Progressing Through Maqam - March 19th

7pm-8:30pm, Wednesday March 19th 2025
Brooklyn School of Music - 126 St Felix St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

This class is the third of 3 classes dedicated to maqam rast.  The classes are designed to build on one another, while also staying beneficial for drop-ins at any level.

A note from Sami: 

Due to the interest of students with a wide range of levels - from total beginners to intermediate and advanced students - In 2025 we’ll be taking a slightly different approach to these popular classes.

Each group of 3 classes will be structured as a unit around one maqam family: the first class will cover the most basic and common components of the maqam, the second will explore a wider range of possibilities, and the third will delve into more advanced and rare modulations in the maqam family.

Students are still welcome to drop in and out at any time; this new format is simply designed to facilitate the progress of those students wishing to gain a deeper conceptual understanding of the material.

But as I say in every class, none of the words and concepts really matter - the only important thing is the simple repetition of melodic phrases which builds your memory and vocabulary.

The classes are all open to students of any level, from complete beginner to advanced practitioner: because Sami presents the music in its raw form, everyone gets something out of melodic repetition. Singers, dancers, and players of any instrument are welcome.

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About Sami Abu Shumays: One of the leading Arab violinists in the U.S., Sami Abu Shumays is internationally known as a master of the maqam system. He is co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music (Oxford University Press 2019), and his passion for teaching and oral tradition is also expressed through his YouTube series "Maqam Lessons," the website www.maqamlessons.com, and his contributions to www.maqamworld.com. Co-founder and director of the NYC-based Arabic music and dance ensemble Zikrayat (www.zikrayatmusic.com), Sami has also recently released his first solo album Circles, available on all streaming platforms (https://samiabushumays.hearnow.com/)

A second-generation Palestinian-American, Sami originally studied Western music before traveling to the Arab World to reconnect with his roots. He studied with Alfred Gamil in Cairo; Mohamed Qasas, Abdel-Basit Bakkar, and Abdel-Minaim Senkary in Aleppo; and Simon Shaheen and Yusuf Kassab in New York.