Modal Music & Comprehensive Rhythm
With Zohar Fresco & Mayu Shviro
15.9–18.9.2026
A unique opportunity to experience the creation and embellishment of melody and rhythm inside the music traditions of the Middle East.
In this seminar, the students will encounter the details of the modal music language through both traditional and new compositions, alongside improvisation. Together with the profound and deep understanding of pulse, rhythm, and rhythmical compositions, they will learn a new method of approaching traditional music.
Together with the students, Mayu and Zohar will join hands to create a complex musical picture that will be performed at the end of the seminar, while keeping the process filled with joy and curiosity.
Suitable for students who come from different music genres and want to make their first steps in modal music (Turkish Makam and Azeri Mugam).
The seminar will focus on understanding the language of the Makam, finding ways to speak the language by playing together, analyzing pieces, improvisation and imitation.
Meet The Artists
Mayu Shviro started her classical western music studies on the cello when she was 6. She discovered modal music at the age of 18. Enchanted by the power and the beauty of these musical traditions she decided to focus on this style and began her musical journey with her cello through the Arabic, Turkish and Azeri traditions.
She traveled to learn from masters of Ottoman music in Greece (Evgenious Voulgaris), and Azeri music in Azerbaijan (Elshan Mansurov).
She performed and recorded various kinds of styles with many ensembles and artists (Piris Eliyahu, Shai Maestro, Ofer Mizrahi, Dudu Tassa, Soloist with the east and west orchestra, Itamar Doari, Ross Daly, Kelly Thoma).
These days she is creating her own music that is inspired by the traditions and people that crossed her way.
Zohar Izhak Fresco is known as a pioneer of the “Tof Miriam”, the ancient frame drum which originated in the Middle East more than three thousand years ago.
Fresco understood the great value and the wide musical range that existed in this instrument and dedicated his life to the development of a new fingering technique and a unique musical language which he’d given the name MANEGINA.
In doing so, Fresco created his own drumming style and became a mentor to musicians from all over the world who followed him, learned the secrets of his musical method and adapted his drumming style in their own works.
Seminar
Suitable for all kinds of musicians who are interested in rhythm theory, frame drums finger technique, rhythmical compositions and Improvisation.