Doumbek Technique And Rhythms For Arabic Percussion, Bellydance And Drum Circles (All Regions) (NTSC) [DVD]

Got a doumbek for my birthday from my wife who belly dances because I'd watched a drum solo and thought 'Hey - I could do that - I could drum, you could dance!' Well, I guess I found it looked easier than it was! I'd picked up hints and rhythms etc. on the internet and listened to some Hossam Ramsey (who's a really nice guy by the way) and bought another instructional DVD by another player which at least got me going, but I'd hit a wall and wasn't really progressing any more. Just couldn't work out 'How do they make that sound?', and 'That bit's so fast, I can't tell what hand is doing what!', and so on.Now, with this DVD, I feel I'm really making progress again. Amir starts with some practice exercises which of course I skipped and went straight to the interesting stuff. Pretty soon I was back at the exercises - they're really important for building up strength and speed and consistency, I've found, as I couldn't play the more complex stuff at all without a good work out first.Amir takes each rhythm, starting with the easier ones, and shows the basic rhythm nice and slow so you can pick it up and join in. Then he adds the extra taks and kas and so on and builds up several variations of increasing complexity step by step. The easy ones are not too bad, but I soon found myself having to practice lots to get the next and the next. In this way I felt I was really progressing - each step a challenge but not too great a leap and carfully demonstrated stroke by stroke at each stage.I've got a long way to go, but now I can see exactly where I'm going and how to get there, and am thoroughly enjoying the journey. I can see this DVD keeping me busy for many many hours to come.Stu.

This dvd is a good starting point for beginners and newbies to the doumbek drum. Amir gives very good excercise techniques for all skill levels, and lots of rhythms to practice.It is also very good for more experienced drummers and gives a lot of tips and hints on how to improve. Amir understands that most people buying this dvd are going to be newbies and encourages you not to give up or get bored when you can't be brilliant at it after 30 seconds of practice. So I would reccomend this dvd for all skill levels and I would say stick with it , eventually you will get better.

Amir Naoum certainly has a very pleasant personality and that's his saving grace. However, the strokes are not adequately explained (particularly the left hand) and the material covered is very basic. Given the other reviews, I was expecting more from this title. Perhaps you would be better off finding lessons on youtube, some of which are more comprehensive, and save yourself a few bob...

This is specialist stuff. Amir is a great tutor. The DVD takes you from start up to advanced. Arabic drumming is incredibly complex but this DVD helps you start to understand. There are great demos, exercices etc etc. RECOMMEND.A. Henderson