“Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine (also called “Tof Miriam” or “Frame Drum”) in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing”-Exodus 15:20.
Brattleboro Area Jewish Community will be hosting Marla Goldstein leading a frame drum workshop titled ‘Rhythm & Songs of the Tof Miriam Drum’. The Tof Miriam is a very special and important instrument for the Jews. Played during the splitting of the Red Sea, it symbolizes freedom, joy, and celebration.
The workshop is on Sunday evening, October 9th from 6:00 to 8:30 at our synagogue at 151 Greenleaf Street in West Brattleboro. The workshop is designed for beginners and participants with little musical experience, for advanced players, and for folks just wishing to learn more about the instrument.
Marla Leigh Goldstein is a Los Angeles based professional percussionist, flautist,
composer and educator, and one of three Jewish female Tof Miriam (frame drum) specialists worldwide. She holds Bachelor and Master degrees in flute, percussion and composition from California Institute of the Arts. She has studied at Ali Akbar College in California and the Bhavan Center in London, England. Marla is an internationally recognized teacher and performer who presents programs, clinics and concerts at major festivals and music halls throughout the USA, Canada and Europe. She is an inspiring, energetic educator and a soulful, charismatic performer. Marla composes dynamic cross-cultural world music scores for film, TV and the healing arts. Her original music can be heard on yoga DVD’s, in movies, and animations and she has been commissioned to compose for schools. She also leads her own eclectic world music ensemble and performs live solo looping concerts. She is the creator and CEO of the online Frame Drum Academy, teaching students how to drum, and she designed the frame drum Signature Series produced by the international Cooperman Drum Co., based in Bellows Falls, VT. Inspired by Layne Redmond, one of her mentors, Marla has dedicated herself to spreading awareness of women drummers by offering retreats and workshops worldwide as well as selections from Layne’s audio/visual program. She loves sharing the drum with both men and women at wellness retreats and teaching frame drum at workshops and residency programs. She has shared the stage with incredible artists such as Craig Taubman, Josh Nelson, Hand’s Onsemble, Jai Uttal, and has studied drumming with some of the best percussionists in the business, including John Bergamo and four-time Grammy Winner Glen Velez, her mentor, who says she is “One of the very top percussion performers in the USA today.”
The workshop is open to all levels and to both men and women. Some Cooperman Frame Drums will be available to use at the workshop; they will be offered for sale at 10% off for participants. You are welcome to bring your own frame drum or any other hand drum as well.
Cost for the workshop for adults & children is on a sliding scale donation of $18, $36, or $54. To reserve a space contact Stephan at getmusic@sover.net or with any questions; send payment by check to BAJC,
PO Box 2353, Brattleboro, Vt., 05303 or pay at door. RESERVATIONS ARE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED because space is limited to 25 people.
Hope you can join us for this special workshop.
WORKSHOP STRUCTURE (2.5 hours):
1) Introduction to the Tof Miriam-why the frame drum is an important instrument for the Jewish people to know about (15min).
2) Frame Drum Instruction (approx. one hour & 45min). How to play basic frame drum strokes. Learn Middle Eastern Rhythms, including commonly used rhythms in Jewis
3) Close with a Tof Miriam Drum Healing Meditation by Marla (10min)h music. How to compose your own rhythms. Stepping and Walking with the Drumming. Learn to drum and sing simultaneously exploring Nigguns, Sephardic, and Ashkenazi Jewish melodies.
Directions: If you’re coming north or south on I-91 get off at Exit 2 and go west onto Route 9 west/Western Avenue. Go about 2 miles to the 7/11 convenience store. It’s on the corner of Western Ave. & Greenleaf St. Take a left onto Greenleaf and go up a short distance. We are at 151 Greenleaf St.; an old white farmhouse with a red barn set back and our sign “Shir-Heharim” is on front of the barn. There’s also a sign near road.
