Check out his College Residency Guide Below
Residency Guide: Frame Drums and Middle Eastern Percussion
The following class offerings and residency options are geared towards college level and advanced high school percussionists. The main objectives are to get students playing Riq, Tar, Bodhran and Dumbek using both traditional and contemporary practices, show how these instruments are being used in contemporary repertoire and emphasize how these techniques and practices can be transferred to the instruments and music they are playing already.
For the past 20 years I have been using world percussion instruments and practices in Western chamber music groups including Ethos Percussion Group, Philip Glass Ensemble, Lark Quartet and duoJalal. My instruction offers a great deal of ‘cross-training’ for classical percussionists. Students will learn to internalize complex cross-rhythms using South Indian vocalizations, heighten their sensitivity to tone production from the intricate fingering patterns on frame drums, and increase their ability to embellish rhythms from playing Middle Eastern music. These skills will influence and improve your student’s overall musicianship whether they are playing marimba, snare or timpani.
These clinics and residencies are ideal not only for a course during the academic year but also for summer festivals and Days of Percussion. I offer single or multiple day residencies with or without a concert featuring your students. I’m happy to work in conjunction with you on a residency plan that fits your studio whether the group is large or small.
I - Class Offerings
1 - Riq (Middle Eastern Tambourine)
2 - Tar (Hand Held Frame Drum)
3 - Bodhran (Lap Style Frame Drum)
4 - Dumbek (Middle Eastern Goblet Drum)
5 - Middle Eastern Rhythms*
6 - South Indian Rhythmic Principles, Ratios and Synchronization**
Running Time: 1 to 2 ½ hours per class
Classes begin with a brief lecture/demo on the instrument or musical genre. Students learn traditional holding and playing techniques, then explore advanced techniques including snapping, split hand, split hand triplet, South Italian triplet, Glen Velez fast fingerings, various rolling patterns and playing with brushes.
*Middle Eastern rhythms are taught using the practice of heterophony where there is one skeleton pattern upon which the player can embellish. Students first learn to speak the rhythm, then play it. Several traditional rhythms are introduced which students will cycle and embellish.
**South Indian vocalizations are introduced for cycles from 2 through 9. Vocalizing “ta ke ge na thom” instead of counting to 5 removes the element of math. Hence, we move our thought process from the analytical side of the brain to the creative side. This helps internalize complex ratios such as 5 against 4 and 7 against 3.
In addition, students will learn common notation practices used by today’s composers, how to interpret what is written on the page, translate that onto the drum and ad lib a written part.
A Sample Three Day Residency:
Day One: Riq Class, Tar Class, Rehearsal with Students
Day Two: Bodhran Class, Middle Eastern Percussion Class, Rehearsal with Students
Day Three: South Indian Rhythms Class, Dumbek Class, Dress Rehearsal and Concert
II - Sample repertoire for concerts with your students:
Concerto for World Percussion Ensemble - Yousif Sheronick
-a Quintet for soloist plus quartet playing cajon, dumbek, djembe,
riq, frame drums, shakers, cymbal, marimba and vibraphone
Duo 77 - Yousif Sheronick
-for 2 or more percussionists
Jubb Jannin - Yousif Sheronick
-for vibraphone and bendir
Manta Ray Dance - Yousif Sheronick
-for Solo Riq
Doubtful Sound for solo Frame Drum - Yousif Sheronick
West Naima (Naima’s Hip) - Hossam Ramzy (adapted by Yousif Sheronick)
-for Middle Eastern percussion ensemble
Longa Riad - Riad El-Soumbati (arr: Bassam Saba and Yousif Sheronick)
-for Mallet Instruments and Middle Eastern percussion ensemble
III - Professional Recommendations and Residency History:
Yousif Sheronick has been a guest artist at both the University of Michigan where I direct the program, and at the Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar on two occasions. His work was stellar in all facets. He's an experienced and talented teacher and player who has an affable, direct manner that translates well at the Undergrad, Grad and High School levels. Our students at both institutions learned a great deal. Their playing, technique, musicianship and worldview were all greatly informed and improved by Yousif's visit, his playing and his teaching. Superlative guest artist!
Joseph Gramley, University of Michigan - Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar
“Yousif Sheronick is a master teacher and an expressive performing artist. Our residency with him featured lessons and clinics that were engaging and performances that were inspirational. He has a lot to offer and I can’t wait to host him again.”
Jim Campbell, University of Kentucky
Yousif Sheronick is one of the top performer/teachers of hand percussion on the scene today. He is passionate about his art and is eager to share his considerable talents. His artistry, combined with a casual style, makes him approachable by students, praised by audiences, and respected by musicians ‹ and all done with an affable manner that is impossible to fake. He is well trained in the traditions of the masters but I have most enjoyed watching him develop his own unique artistic voice.
Dan Moore, University of Iowa
Previous Residencies and Classes:
University of Kentucky
University of Iowa
University of Tennessee
University of Southern Mississippi
University of Massachusetts/Amherst
Manhattan School of Music
Morehead State University
New York University
Juilliard Summer Percussion Seminar
Griffith University, Australia
The Australian National University
Melbourne University, Australia
Federal University of São João del-Rei, Brazil
Montana Day of Percussion
Purchase College Day of Percussion
Iowa Day of Percussion
Lafayette College
Lehman College
Hofstra University
PASIC 2015
North American Frame Drum Association
Arabic Music Retreat