Ethnobit music band took part in the XVIII International Festival «Drums of the World»

Ethnic percussion studio «Ethnobit» joined the XVIII International Festival «Drums of the World». The creative event took place in the Samara region, on the banks of the Volga River on June 19–26

The delegation of the Polytechnic drummers included Maria Ikhiritova, director of the Center for Cultural, Mass and Educational Work of INRTU, and Yuri Gerasimov, a studio teacher. In addition, alumni of Irkutsk Technical University Anastasia Kashpur and Vladislav Nemirovsky got interested in the Festival.

According to Natalia Vlasevskaya, head of the Ethnobit ethnic percussion studio, the team has been taking part in the Drums of the World since 2013:

«The Festival is a great opportunity to demonstrate their skills, as well as adopt experience of famous masters from different countries.

It is especially valuable that our alumni continue participating in the music band life, represent the INRTU Studio on the such a high level events».

In 2022, the Festival was organized in the format of a training camp. Separate classes for adults and children were held daily. Beginning drummers learned to play djemba, darbuka, frame and Brazilian percussion instruments. They also mastered the game of hangam and rabbastah.
DuringYuri Gerasimov’s master class the participants practiced playing the cakhons.
An eventful Festival Program was complemented by drum jams, musical improvisations, an ethno-fair, a samba procession, concerts and a fire show. In addition, participants were invited to attend yoga and meditation classes, learn the dances of the peoples of the world.
The final event of the project was a gala concert, which the Polytechnic drummers also took part in. They played compositions on cakhons, performed Arabic, Spanish and Japanese melodies.

Vladislav Nemirovsky, a former Polytechnic student, shared his impressions of the creative event. In 2018, he graduated from the School of High Technologies with major «Food from vegetable raw materials».

" I have taken part in a large-scale project for third time. This year I’ve managed to improve my cakhon playing skills on Yuri Gerasimov’s master classes and the Egyptian musician Ossam. During the classes of Andrei Tanju, he learned to play the frame drums. With Icona Friedman, we learned compositions on African percussion instruments," says Vladislav.

He also added that Natalia Vlasevskaya got his interest in ethnic music:

 «I continue to study in the studio „Ethnobit“. In addition, I master some techniques on my own, and also attend master classes of famous masters.»

Currently, the Ethnobit team is taking part in Summer School «Sport and Creativity», which takes place in the Sport and Recreation Camp Polytechnic on August 17–28.

Photo of the festival organizers and Alexander Bekpergenov.