Category Archives: Music Education

Saudi Arabia Music Scene Report: A Music Culture Shift

Text by Dawoud Kringle

An unprecedented cultural change is happening in Saudi Arabia. After decades of rule wherein the Saudi dynasty has attempted to institute their interpretation of Shari’ah, big changes are happening.

The documented history of music in the Kingdom goes back around 120 years. Between 1903 and 1905, the first record was made by the Dutch consulate in Saudi Arabia. It featured voices singing songs accompanying the Hajj rituals, and singing songs together that appeared to be related to social rituals.

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Brian Epstein

Brian Epstein: an Historical Retrospective Part

Three Managers: an Historical Retrospective. Part 1: Brian Epstein

By Dawoud Kringle

The artist managers presented in this three-part series are Brian Epstein, Peter Grant, and Michael Jeffrey. The 60s and 70s were a time of volatile transformations in the music business. A retrospective of these three artist managers from this period can be instructive.

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Report: MFM ZOOM Webinar #4 w. Richard Miller and Stephen Johnson

The Rhythmic and Harmonic History of Brazilian Music from Choro to Bossa Nova

Report by Dawoud Kringle

On Friday, March 26, 2021, MFM presented its 4th Zoom Webinar. MFM Members Richard Miller and Stephen Johnson presented a discussion on the history of Brazilian music.

MFM ZOOM Webinar #4Guitarist Richard Miller has performed extensively throughout the United States and Latin America in concerts that explore his roots in Brazilian choro, American Jazz, and classical guitar. He has a Ph.D. in music theory from Catholic University of America and a Masters in guitar performance from Manhattan School of Music. He taught music theory and ear training at Columbia University for eight years and has just relocated to Southern California. Lambert Academic Publishing recently published his book The Guitar in the Brazilian Choro.

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Sylvain Leroux Fula flute student

Sylvain Leroux (MFM Member): News From L’École Fula Flute

Greetings Dear Supporters,

November is when is we at l’École Fula Flute  reach out for your help to continue our music education work in Guinea. In the next few weeks we will be sending many communications about what we do, where we come from, and where we want to go.

Thanks to your help, last year we could leave the streets and bring our activities to an ideal place with a large enclosed courtyard. Now it is humming with activity from morning to night, and six days-a-week classes in French, arithmetic, social sciences, theatre and music are happening there. Our dedicated students often perform plays and concerts for the community and official events (such as the Presidential inauguration). Also, beyond the benefits of the education that our students receive, we contribute jobs for artists, educators, administrators and support personnel, we purchase goods and services, and are anchoring a respectable institution, beneficial to the community.

During this month we will also be presenting our achievements at two fundraising events: Continue reading