Zill Hero Interview | Karim Nagi

If you play the finger cymbals there is a good chance you have heard of Karim Nagi.

 

Karim is a native Egyptian drummer, DJ, composer and folk dancer. He promotes and fosters the study of Arab dance in the USA as the director of the Arab Dance Seminar. His performances boast a dynamic concoction of live drumming and dance, done in unison. Because of his proficiency in both music and dance, his workshops deliver students to a new physical understanding of the connection between these two disciplines.

 

I had the pleasure of taking a workshop with him many years ago at Tribal Elevation in Bolder, Colorado and between that class and the late-night after show musical jam session, my eyes were opened to an entirely new way to play the finger cymbals. And I have never looked back.

 

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Karim and chat with him about how he got started with finger cymbals and his original inspiration behind the style of playing he has developed through the years. We discuss how teachers can make the cymbals more accessible and approachable and the three simple things every dancer can do to learn how to play with confidence and joy within the form.

 

Be sure to watch to the end of the video for an incredible performance clip of Karim that showcases exactly what grabbed my attention when I met him years ago.

 

How do you feel when you approach the finger cymbals in your practice? (Do you approach them? Or run in the other direction?)

 

If you haven’t yet found a place of comfort from which you can play within the form I invite you to try to approach Karim discussed in the interview. An understanding of the music and rhythms in the dance combined with solid basic skills will set you on the path to joyful and creative finger cymbal play.

 

I would love to see you there!

 

Find Karim online at http://www.KarimNagi.com

Facebook @TurboTabla

Instagram @MrKarimNagi

Twitter @KarimNagi

YouTube @TurboTabla ​