EEFC March 2026 Online Courses
Joyce Clyde
Romani Perspectives on Ottoman-Balkan Music & Dance Exchanges with Sonia Tamar Seeman
For centuries, Romani musicians have been the culture bearers and vehicles for sharing musical traditions across borders and communities. During the 500+ years of Ottoman rule in the Balkans to the present, Romani musicians have facilitated rapid transmission of music and dance genres along urban networks and across airwaves, while shaping their performances through skillful improvisations.
This course will trace the origins and dissemination of many well-known dance melodies and songs in the hands of master Romani craftspeople. We will also learn about how Romani musicians train, form ensembles, secure gigs as well as view field videos of interviews and community celebrations. We will also learn some of the core in-community dance repertoire and popular tunes.
Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2026 — 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 Mountain, 7:00 Central, 8:00 Eastern.
Register here at least 2 hours before class time. We offer a sliding-scale set of fees. See the registration form for full info.
Romani Melody and Makam with Benji Rifati
Benji will be presenting contemporary brass tunes from Serbia and Macedonia, with an emphasis on makam theory, which will help you understand the tunes and how to solo in the keys you’ll be playing in. This course is designed for intermediate to advanced players on any instrument, though the class will be extra informative for trumpet, clarinet, and saxophone players.
Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, and 25, 2026 — 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 Mountain, 7:00 Central, 8:00 Eastern.
Register here at least 2 hours before class time. We offer a sliding-scale set of fees. See the registration form for full info.
Singing the Songs of the Cuckoo with Lily Storm
Lily will present a collection of Eastern European folk songs united by the central image of a cuckoo bird. Since ancient times, people have regarded the cuckoo with ambivalence: welcoming them as the heralds of spring, but also as harbingers of their own doom and loss. The songs will be drawn from Bulgaria, Albania, Romania, and Ukraine. The songs will vary in difficulty level, from simple to highly ornamented.
Thursdays, March 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2026 — 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 Mountain, 7:00 Central, 8:00 Eastern.
Register here at least 2 hours before class time. We offer a sliding-scale set of fees. See the registration form for full info.
Rachel MacFarlane
EEFC General Manager
off...@eefc.org
510-219-5462
East European Folklife Center
P.O. Box 12488
Berkeley, CA 94712-3488
https://eefc.org