Mbira Masterclasses with Forward Kwenda and Friends

by Forward Kwenda, Andy Fowler, Caution Shohnai, Bezil Makombe, Ambuya Tembo, Pasivillias Tandi, Nyamasvisva + Many More!

Shona Mbira Masterclasses - Learn Traditional Mbira Songs Online with Zimbabwean Mbira Masters.

MASTERCLASS OVERVIEW:

• Enjoy 30 - 120 minutes of HD video mbira master lessons and performances inside every pack - All filmed ‘hands-in-view’.

• Learn to play kushaura & kutsinhira parts, bass and highline variations, and solo improvisation for five traditional Shona mbira songs.

• Taught by Shona mbira masters Forward Kwenda (main teacher), Nyamasvisva, Ambuya Tembo, Bezil Makombe, Caution Shonhai, and Pasivillias Tandi.

• Every intensive Includes accessible mbira tablature + song structure analysis from author Andy Fowler.

• Choose from Mbavarira, Nhemamusasa, Nyamaropa, Shumba and Taireva.

Our online mbira lesson packs can be enjoyed as stand-alone mbira intensives, as a five-part course that you can complete in your own speed, or as a way for you to sample the style and quality of material provided over at our The World’s Largest Mbira Master Video and Notation Archive - ‘Mbira Online’.

We started that project under the name ‘Mbira Masters Community’ so you’ll see this branding on your PDF mbira tablature downloads. Month 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 on the front pages show the order they were originally released(Nyamaropa, Mbavarira, Taireva, Nhemamusasa then Shumba). You can choose to work through the mbira master classes in any other order though.

MBIRA ONLINE

Head on to Mbira Online to choose from a wider variety of traditional mbira songs and musicians (updated monthly), contribute towards a regular income for all of the musicians on our team, and steer the direction of our biggest project: Mbira.Online - the world’s largest mbira masters video and notation archive.

“I am blown away by the material, it’s so great! Started learning right away. Thank you so much!”

— Hendrik Brueck, Germany

“It’s as close as you can get to learning mbira other than actually being in Zimbabwe learning from true masters. Highly recommended!”

— Jim Pugliese, NY

“The image and sound quality is quite amazing! Nicely done. Plenty to chew on!”

— Michael Swenson, US

MASTERCLASS ACCESS:

• Although our preferred mbira notation / mbira tablature style is ‘pitch’ notation, you can switch between notation styles with a couple of clicks at sympathetic-resonances.org - a ‘Quick-Start Guide’ is included for free with your download files.

• For authenticity, each mbira musician plays their preferred tuning. A link is provided for a free pitch/transposing/looping browser plugin so you can enjoy playing along with your mbira instrument.

• Artists use nyamaropa tunings for the majority of recordings in each pack. Mbavarira is more suitable for gandanga/mavembe/nemakonde/phrygian instruments.

• Visit the mbira magic store for all our mbira books, subscriptions and masterclasses.

• Once you’ve paid for your mbira masterclass, check out your bonus files and downloadable resources, head back here with your password, click your song and dive in!

• Learn mbira online and access our complete archive of mbira videos and tablature at Mbira.Online

Learn to Play Mbira Book : Traditional Songs and Improvisation

by Forward Kwenda and Andy Fowler

Learn to Play Traditional Shona Mbira Songs and Discover The Secrets of Improvisation Inside Learn to Play Mbira : Traditional Songs and Improvisation

• Beginner parts for 10 Shona Mbira songs*

• Accompanied buy Forward’s experiences and song meanings

• Creative and empowering mbira improvisation intensive

• Online ‘Play-along’ tracks included so you can easily switch between different tunings -and- your preferred style of notation / Tablature

• Timing tips and tricks, accessible song-structure information and fascinating Illustrations

• Jargon free - you Just play the music and learn to improvise

“Your passport to Mbira Dzavadzimu: the mbira of 
the ancestral spirits. Journey into its intricate rhythms 
and melodies guided by step-by-step explanations, 
colorful illustrations, and audio samples. There’s 
a path here for every ability and learning style.”

— Sheree Seretse, Ethnomusicologist / Performer, Seattle, WA

*Includes Shona Mbira Songs: Karigamombe | Mahororo | Chaminuka | Chipembere | Mbavarira | Taireva | Nhemamusasa | Nhemamusasa Yepasi | Mukatiende | Bangidza

Traditional Shona mbira songs and Improvisation - at your fingertips

Published in 2019, Learn to Play Mbira : Traditional Songs and Improvisation has been praised by experienced mbira players around the world.

“An excellent resource! Inspiring songs and clear 
presentation make this book suitable for every player. 
If you want to learn traditional songs and improvisation 
I strongly encourage you to check this book out.”

— Nicky Bernardi, Percussionist, Costa Mesa, CA

“I wish I had this book when I began playing years ago! Andy has a gift for taking something rather complicated, and presenting it in simple accessible terms.”

— Seth Geddes

The Best of Both Worlds

Coming together for the first time, world-famous performer Forward Kwenda and mbira author Andy Fowler bring you Zimbabwean mbira music and crystal-clear presentation.

Forward shares ten Shona mbira songs with the meanings and experiences he associates with them.

Next, a popular variation of the mbira song Nhemamusasa acts as the foundation for our accessible improvisation intensive:

Creative step-by-step exercises (with tablature and audio accompaniment) deepen your relationship with traditional music and place ‘the language of mbira’ at your fingertips.

Jargon-free (a few optional references to theory) - you just play the music and learn to improvise.

Look Inside Learn to Play Mbira : Traditional Songs and Improvisation

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The secrets of Mbira improvisation - Demystified

“Informative, insightful and inspiring. This 
gem of a book will deepen your understanding, 
broaden your horizons, and take your playing to 
a whole new level... I can’t wait to get stuck in!”

— Victoria Gater, Musician, Somerset, UK

Mbira Tablature Style: Position Notation (play-back files with quick notation/tuning-switch included).

Join 1000’s of Mbira Enthusiasts Around the World