Weekend mbira camp in Seattle - Feb 21 to 23

[Mark Keller]

Hello Fans of African Music in Colorado,

In case you want some intensive winter mbira study while waiting for the next season of Zimbabwean visitors and Zimfest, here’s a long running camp in Seattle.

Mark

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Nhapitapi: Sweet, pleasing music!

Get ready for your mbira retreat from the winter blahs! Nhapitapi is returning to Seattle for the 12th annual mbira intensive with (Dr.) Claire Jones. 

Join us in a weekend of mbira instruction open to all mbira players from beginning through advanced levels. 

Claire specializes in ensemble playing of two or more mbira-s as she learned it in Zimbabwe, and is an expert at individualizing instruction according to level, ability and mood. 

To the extent of your interest and abilities, we will focus on exquisite arrangements and variations of one or more traditional mbira pieces. Accompanying lyrics and the social and cultural context of the music will also be taught. 

You will leave the weekend with an understanding and intimate familiarity with the chosen pieces. 

Learning groups will be organized according to prior experience and ability.

 

Date: February 21 – 23, 2020
Time: Feb 21 Friday 5:30 pm - Feb 23 Sunday 1 pm
Place: Seattle, Washington
Cost: $270: $260 if you can’t make it to dinner by 5:30 on Friday ($25 discount if $100 deposit is received by February 1)

Mbira Tuning: The workshop will be taught in the standard tuning played by Cosmas Magaya. Bring (or borrow) your mbira in this tuning if you have one, and let me know if you don’t have one so that I know how many loaner instruments to bring for the workshop. Bring any other tunings you might also like to play.

What else to bring: BYOS (snacks) and BYOB (if you want wine or beer).

 

Nhapitapi: Good times!

 

Saturday Evening February 22^nd Special Event

Join us Saturday evening for a dynamic multi-media presentation, followed by socializing and playing.

Cultural Presentation: 8 – 9 pm (Non-Nhapitapi guests welcome for $5 apiece)

Dandaro Party: 9 pm until 1am.

 

The cost of this weekend includes all instruction, vegetarian meals (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch) and communal accommodation in two beautiful Seattle homes. The workshop will be limited to 12 participants. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis when the registration deposit of $100 per person is paid.

 

Reserve your space as soon as possible. Nhapitapi filled up the past two years and we had to turn away applicants!

Deposits not refundable after February 10, 2020.
Make checks out to Claire Jones
Mail deposits to:
Claire Jones

615 18^th Ave S.

Seattle, WA 98144 USA

 

Any questions? Contact Claire at 206 328-4011 or clair...@gmail.com

 

Biography

Dr. Claire Jones has been involved with Zimbabwean music since 1976 when she first fell in love with the marimbas and started studying with the late Dumisani Maraire. She performed for several years with Dumi and the Maraire Marimba Ensemble both in the U.S. and Zimbabwe and was a founding member of the Seattle marimba groups Kutamba, Musango and Vawachi (I and II). 

While living in Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1990 she performed with the Mhuri Yekwa Muchena mbira family group and authored the book Making Music: Musical Instruments in Zimbabwe Past and Present (Academic Books, Harare, 1992). 

She is honored to count Mondrek Muchena and Zhanje Mujuru as her main mbira teachers; she has also learned from: Ephat Mujuru, Friday Mudziviri, Silas Madziva, Cosmas Magaya, Musekiwa Chingodza, Stella Chiweshe, Sydney Maratu and Patience Munjeri. In 2006, Claire completed her doctoral degree with a dissertation on the modern Zimbabwean marimba. 

She is still teaching and playing mbira and marimba in Seattle; her group Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble has been together since 1991. Claire has been the Zimbabwean Music Festival Coordinator since 2013. 

Claire Jones, Festival Coordinator

Zimfest: Music Dancing Across Borders

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