Marla's Drummin' Blog

I have spent the past week, while sick in bed, obsessed with researching different types of Morrocan music. I am so in love with what I have been finding and I made a playlist on Youtube that I highly recommend checking out, here is the link http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=F30B56655B99F843.

Also, please enjoy this video I found, it is called "Jilala hadra" music, bendir and flute, my two favorite loves.....

Every time I pick up a drum, I am brought back to that place, that sacred magical place, a timeless place, where we all played music, danced, sang, drank wine, ate grapes and bathed in beautiful waters...in celebration, in ceremonies, in rituals.

One of my passions is to recreate these types of ancient experiences in my daily life. It is a hard thing to while living in metropolitan car driven city like Los Angeles. Therefore, I am so called to travel to the lands where the drum, the frame drum originates. I have awaited this day, studying mostly in America, and now am about to embark on some serious percussive adventures.

I believe in 2007 I am going to be going to Israel and Egypt, study the nay, hang out with the Bedwins, drink tea and play music in the Negev and the Sinai Desert...after that, I am hoping to go to Morocco, hang out with the Ganawa Musicians and learn about their trance music...

I only wish I was a man when it comes to traveling to these parts of the world. A happy blond lady playing percussion is definitely a site that has potential of attracting alot of attention, and sometimes, unwanted attention from men. I am better at it, learning to create a bubble around myself when I do not any strangers approaching me...

Please stay in touch as my travels become more a living reality...so exciting, indeed

Check out these beautiful ladies drumming and dancing at the Women's Drumming, Yoga and Dance Retreat in Mexico, June 2006. Retreat faciitators were Marla Leigh (drums), Hala Khouri (yoga) and Tessa Hicks(dance).