Nhapitapi is coming around again- a late winter jolt of bracing mbira music to chase away the winter blahs! Join Claire Jones for the 9th Annual Nhapitapi Mbira Weekend open to all mbira players from beginning through to advanced levels.
Dr. Claire Jones has been involved with Zimbabwean music since 1976 when she first fell in love with the marimbas and started studying with the late Dumisani Maraire. She performed for several years with Dumi and the Maraire Marimba Ensemble both in the U.S. and Zimbabwe, and was a founding member of the Seattle marimba groups Kutamba and Musango. While living in Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1990 she played mbira with Mhuri Yekwa Muchena and authored the book Making Music: Musical Instruments in Zimbabwe Past and Present (Academic Books, Harare, 1992). She is honored to count Mondrek Muchena and Zhanje Mujuru as her main mbira teachers; she has also learned from: Ephat Mujuru, Friday Mudziviri, Silas Madziva, Musekiwa Chingodza, Stella Chiweshe, Sydney Maratu and Patience Munjeri. In 2006, Claire completed her doctoral degree with a dissertation on the modern Zimbabwean marimba. She is still teaching and playing mbira and marimba in Seattle; her group Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble has been together since 1991. Claire has been the Zimbabwean Music Festival Coordinator since 2013.
Date: February 26 – 28, 2016 Time: Friday 5:30 pm – Sunday 1 pm Place: Seattle, Washington Cost: $250; $242.50 if you can’t make it to dinner on Friday ($25 discount if $100 deposit is received by February 1)
Nhapitapi: Sweet, pleasing music!
Claire specializes in ensemble playing of two or more mbiras as she learned it in Zimbabwe, and is an expert at individualizing instruction according to level, ability and mood. To the extent of your interest and abilities, we will focus on exquisite arrangements and variations of one or more traditional mbira pieces. Accompanying lyrics and social and cultural context of the music will also be taught. You will leave the weekend with an understanding and intimate familiarity with the chosen pieces. Learning groups will be organized according to prior experience and ability.Mbira Tuning
The workshop will be taught in the standard tuning played by Cosmas Magaya. Bring (or borrow) your mbira in this tuning if you have one, and let me know if you don’t have one so that I know how many loaner instruments to bring for the workshop. Bring any other tunings you might also like to play. What else to bring: BYOS (snacks) and BYOB (if you want wine or beer).Saturday Evening February 27th Special Event
Join us Saturday evening for a dynamic multi-media presentation, followed by socializing and playing.- Cultural Presentation 8-9 pm (Non-Nhapitapi guests welcome for $5 apiece)
- Dandaro Party 9 pm until 1am.
What is covered by costs?
The cost of this weekend includes all instruction, vegetarian meals (Friday dinner through Sunday lunch) and communal accommodation in a beautiful Seattle home. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis when the registration deposit is paid. The workshop will be limited to 12 participants. Reserve your space by sending a deposit of $100 per person. Deposits not refundable after February 15, 2016. Make checks out to: Claire Jones Mail deposits to: Claire Jones 615 18th Ave S. Seattle, WA 98144 USA Any questions? Contact Claire at 206 328-4011 or by emailBiography
Dr. Claire Jones has been involved with Zimbabwean music since 1976 when she first fell in love with the marimbas and started studying with the late Dumisani Maraire. She performed for several years with Dumi and the Maraire Marimba Ensemble both in the U.S. and Zimbabwe, and was a founding member of the Seattle marimba groups Kutamba and Musango. While living in Zimbabwe from 1985 to 1990 she played mbira with Mhuri Yekwa Muchena and authored the book Making Music: Musical Instruments in Zimbabwe Past and Present (Academic Books, Harare, 1992). She is honored to count Mondrek Muchena and Zhanje Mujuru as her main mbira teachers; she has also learned from: Ephat Mujuru, Friday Mudziviri, Silas Madziva, Musekiwa Chingodza, Stella Chiweshe, Sydney Maratu and Patience Munjeri. In 2006, Claire completed her doctoral degree with a dissertation on the modern Zimbabwean marimba. She is still teaching and playing mbira and marimba in Seattle; her group Mahonyera Mbira Ensemble has been together since 1991. Claire has been the Zimbabwean Music Festival Coordinator since 2013. 
