{"id":1057,"date":"2009-12-13T22:04:05","date_gmt":"2009-12-14T05:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/?p=1057"},"modified":"2009-12-13T22:13:15","modified_gmt":"2009-12-14T05:13:15","slug":"surreyyareviews2zilproducts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gildedserpent.com\/cms\/2009\/12\/13\/surreyyareviews2zilproducts\/","title":{"rendered":"

2 Finger Cymbal Products<\/h3>"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Zil<\/p>\n

Belly Dancing Book & Kit
\nZill Speak, CD and Booklet by Artemis<\/h2>\n

Reviewed by Surreyya<\/a>
\nposted December 13, 2009 <\/span><\/h3>\n

Given two very different products with one common denominator, zills (or finger cymbals), I was bestowed the honor one weekend to try on, play and review these instruction tools.\u00a0 Either will make a memorable holiday gift if carefully selected for the right giftee.\u00a0 One is new (Artemis) and one you know you all have seen whether or not you want to fess up.\u00a0 On to the confession…\u00a0 <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Belly Dancing Book and Kit – A kit by Nefertiti Presents, Sherry Jeffries and Mud Puddle Books<\/span>
\nThis kit is unique and interesting simply for its kitsch factor alone.\u00a0With Rachel Brice<\/span> slathered on the front cover and all over the packaging, it seems as though Rachel put out this product or clearly endorses it.\u00a0 I am not sure why she would allow her image to be used (or if she even knows) on this product – which has nothing to do with her style of dance.\u00a0 I also wonder why Sherry Jeffries<\/span> does not have enough confidence in her own instruction to appear on the cover of her own book.\u00a0 She is not unsightly by any means, perhaps it is the quality of the instruction?\u00a0 On with the show!<\/p>\n

The kit contains:\u00a0 1 music CD,\u00a0 1 set finger cymbals, 1 belly dance instruction booklet.<\/p>\n

The music CD \u2013 the only description for songs available here is \u201cfast, slow, fast, slow (floor),\u00a0 (opening, ending, second routine), etc.\u201d, there are only names assigned for the last two tracks.\u00a0 Fortunately the musicians are at least credited.\u00a0 The music isn\u2019t fantastic, meaning the production quality is far from superb.\u00a0 It does sound a bit like it was taken from an old 50s
\nor 60s film, minus the orchestra, and feeling.\u00a0 Perhaps done \u201cstraight to tape\u201d as they did in that era.\u00a0 Any pertinent details to the songs and artists are sadly absent.<\/p>\n

The finger cymbals:\u00a0 The cheapest money can buy, likely made by orphaned children in a third world country, yet an exceptional value for $9 at Borders books.\u00a0 Especially for those non-committal or exceptionally thrifty students you may have.<\/p>\n

The instructional booklet \u2013 pure kitch.\u00a0 A somewhat nostalgic reminder of the books my older sister bought and poured over in the 70s, with vintage costumes, staged poses and arrows and diagrams, only condensed with less information, highly dangerous instruction on the Turkish drop \u2013 literally, \u201c\u2026spin around two or three times, drop to your knees and lie all the way to the ground.\u00a0 You can use your arm to help lower yourself back to the ground.\u201d\u00a0 Ouch.\u00a0\u00a0 No warm-up ideas and the only caution offered, \u201c\u2026do not go any further than your body permits.\u201d\u00a0 The best and most useful advice offered in this book is \u201cFind a good teacher, practice hard, and you will become what you wish to become.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n