Abba Video:

		List Price: $18.99		Label: StratoStream - WorldDance New York Salesrank: 16986 Released: August 29, 2006
		Our Price: $10.59
		Used Price: $11.23
		MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated) Media: DVD

Editorial Review:
Learn to play doumbek (dumbek, darbuka) with New York's most beloved Arabic percussionist, the master instructor, the one and only Amir Naoum!

If you are a beginning drummer, this DVD will serve as a very accessible, friendly and solid introduction to the art of Middle Eastern percussion.

If you are a dancer, Amir Naoum's clear introduction to the most popular bellydance rhythms and their more subtle variations will help you learn to recognize the rhythms, even in their most sophisticated forms.

Born in Syria and raised in Lebanon, Amir Naoum has played in NYC Arabic clubs, for family celebrations and bellydance shows for over 30 years. He has contributed generously to the success of most New York star bellydancers and Middle Eastern percussionists. Amir's method of teaching Middle Eastern rhythms and doumbek technique have helped many dancers and drummers take their first steps toward understanding Middle Eastern rhythms, and develop toward higher levels of musicality and doumbek playing technique. Amir is known for his warm, welcoming, encouraging teaching style and for helping dancers at every level of skill do their best in performance.

This program is a beginner-level doumbek instructional course with a lot of beyond-the-basics information and spectacular demonstrations of Middle Eastern drumming and dance rhythms.

Doumbek Technique and Rhythms for Arabic Percussion, Bellydance, and Drum Circles Reviews:
Worth the lesson
2009-08-14 - I have owned my doumbek about 4 months. I've worked pretty hard at it from material off the internet (which I really appreciate), from a drum circle of peers, and from group drumming at parties. I just got into a quartet: guitar, mandolin, fiddle, & doumbek. Although many of my peers have more experience than I do, there is only one whom I would consider to be a 'good' drummer. The others I am surpassing, because I understand better than they do and because I work harder than they do. The implication is: I've got to keep at it!

I am also a decent amateur musician. I have an ear for sounds, timing, and style. It comes with experience.

This DVD is incredible! The Master is a master! He is very personable. I felt I was in private audience. However, I can imagine some finding disappointment. Why? Because this is mostly like a single lesson, a master class. Thus my title. If you buy this DVD you are buying a lesson, a wonderful lesson. Things are taught that are easy. Things are demonstrated that are challenging. Most of all, you get to meet the Master and hear what he has to say! And because I have it on DVD, I can relive it on demand!

Here's what I got from the DVD:

First, the exercises. They get me warmed up; practiced in patterns I need to know; and improve my rhythm, tone, and speed.

Second, the rhythms of basic reportoire and variation.

Third, the clincher: I learned the weaknesses of the path I was following. I learned a 'philosophy' of doumbek. This is what is amazing for a Master to accomplish without hearing me.

This DVD stresses the importance of the left hand and exercises it. It seems designed with awareness of the weaknesses of my experience. Why? My experiences were based on a fairly broad research of middle eastern drumming. I was following a common path. I was neglecting 'tek'. Sometimes I would drum left-handed, just to give the left hand something to do and give the right hand a break.

'Core rhythm' is emphasized. This, I was finding on my own. However, my peers don't seem to grasp it. They seemed to be mechanical, menu-driven. Without a sense of core, you cannot improvise effectively. You have got to know where you are coming from so you can get back to it.

My drumming is now better and will grow better yet. Mission accomplished!

I hope all others can glean from this DVD what I have. See you in the circle!







Great beginner DVD
2009-06-27 - I am a beginner. I bought this DVD and another DVD about doumbeks. I liked this DVD more, because the exercises and lessons are easier to follow at the beginning.
It is systematic, gives basic information at the beginning, and it has nice lessons and exercises which can be followed easily. I fully recommend this DVD.

Wonderful beginners' DVD!
2008-05-06 - I love this DVD. The only problem is that I am having to pry it out of my son's hands in order to use it! This DVD is fun and easy to follow. Just practice with it! WE love it!

Excellent Techniques
2008-04-08 - Amir is probably the best Darbuka drummer I have seen yet and he is humble too. Keep it up Amir. You are amazing and amazon delivered on-time and great service most of the times.


great video, i recommend it
2007-11-21 - I'm a music teacher in San Francisco, I relaly enjoyed this video, it's definately old school teaching method, but he is very sweet and gives lots of great rhythms and excercises and plays them long enough for you to get it.