Article by Judy Sherman from the BDAA newsletter, The official journal of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America

GREAT NEW BDAA RESOURCES:
Alex Siniavski's DVD and Bibs Ekkel's Books review by Judy Sherman

This past convention made me more sentimental than ever before. I was thrilled to meet the newcomers, but, at the same time, was hopeful that they would somehow appreciate how far the BDAA has come. Many of us remember the pre-BDAA "old days", when we searched through dusty bins of Russian records in the US and elsewhere, hoping to find recordings we liked and could imitate. We'd put our tape recorders on the slowest speed, and try to painstakingly transcribe lyrics, melodies and chords. Balalaika techniques were only available to those who could travel to Russia or meet the few players who toured or lived here.

As exciting as all of that was, I was overjoyed to bring back a suitcase full of user-friendly books and recordings from the Madison convention. Paul Philips and Laurie Iudin -Nelson have created songbooks filled with jamming favorites that every beginner can use. The available selection of outstanding CDs is endless and our accessibility to virtuoso performers and teachers is amazing. In addition, if you have a DVD player, we may as well abandon the BDAA beginning balalaika class (and I can sleep in!). Alex Siniavski has made it possible for everyone to have private lessons in their own home with his wonderful "12-step program" for balalaika players, and potentially achieve intermediate (or, perhaps, virtuoso ?) level by the 2006 Akron, Ohio convention!

Has your balalaika technique become unmanageable? Alex's DVD, The Balalaika Tutorial, with its extremely useful downward camera angle... .imagine looking down from your own eyes to your right hand.. .can repair all the damage that years of playing without a virtuoso teacher have done. Using mainly Svyetit Mesyats (Bright Moon), Alex walks you through strumming, thumb pizzicato, pizzicato vibrato, double and single pizzicato, tremolo, rolls, combinations of techniques, tips for the left hand and learning tunes, and some fantastic cross-string scale and chord scale exercises. There's a charming ending to the tape, with Misha Smirnov, Alex's cohort and musician extraordinaire, playing a folk-style balalaika. Don't let the introductory demonstrations intimidate you. This DVD can be used by beginners. Remember, you can use the pause button. Alex makes it look so easy, but, of course, we all know the truth. I think this DVD should be in every player's collection. Yes, you can just watch it and enjoy Alex's magnificent playing, but, with your own balalaika in hand, it's an essential learning tool for improving your technique. Thank you, Alex and Misha, for creating this DVD! (it's available through www.barynya.com)

RUSSIAN BALALAIKA. 12 VIDEO LESSONS

lesson 1	lesson 2	lesson 3	lesson 4	lesson 5	lesson 6
lesson 7	lesson 8	lesson 9	lesson 10	lesson 11	lesson 12

The Balalaika Tutorial online

Famous Russian balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski have released an online version of his best selling The Balalaika Tutorial DVD. You can get it at his website www.iBalalaika.com. Below you can see two samples - short intro into the course, and lesson 6 - tremolo.

Balalaika Lessons Tutorial DVD Intro

Watch this video on YouTube

Balalaika Lesson 6 - Tremolo

Watch this video on YouTube

The full list of Balalaika Lessons

1. Introduction 2. Tuning 3. Strumming 4. Thumb Pizzicato 5. Pizzicato Vibrato 6. Double Pizzicato 7. Single Pizzicato 8. Tremolo 9. The Rolls 10. Left Hand Position 11. Learning a Song 12. Scales 13. Basic Chords 14. The Folk Balalaika

Free sample from The Balalaika Tutorial online

Peddlers "Коробейники"

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Balalaika lesson 2 - Tuning
Balalaika lesson 3 - Strumming
Balalaika lesson 6 - Double Pizzicato
Balalaika lesson 8 - Tremolo

CONCERT QUALITY BALALAIKAS FOR SALE

bass balalaika for sale
in New York

prima balalaika for sale
in New York

balalaika secunda for sale
in New York

Handmade balalaika

balalayka Balalaika ("Belly Scratcher") made by craftsmen from Moscow Aleksandr Zhukovski: "I make musical instruments since 1990. Design and shape of my instruments are based on archeologycal discoveries from Velikiy Novgorod and museum samples. I started to make instruments for myself at first. After a while I started getting orders for different pieces from musicians and folk groups in Russia and overboard. I also teach classes on Russian traditional folk instrumental music. Russian folk ensembles "Kazachiy Krug", "Drevo", "Yakhont Lazorevy", "Vetka", one of groups of D. Pokrovski (theatre on Taganka) are using guslis, liras and gudoks made by me"... read more

