Group Maqam Singing Classes: Arabic Music for All Tuesday May 19th, 2026 - 7pm-8:30pm Brooklyn School of Music - 126 St Felix St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
On we go, continuing with our next batch of maqam classes led by Sami Abu Shumays! As usual, each class is stand-alone and focuses on one maqam. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged, while those who take multiple classes will develop a more layered understanding. The focus of the next three classes are as follows:
May 19th: Maqam Hijazkar
June 16th: Maqam Bayati Shuri
July 14th: Maqam Huzam
3-class bundle available at a discount!
Learn Arabic Music from master musician and educator Sami Abu Shumays, co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music and creator of the YouTube series "Maqam Lessons." The group call-and-response singing format of these classes creates a non-judgmental environment that makes learning enjoyable. Non-musicians, beginner musicians, and experienced practitioners will all benefit from the insights and pragmatic approach Sami offers.
Maqam is known as the unique (microtonal) scale system of Arabic Music, but in its essence it is a melodic practice rooted in the shared vocabulary of the Arab community. Each Maqam tells a particular story, and together we will explore this melodic practice in improvisation and composed songs, through collective singing and listening to repertory.
Each class is stand-alone, and will focus on one maqam. Drop-ins are welcome and encouraged, while those who take multiple classes will develop a more layered understanding.
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About Sami Abu Shumays: One of the leading Arab violinists in the U.S., Sami Abu Shumays is internationally known as a master of the maqam system. He is co-author of the acclaimed book Inside Arabic Music (Oxford University Press 2019), and his passion for teaching and oral tradition is also expressed through his YouTube series "Maqam Lessons," the website www.maqamlessons.com, and his contributions to www.maqamworld.com. Co-founder and director of the NYC-based Arabic music and dance ensemble Zikrayat (www.zikrayatmusic.com), Sami has also recently released his first solo album Circles, available on all streaming platforms (https://samiabushumays.hearnow.com/)
A second-generation Palestinian-American, Sami originally studied Western music before traveling to the Arab World to reconnect with his roots. He studied with Alfred Gamil in Cairo; Mohamed Qasas, Abdel-Basit Bakkar, and Abdel-Minaim Senkary in Aleppo; and Simon Shaheen and Yusuf Kassab in New York.