Creator's Workshop: Arabic Music Composition

New Age Sufi Music
In this workshop, participants will come together to make a song from little melodies and grooves. The workshop will focus on music theory and improvisation to create music with mix of occidental, classical, and Arabic flavor. The workshop will be a melting pot for different backgrounds and ages.

Musicians and singers should bring their own instruments to the workshop (Guitar, Oud, Bass, Nai, percussion).

Skill level: Professional/Semi-professional musicians

Instructors:
Fathy Salama is the Arab world’s only Grammy and BBC Awards Winner. He is an Egyptian composer, arranger and musician, well known for his hits in Cairo during the 1980s. In 1988, Fathy Salama put together the group Sharkiat which has performed more than 2000 concerts and is still touring the world’s biggest Jazz and World Music festivals. Salama’s collaborations with renowned artists like Youssou N’Dour, Cesaria Evora, as well as others, has produced nine albums, two of which feature the Sharkiat project. Salama has also worked with the legendary theater director Samir El Asfoury to compose music for the National Egyptian Theater and has been an active contributor for various Egyptian musicians, such as Amr Diab, Mohamed Mounir, and Ali el-Hagar. Salama has held workshops for 20 years, fostering a new generation of musicians. Underground artists like Dina Alwadidy, Masar Egbary, Sharmofers, Mohamed Mohsen, and CairoKee have all participated in Salama’s workshops. He is involved in the revival of the Egyptian traditional music.

Salama won the Grammy Award (Best Contemporary World Music Album) and the BBC Award for his work on the 2004 album, Egypt. In a collaboration with Youssou N’Dour, Salama served as the producer and conductor, accompanying N’Dour’s music with his own ensemble. Salama won the music award for ‘Angel Paradise’ film, directed by Osama Fawzy featuring Mahmoud Hmyda, at the Egyptian Film Festival 2000. In 2001 he created his first multimedia show “Kouchari” using electronic music, Egyptian traditional rhythms, and visuals. Salama toured Europe with the project and continues to work with electronic music using Ableton.