Mbira.Online News
What’s new since your last visit?
New mbira video lessons and notation packs every month. Get updates direct to your inbox with the Mbira Magic Newsletter.
Every site update since we began in 2020:
4th May - Tute Chigamba Style Shumba Huru notation pack now available - 20 cycles of Kushaura and Kutsinhira variations with song structure insights
1st May - New Mbira Store!. Buy new and used instruments from around the world - Detailed ‘Mbira Buying Guide’ also now available
27th April - New Zvichapera Chete (Nyamaropa tuning) mbira playing and singing videos from Forward Kwenda.
23rd April - Replacement Shumba Huru Kutsinhira video by Tute Chigamba.
9th April - Year of Mbira Video 12 and downloadable resources now available.
5th April - Bangidza kushaura/kutsinhira and improvisation videos from Jacob Mafuleni.
19th March - Chartwell Dutiro + William Chitauro Style Karimugomba notation pack now available - multiple Kushaura and Kutsinhira variations with song structure insights for performance/improvisation
9th March - Baya Wabaya kushaura/kutsinhira and improvisation videos from new musician Jacob Mafuleni. Also, Nyama Yekugocha from Chartwell Dutiro (some viewers may recognise this song as Baya wabaya).
Feb/March - Baya Wabaya song pack in production.
27th February - Nyuchi and Karimugomba videos from Chartwell Dutiro. Mukatiende and Mutamba videos from new musician Samson Bvure.
29th January - Year of Mbira 11 : Repeating Note Values Video Lesson and Resources now available.
23rd January - Leonard Chiyanike - Kushaura and Kutsinhira videos for Bangidza and Baya Wabaya.
2023
29th December - Leonard Chiyanike Style Shumba Yemukwasha notation pack now available - over 30 cycles of beautiful Kushaura and Kutsinhira variations.
7th December - William Chitauro Style Shumba Yemukwasha notation pack now available - every variation from William’s Kushaura and Kutsinhira video lessons.
14th November - New videos from William Chitauro - Kushaura and Kutsinhira variations for Bangidza, Baya Wabaya, and Mukatiende. New Kutsinhira for William’s Chipembere style Marenje, and replacement for his Shumba Yemukwasha kutsinhira video.
5th October - Site navigation restructure ongoing. Now find mbira song video lessons by Name, Difficulty, Category or Advanced Search (was ‘Search’ - original All Mbira Video Lessons link still available on that page). Any issues, or advice - please let me know.
29th September - Tute Chigamba Style Nyuchi notation pack now available - 25 cycles of Kushaura and Kutsinhira variations, with transitions between styles.
4th September - New videos Leonard Chiyanike - Kushaura and Kutsinhira parts for Shumba Yemukwasha.
4th September - New videos Tute Chigamba - Kushaura and Kutsinhira parts for Bembero, Nyamamusango, and Shumba Huru.
4th September - New videos William Chitauro - Kushaura and Kutsinhira parts for Mahororo and Karimugomba.
Summer Break for Mbira Camps - Join us next time!
6th July - New videos from Leonard Chiyanike - Kushaura and Kutsinhira parts for Nhemamusasa, Nyamamusango, and Serevende.
23rd May - Fungai Gahadzikwa Style Chakwi notation pack now available - three beautiful styles, linked together, along with new song structure insights.
15th May - A big welcome to Fungai Gahadzikwa, Andy’s first mbira teacher - today sharing Chakwi, Dangurangu and Karimudande video lessons. Look out for more from Fungai soon.
15th May - New Chakwi Kushaura and Kutsinhira videos from Leonard Chiyanike.
20th April - New mbira video tutorials from William Chitauro: mbira songs Nyamaropa, Shumba Yemukwasha, and Pfumo Rinobva Mudziva (with typical shumba structure). Also, from Kevin Nathaniel - a special karimba / mbira nyunga nyunga tutorial for Chemtengure that I’ll use to show how the family of mbira instruments and song structures have evolved in parallel.
31st March - Mukatiende ‘Arrival Video’ Kushaura Pack now available. Over 30 cycles of Forward’s Mukatiende variations with the most detailed guidance yet - suitable for all abilities. Replaces ‘Mukatiende Request Pack 1’ (3 cycles).
13th March - Five new video mbira duets with Gift Mugwidi and new contributor Tonderai Muzavazi: Dangurangu, Mazirema, Nhemamusasa, Shanje, and Shumba.
