbira
Workshop:
A Traditional Approach
The Short Read
Born of a desire to teach mbira within a Shona cultural context, Solomon
Murungu and Zambuko Projects Unlimited will offer the first of a series
of mbira workshops that are culturally inspired. With a radical departure
from pure technical performance techniques, Zambuko mbira workshops
span multiple disciplines to present a balanced, respectful and self-sustaining
learning experience. This beginning workshop focuses on learning mbira
along with Shona culture and traditions as they are inseparable elements
of the music. We impart an appreciative wisdom of Shona folklore,
traditions and music to all participants. While technique and mbira
performance are critical and motivating factors for workshop participants,
the crucial topics for this beginning workshop are:
-
Foundations of mbira
- Social hierarchy, beliefs, death, spirituality among the Shona
people.
- customs, rituals, liturgy, music and the role of mbira in Shona
traditions
- family, elders, statesmanship and ancestry, roles and responsibilities
of ancestors
- spirits, spirit-mediums and the notion of appeasement of ancestors
-
Mechanics & Appreciation for Mbira
- anatomy and physiology of the mbira family, real estate, unifying
elements.
- ergonomics, density, portability and versatility
- the mbira cycle as bedrock of creativity, spiritual embodiment
and record of history.
-
The Music, Its Power, Shona Language and Folklore
- steady state & spiritual seduction, heart-beat statehood
- vibrational healing elements, poetic wisdom and idiomatic language
of mbira
-
Shona- the Language of mbira
- the alphabet and to pronounce it
- syllables, intonation, simple and compound syllables & Shona
phraseology
- Voices, words and sounds “heard on the mbira”
- convergence – language, instrument, music
- use of language in mbira music
- context, meaning an interpreting mbira music
-
Learning to Play Mbira – A labor of Love
- Shona phraseology song development – visual approach to
learning
- augmentation: audio and transcription
- the 8-hour rule, 7-note derivation
- voice groups, connectivity, class hierarchy, inheritance &
polymorphism in mbira music.
- the mbira scale, voice groups and the architecture of mbira
music
- instrument playing basics at individual levels
- substitutability and sequencing
- kushaura, kutsinhira and rhythm management
- much much more
-
Tools/Techniques for Remote Learning
Value Proposition
1) Unique, engaging and abundantly rich in cultural folklore. This
beginning class focuses mainly on the cultural context of mbira. We
teach the mbira dza vadzimu only in this workshop.
2) Small, respectful and intimate setting for a balanced and enjoyable
learning experience. Each participant is valued. We expect to learn
from, and with all our participants.
3) Experienced teachers with superb fluency in Shona culture, language,
history and traditions as they relate to mbira.
4) Participants can bring their own mbira, borrow a mbira for the
workshop or purchase one.
About the Facilitators…
Solomon Murungu was born and grew up in Makoni district in
eastern Zimbabwe. An avid mbira player and Shona culture evangelist,
Mr. Murungu has represented his culture at schools, universities and
cultural festivals in North America. He was advisor to the 1999 Houston
International Festival and has participated in the Boston and Vermont
International Festivals since 1997. He has been contributor to the
WGBH’s Sound and Spirit radio program and was featured artist
for the Museum of Fine Arts Boston’s unveiling of the Teel collection
of African art in April 2004. He established the first website dedicated
to mbira music and Shona traditions, www.zambuko.com, in 1994. His
mbira mentors and teachers include, Ephat Mujuru, Jeffrey Masona,
Bezil and Ngoni Makombe, Pasivilius Tandi and more recently, Newton
Gwara. Mr. Murungu resides in Massachusetts and can be reached at
+1.978.790.4930.
Mugove Pride Chigwedere was born in a traditional
family from Chief Svosve’s area in Hwedza. He was exposed to
the mbira and its music, traditions and wisdom from a very early age.
Taught initially by family members, Chigwedere later studied with
Garikai Tirikoti and Judah Nembire Katonje and he has also studied
with Cosmas Magaya. Now blending the mbira music traditions with deep
knowledge of traditional Zimbabwean institutions and the history of
personalities and events mentioned in ancient songs, Chigwedere has
a unique and interesting interpretation of the music. He can be reached
at pchigwedere@yahoo.com.
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