[Pre-Order] Andy Statman – Learn to Play Klezmer Music: Improvising in the Tradition

Learn to play the joyous traditional instrumental music of the eastern European Jews. This stirring music is highly improvisational, with compelling melodies and rich ornamentation. In recent years it has become increasingly popular among Jewish musicians, as well as with world music enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and abroad.

On this DVD lesson, Andy Statman discusses the background, techniques and stylistic nuances needed to perform klezmer correctly — regardless of the instrument you play. He teaches several typical melodies, first playing each one slowly and unornamented, then demonstrating how trills, slurs, grace notes, vibrato and other variations “bring out the heart that’s inside the melody.” You’ll learn connecting runs, classic endings, “dangerous” ornaments to avoid, and the rhythmic underpinning of this vital music. Each tune is then performed by Andy on clarinet, accompanied by Zev Zions on accordion.

This lesson is rich in knowledge, history, lore and musical information. The humor, wisdom and invaluable advice that Andy imparts is a must for anyone interested in playing one of the world’s great musical forms.