6th February - Chemtengure notation pack now available. Every variation from Chiedza Madamombe, Mike Nzou and Bezil Makombe’s performances.
14th January - Dande notation pack now available. Over 26 cycles of ⭐️⭐️ and ⭐️⭐️⭐️ material from Chartwell, William, Bezil (entire performance) and Simboti - with practice tips and song structure advice.
6th January - Bonus Tadzungaira video contributions, using various mbira chord progressions + tunings, from our gwenyambira team - examples from Nyamasvisva, Bezil Makombe and Jimmy Tsindi.
6th January - Nyamutamba video from Forward Kwenda (Kushaura, Kutsinhira and Full Improvisation) filmed at Great Zimbabwe.
6th January - Mukatiende video from Bezil Makombe.
2022
14th December - Dande kushaura and kutsinhira videos from William Chitauro.
14th December - Updated Introduction to Mbira Chord Progressions page to include basic information about Half Progressions.
14th December - Chigwaya video from Jimmy Tsindi.
13th December - Second Shumba video from Bezil Makombe.
12th December - Dande video from Bezil Makombe.
27th October - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Tadzungaira (Nyamaropa Tuning)’ notation pack now available. Entire performance with practice tips!
11th September - Photo-story and fireside conversation with James Matanda now in Gwenyambira Interviews.
9th September - Tadzungaira videos (Kushaura, Kutsinhira, and ‘Full’ - Nyamaropa + Nemakonde tuning) from Forward Kwenda. Also includes Travel Diaries post.
8th September - Karigamombe (Kushaura and Kutsinhira) videos from Gift Mugwidi and Tambarara Ndikutumbure Munzwa video from Josephat Mandaza.
7th September - Bangidza (Kushaura and Kutsinhira) videos from Gift Mugwidi and Kuenda Mbire video from Josephat Mandaza.
2nd July - ‘Chartwell Dutiro Style Taireva’ and ‘Chiedza Madamombe Style Taireva’ notation packs now available.
2nd June - Chemtengure videos from Mike Nzou, Bezil Makombe, and Chiedza Madamombe.
2nd June - Chaminuka Ndi Mambo video from Ambuya Tembo.
25th May - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Marenje Kushaura Improvisation’ notation pack now available - 22 cycles with song structure insights and improvisation tips.
9th April - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Chipembere’ notation pack now available - 19 cycles (full performance of Forward’s Chipembere 2 video - Nemakonde tuning) with song structure insights and improvisation tips.
1st April - New artist videos: Nyuchi from Tute Chigamba and Mukatiende from Leonard Chiyanike.
12th March - Global Ceremony 2022 - Participant Pack now available.
28th February - ’Forward Kwenda Style Chakwi’ notation pack now available - over 20 cycles of ⭐️⭐️ and ⭐️⭐️⭐️ material.
26th February - Global Ceremony 2022 has begun - click the link now to learn more, and participate in our worldwide unity prayer.
8th February - ‘Japhet Matamba Style Chakwi‘ notation pack now available (small, single cycle ‘⭐️⭐️’ pack).
25th January - Forward Kwenda ‘Full’ Mukatiende Improvisation Request Pack now available - 26 consecutive cycles of ‘⭐️⭐️⭐️’ (advanced) material!
2nd January - New Chipembere, Dangurangu, Dande and Nyamamusango videos from Simboti, Chartwell Dutiro and guest, Sebastian Pott.
2021
30th November - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Zvichapera Chete‘ notation pack now available.
19th November - Loads of new videos: Zvichapera Chete with Forward Kwenda, more Nhemamusasa solo and duet performances/lessons from multiple musicians, a Gwenyambira Interview with Ambuya Tembo, and our first Karigamombe video from Simboti.
31st October - New Travel Diaries entry for Nyamasvisva’s Bunza Mutupo (an unexpected blessing).
31st October - ‘Nyamasvisva Style Bunza Mutupo‘ notation pack now available (inside your ‘Chipembere Song Packs’ file).
28th October - New Karimugomba videos from Forward Kwenda.
16th October - Introduction to Mbira Chord Progressions - with free downloads, videos and links.
14th October - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 10 + resources uploaded.
11th October - Free Nhemamusasa Masterclass taster now available on the Start page - showcasing Gold Subscriber content to new supporters.
11th October - Use the Easy tag and new Intermediate and Advanced tags (now updated from old One-, Two- and Three-Star tags) to find notated video sections at your level.
8th October - New Awaiting Requests tag - reminds subscribers which videos we don’t yet have notation for. Please submit your requests.
