WORKSHOPS and LESSONS

Mbira Lessons, Intensive Workshops and Mbira Camps

MBIRA Intensive Workshops, MBIRA Camps, and private mbira lessons are taught by Erica Azim, who has played mbira for over 40 years, sometimes together with visiting Zimbabwean musicians such as Caution & Renold Shonhai, Patience Chaitezvi, Ambuya Jenny Muchumi, Fradreck and Fungai Mujuru, Cosmas Magaya, Tute Chigamba and Irene Chigamba.

Mbira Camps

Mbira Camp is an 8-day residential intensive mbira workshop held in Berkeley, California, which offers an experience of total immersion in Shona mbira music. Mbira-related activities including mbira lessons, mbira singing, mbira ear training, mbira's cultural context, and more are scheduled morning, afternoon and evening. One day lessons take place at a secluded Pacific Ocean beach, another day in a redwood forest. Past campers have come from all over North America, Australia, South America, Africa, Asia and Europe.

MBIRA sometimes holds a winter mbira camp in warm places. Winter mbira camps have been held in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. MBIRA now also offers an mbira camp in Argentina, usually in April. This winter's Mbira Camp will be held in Hawaii in early March.

Mbira Camp details and enrollment form.

Intensive Mbira Workshops

Mbira Intensive Weekend Workshops are regional mini versions of Mbira Camp, described above, usually meeting 2 times per year. Sleeping bag space is usually provided for out-of-towners, and vegetarian meals are included at most workshops. The following regions have ongoing workshops:

• East Coast (currently meeting in Manhattan in the East Village)
• Northeast (Boston, MA; Kittery Point, ME; or Holyoke, MA)
• Berkeley, California
• Portland, OR
• Vancouver, BC, Canada
• Midwest (Chicago; Carbondale, IL; may rotate to other midwest locations)
• Seattle, WA (dormant group, come to Portland or Vancouver!)

New workshop groups will be forming in other areas - email workshop@mbira.org if you wish to join). If you are interested in joining or forming a workshop group in your area, please email and let us know. If you need an mbira (instrument) to take an MBIRA workshop, you can purchase one through MBIRA. Getting an mbira.

Mbira Lessons

Private 1-hour mbira lessons are available from Erica Azim and visiting Zimbabwean mbira players, as well as MBIRA's advanced students in various areas. We can also recommend local mbira teachers in various parts of the US and the world. Lessons are available in Berkeley, California, and periodically at other locations around North America. Email us to arrange for lessons.