Dearest EEFC Community,
Happy November! Here’s a little reminder to register now for our new season of online classes starting in a mere couple of days. Calling all drummers to
Matt Moran’s tapan/daouli class on Monday, dancers to Ahmet Lüleci’s Turkish dance class on Tuesday, and
a brand-new concept of a theory class with Mavrothi Kontanis on Wednesday.
I’d like to take the opportunity here to highlight Mavrothi’s class on
Transforming New Repertoire, as it’s not your typical course—and we do not want anyone to miss out. The last theory class Mav taught for us online on
Makam Practice: Taksim and Soloing was fascinating and far-reaching in its subject matter. His new class this month will be equally focused, instructive, and universal in nature, suitable for all musicians.
I’m including the full class description below, which is also available on the registration form, link below.
Please take time to explore all your options for this next month’s courses, and register! We can’t wait to see you in class.
This 4-week course focuses on reviewing fundamental skills for tapan/tŭpan, through the lens of contemporary brass band drumming from the Balkans (especially Roma styles from Macedonia and Serbia). We will orient to beginning and intermediate players, developing
techniques specific to the instrument, as well as developing listening skills for strengthening and connecting our ears, memory, and hands.
Mondays, 11/3, 11/10/ 11/17, and 11/24/25 – 4:30 p.m. Pacific, 5:30 Mountain, 6:30 Central, 7:30 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.
Join Ahmet for a four-week multi-regional survey of Turkish dance. We’ll explore some new material, as well as some spoon dances and will take a look at previously taught repertoire. We will talk about regional differences as well as the similarities of the
neighbouring countries. Also we will talk about what is going on in today’s folk dancing in Turkey. Special requests will be happily entertained. Dancers of all levels are welcome!
Tuesdays, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, and 11/25/25 – 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.
Transforming New Repertoire: Taking a New Song and Making It Your Own with
Mavrothi
Kontanis
The practical side of learning a new song within a traditional style (such as Greek folk, Makam practice, etc.) is not only being able to perform the basic melodies, rhythms, harmonies, and lyrics, but also to be able to add ornaments, create
taksims (improvised solos) and arrange the tune in a way that will enhance the listener’s experience when hearing your performance. By diving deep into a song and into your own ability to make artistic choices about how you would like to present it,
you will end up making that song your own and hopefully inspire others to follow your lead.
-
In our first session, we will start by analyzing three existing versions of a Greek song and discuss what makes each one special, while also looking at what elements they share. After that introduction, we will dive into a "mystery song" that will be our project
in the coming weeks. After spending some time learning the song using the existing recording, we will then discuss the intrinsic melodies, harmonies, rhythms and lyrics that make it unique.
-
The second session will begin with a quick review of our project song, and then a closer look at how we can play with the melodies, harmonies and rhythms in various ways to either ornament or rearrange the song; either staying within the original parameters,
or taking a left turn with the arrangement.
-
In the third session, we will compare the different approaches to ornamenting/arranging the song, and then use our choices combined with the intrinsic elements of the song to practice crafting two types of
taksims (improvised solos): a stand-alone, introductory taksim, and a mid-song taksim on the beat.
-
For our final session, we will catch up with any loose ends from our previous session, compare and discuss some of our arrangements and solos, and if time allows, take a look at a different song and discuss/demonstrate some directions we might take with it.
Wednesdays, 11/5, 11/12, 11/19, and 11/26/25 – 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.
P.S. Our most frequently asked Frequently Asked Question: What if I have to miss a class, or can only attend offline because of my schedule or time zone?
No problem! Links to streaming videos will be provided to registered students the day after each live class. All video links will be active for
six months after the last class of the series. Yay! You won't be left out!
Rachel MacFarlane
EEFC General Manager
off...@eefc.org
2026 Balkan Music & Dance Workshops
Mendocino,
CA: June 27-July 4
Iroquois
Springs, Rock Hill, NY: August 8-15
|
