Frame drums-large circles (history and teaching method)
Frame drums or cube-shaped frames are a group of family of skin-sounds that usually have a simple appearance and are among the ancient instruments. Some examples of this category are Iranian-Azeri circle instruments, bendir from Turkey, tar from North Africa, bodhran from Ireland and pendarek, an inventive instrument.
Prominent players
Some of the prominent players of the circle are the late master Mahmoud Farnam and from the present veterans, one can mention master Dr. Keyvan Pahlavan.
The teaching method of frame drums-large circles
In this training course, three main frame drums that have more applications in today’s playing are taught. Which include the instruments of bendir, pendarek and tar. This family of percussion instruments are also played in three modes. Which will be taught in order.
Top Style
The first mode is the top style playing method, in which the player holds the instrument like a circle and a tambourine with both hands in the air, and the rhythms and techniques specific to this mode are taught.
Lap Style
The second mode of playing is in the style of lap style. That the player places the instrument like a tombak and a darbuka on his leg. That includes a wide range of techniques.
Free Hand
The third mode of playing is called free hand style, in which both hands of the player are free and the instrument is placed either on a stand or between the legs.
Generally, playing frame drums has a high rhythmic range regardless of the variety in appearance, which includes all the topics derived from the rhythmic cultures of regional areas such as western Iran, Arab countries, Turkey, India, southern Italy, Latin America and so on. Because of the multi-nationality of these instruments, they have the ability to play in most musical styles such as modal, traditional, fusion, pop, jazz and so on.
For the educational content, the method of master Glen Velez for frame drums, the method of master Hakim Ludin for pendarek and the compiled booklet of Roozbeh Zarei are used.
