MBIRA's Student Series is designed for use by students learning to play traditional Shona mbira music of Zimbabwe. This DVD teaches one version of the popular classic piece Nhema musasa, and includes video (1 through 9), a graphic chart of the octave relationships on the mbira (10), and audio tracks to practice together with (11). There are many other versions of this piece, some of which will be taught on other MBIRA DVDs. Musician: Erica Azim; Joseph Saine on Kushaura in Both Parts Together.

Dangurangu is a piece from the 1,000-year old Shona mbira repertoire played in ceremonies. A wide variety of meanings are ascribed to the name of this piece, including "a song to celebrate a real chief chosen by the spirits," "a big goal to save and pray for, little by little," and "telling someone something, but he can't understand and keeps arguing." This collection includes 13 tracks in nyamaropa, gandanga/mavembe, katsanzaira, and other tunings, ranging from 1962 to 2009. [11 tracks, Total time: 79:28]

Nyamaropa is one of the most important, and most ancient, Shona mbira pieces. You may wish to start out practicing together with the same part you are playing, also trying the track with hosho (gourd rattles), to hear where the beat fits with your part. Then, try practicing together with the part you are not playing, until you can hear the two parts meld. As you become comfortable playing the parts, try the faster tempo tracks. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 61:32]

Nyama musango means "Meat in the forest." In the simplest version of the piece, the kushaura and kutsinhira parts are the same, with the kutsinhira starting one note later than the kushaura. The main hosho beat falls on the bass notes of kushaura, the hosho "swoosh" (after the main beat) falls on the bass notes of kutsinhira. As you become comfortable playing the piece with and without hosho, and in kushaura and kutsinhira positions, try the faster tempo tracks. Of course, this is only one version of this mbira piece, there are many other versions! Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 56:27]

Soulful, virtuoso mbira playing, full waves of music that will wash you away to a far far place..."Samaita" Vitalis Botsa takes us on a journey with the amazing mbira style more commonly associated with former mbira partner Forward Kwenda. A "market gardener" who grows vegetables in Muzanenhamo Village, Murehwa, Samaita had not played mavembe tuning mbira for 13 years, and he says he's out of practice after only 3 months to get reacquainted with the tuning. But, other mbira players would love to sound like this...EVER! Tuning: Gandanga/mavembe. [Total time: 77:38]

Fans of Fradreck Mujuru's expertly crafted mbiras and excellent mbira playing will enjoy hearing him playing one of his mbiras in nyamaropa tuning (MBIRA workshop pitch, around B), together with Nicholas Jemwa's joyous and very traditional vocals. The long tracks give the musicians time to go deeply into each piece, including Masangano, Mujuru's favorite. Mbira students are encouraged to play and sing along with this album! Tuning: Nyamaropa. [Total time: 79:44]

Fans of unusual mbira tunings will love this variant of mavembe/gandanga tuning, played by Henry Gandidzanwa from the rural Ringa area of Zimbabwe. Enjoy his quirky versions of mbira classics, including a rocking Kariga mombe! Between the interesting tuning and the slightly different style, standard mbira pieces have a whole new flavor. This is a great example of how the same mbira pieces, played for over 1,000 years, sound different in each village. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 79:54]

This musician, who lives in the rural Ringa area of Zimbabwe, plays a wide selection of Shona mbira classics in mavembe (also known as gandanga) tuning. Although the tempo is fast, some styles are repeated long enough that mbira students will be able to learn variations to pieces they know. Samuriwo is joined on tracks 3 and 10 by mbira maker Munashe Chivese. Tuning: Gandanga/Mavembe. [Total time: 77:18]

The star of this tight group from the city of Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe is 18-year old Singleton Takaruza, who has a gorgeous voice that will remind you of Matemai's (Newton Gwara's). Singleton's able kutsinhira playing combines well with mbira maker Newtan Chihota's kushaura parts, and Vitalis Mutemi's sometimes wild third parts. Those who enjoy mbira singing will love this one! Musicians: Newtan Chihota, Vitalis Mutemi, Singleton Takaruza, Slovern Takaruza. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 70:28]

Every generation of the large extended Mujuru family plays mbira! These musicians, aged 20 to 30, heard plenty of mbira all their lives, and it really shows in their playing - a tight group with lots of energy. 20-year old Augustine's excellent groove is a credit to father Fungai "Zhanje" Mujuru. Killian, Paradzai (son of Musekiwa Mujuru), and Admire (son of Komboni Mujuru) take turns with mbira and hosho, and add enthusiastic vocals typical of their family's ceremonies out in the village. Tuning: Dambatsoko. [Total time: 79:16]

This talented 24-year old mbira player is the nephew of talented mbira players Patience Chaitezvi, and the late Christopher "Doubt" Chaitezvi and Endiby Makope. Ernest's gentle vocals are a perfect complement to a sweet mbira style. He chose the name Ndangariro ("Memories") for this album: "The music brings back memories of superstar mbira players who passed away, especially my uncle Chrisopher who had a strong passion for the music. The music also helps in bringing memories of a culture which is being eroded by Westernization...the music helps me visualize the way our ancestors lived...memories, memories, memories..." Ernest's mbira is in MBIRA workshop pitch (B) nyamaropa tuning. Tuning: nyamaropa. [Total time: 78:17]