So I'm looking forward to Lilies and what to do there. I'm not certain exactly how much time I'll be able to be there, though the weekends and evenings look pretty certain. With that in mind, the only class I'm certain to run is a playing workshop that focuses on ensemble skills. The workshop will be open to all skill levels and there's stuff people can practice on their own from now to then.

The first thing to look at is some basic roles. Not all instruments in an ensemble play lead (whether a percussion ensemble or jazz combo). In ME percussion ensembles, there are those who play lead and those who play a base rhythm, and those who support the base and add texture. These roles, while all involved in playing the same _rhythm_, do NOT play the same part. The lead darbuka plays the lead part, a filled version of the rhythm or free solo; the bass darbuka, or dohola, plays the base rhythm, a less filled version of the rhythm; the def (frame drum) primarily plays a base rhythm; the muzhar also plays a supporting role; the riq can play base or lead or provide texture; saghat (zils) provide mainly texture.

What's that mean in concrete terms? Well, let's look at a maqsoum: (D-T- --T- D--- T---)

--The lead can play a filled version, like this: DkT- tkT- D-tk T-tk
--The base rhythm can then be something like: D-T- --T- D-k- T-k-
--The texture rhythm can be something like: t-tk tkt- t-tk tkt-

This leads to a layered sound of the sort that can be found on recordings of ME drumming.

So, take your favorite rhythms and look at playing both a lead part and a base part. If you've got a def or riq or muzhar, practice the rhythms with those, in addition to your darbuka.