Almost new balalaika prima made by Ershov - sold

balalaika for sale Concert quality Balalaika made by famous Russian balalaika luthier Ershov in Moscow in 1989 is available for sale in Toronto, Canada for a bargain price of 750.00 Canadian Dollars or even exchange for 4-srtinged domra. Condition: like new. Instrument is fully serviced by professional balalaika maker Andreas Gerth from Berlin, Germany in 2006 - new tuners installed. Black ebony fingerboard. Pickguard and head dark-brown palisander. Clear and deep sound... read more

Balalaika cats dressed in Russian folk costumes

Russian folk costume designer Svetlana Gavrilova has made a set of black cats dressed in Russian costumes with balalaikas. To view all photos you may need to join the Balalaika Group on Google Network.

to view all cats with balalaikas dressed in Russian folk costumes

Balalaika players, soloists and ensembles

Balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

New York Balalaika Orchestra performs at Russian Orthodox weddings, fundraising balls, large scale social events, Doctor Zhivago style corporate parties.

Russian Balalaika Duo Alex Siniavski and Mikhail Smirnov with program of Russian, Ukrainian, Gypsy, Cossack music and songs performed on balalaika, garmoshka and guitars.

Chicago Cossacks - Russian music and song ensemble from Illinois.

Brooklyn Balalaikas - Russian Folk Music Trio from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Leonid Bruk.

New York Russian folk music band specialty is Russian folk music and songs. All RUSSIAN BAND members are top professional musicians. Choice of Gypsy, Ukrainian, Russian (2 different sets) and Cossack costumes. Extended repertoire. Formal concert, background music or music for dancing party. Our main instruments are balalaika, domra, bayan, garmoshka (Russian button accordion), Gypsy guitar, classic guitar, contrabass balalaika, cello and vocals.

Old Red Wine - Klezmer, Yiddish, Russian dixieland band from Brooklyn, New York. Artistic Director Shlomo Leiderman.

Russian traditional music and song ensemble from Los Angeles, California has built a reputation as a unique, dynamic and accomplished group performing on traditional Russian instruments: the domra, the balalaika, and the bayan. The quartet's repertoire ranges from traditional Russian and Eastern European songs, to well known classics and contemporary works.

Balalaika Russian Dance and Music Trio - Russian Cossack dance, balalaika and garmoshka music from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Russian Balalaika and Garmoshka Duo - Sasha Ressetar (balalaika), Mikhail Smirnov - guitar, garmoshka, vocals.

Sasha (Alexander) Ressetar - balalaika virtuoso from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Balalaika soloist Simon Lemberskiy from Brooklyn, New York.

Balalaika virtuoso Lev Zabeginsky from New York City.

Leonid Bruk - Brooklyn based contrabass-balalaika player.

New York Balalaika Duo - balalaika player Lev Zabeginsky and Mikhail Smirnov (vocals, garmoshka, guitar).

Kalinka Duo - Sergey Vashchenko-balalaika, Vladimir Kaliazine-bayan from Austin, TX.

Balalaika virtuoso Sergey Vashchenko from Austin, TX.

Balalaika Stooges: Sasha Ressetar (balalaika), Michael L. Sensor (balalaika), Andy Koslow (balalaika contrabass), Serge Rogozin (balalaika), and Riccardo Heald (domra).

Brighton Beach Menestrels.

The Balalaika Russe - Russian balalaika band photos and story.

Tum Balalaika - Russian, Jewish, Ukranian, Gypsy band from Chicago, Illinois.

San Fransisco Balalaikas - Russian music ensemble from California. video

more Russian music ensembles, trio, and duets

advertise on Barynya site

Balalaika alto for sale

Russian Christmas Music Balalaika Album

barynya album
Balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski and Mikhail Smirnov (guitar)

Russian balalaika polyphonic ringtones free download

Russian folk music free mp3 download

Authentic Russian instruments for sale

Bibs Ekkel: Russian Gypsy Music Balalaika album

WWW.BARYNYA.COM

Barynya is the best Russian dance and music ensemble outside of Russia (New York, USA). Russian, Gypsy, Cossack, Ukrasinian dances, songs and music with live accompaniment of balalaika, domra, garmoshka, Gypsy guitar, bayan and contrabass balalaika