4th/5th October - New Travel Diaries entries for Bezil’s Nyamaropa (the message of mbira) and Forward’s Guruswa (song meanings).
3rd October - New Travel Diaries tag for posts with extra information from Andy. First examples today - Forward Kwenda’s Mbavarira (meeting Leonard Chiyanike / rediscovering Nemakonde) and Taireva (Forward’s powerful moment).
3rd October - All mbira course materials now available for download via the Members Area library. Deep-Dive compiled into a single document for easy use. Continue to view course videos on the usual Mbira Deep Dive + Year of Mbira pages.
3rd October - General redesign. New + updated Start page. Tags page updated/renamed to Search, Posts renamed to Archive. First Steps page deleted (better signposting now on Start page).
1st October - You can now access all ‘Gold Subscriber’ content from the Members Area. 1:1 video lessons, price-hop, affiliate links and requests have all been upgraded to this level only.
30th September - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Guruswa‘ notation pack now available.
21st September - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 9 + resources uploaded.
20th September - ‘William Chitauro Style Nhimutimu’ notation pack now available.
17th September - Loads of Chakwi Videos videos now available from Forward, Bezil, Japhet and Simboti.
17th August - Nhimutimu videos from William Chitauro.
17th August - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 7/8 + resources uploaded.
2nd August - ‘William Chitauro Style Marenje’ notation pack now available.
30th July - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 6 + resources uploaded.
22nd July - Marenje videos in Dindinyongwe Tuning from new artist William Chitauro.
22nd July - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 5 + resources uploaded.
16th July - Loads of new handy tags on the Tags page - Visit that page to start every search. Artist, Song, and Song Structure tags available as before. Now you can also quickly find Solo, Duet, and Group performances, search by Tuning, watch Hosho Tutorials and download Play-Along Tracks, check out Mbira Master Interviews, find ⭐️ One Star (Beginner) Videos with Notation, enter the Mbira Deep-Dive and 💫 Year of Mbira, more content coming soon from Forward Kwenda for Mbira Singing.
15th July - ‘Chartwell Dutiro Style Bangidza’ notation pack now available.
15th July - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 4 + resources uploaded.
9th July - New Gwenyambira Interviews page. Today introducing two new artists Jimmy Tsindi and William Chitauro (beautiful recordings of these guys have just arrived with me - uploading soon!).
7th July - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 3 + resources uploaded.
2nd July - Mutamba video from Simboti.
2nd July - Our first Taireva and Bangidza videos from Chartwell Dutiro. New information/interview page: Chartwell Dutiro and the ‘Trees of Hope’ project.
29th June - 💫 Year of Mbira Video 2 + resources uploaded.
23rd June - New 💫 Year of Mbira intensive video course now included in your subscription!
1st June - Deep Dive videos 21 and 22 and downloadable resources now available. This completes our introduction to the 7 main song progressions.
31st May - ‘Gift Mugwidi Style Chipembere’ notation pack now available.
25th May - ‘Josephat Mandaza Style Chipembere’ notation pack now available.
18th May - Chipemebere video from Gift Mugwidi.
10th/11th May - More Chipembere videos (Kushaura/Kutsinhira from Josephat and Bunza Mutupo variant from Nyamasvisva).
5th May - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Dangurangu’ notation pack now available.
16th April - ‘Gift Mugwidi Style Dangurangu’ notation pack now available please also see Dangurangu Chords Document.
15th April - Quickly find all ‘⭐️‘ Easy/Beginner mbira song segments with notation.
12th April - First batch of Chipembere videos (Forward, Bezil + Chiedza) more coming!
7th April - New ‘⭐️⭐️⭐️’ grading system. Quickly find tab at your preferred level. Every notated cycle/segment now shown beneath each video.
16th March - ‘Gift Mugwidi Style Bangidza’ notation pack now available.
15th March - ‘Josephat Mandaza Style Bangidza’ notation pack now available.
11th March - ‘Simboti Style Bangidza’ notation pack now available.
18th February - Dangurangu videos from Forward Kwenda (Nemakonde Tuning) and Gift Mugwidi (Nyamaropa Tuning).
11th February - A quick video with notation showing how to link the ideas in my Mbira Progression 2 video with Forward’s Basic Mbavarira Kushaura. Check out ’Mbavarira Half-Way’ in the Deep-Dive.
2nd February - ‘Forward Kwenda Style Bangidza’ notation pack now available.
21st January - Bangidza videos our first round of content from new artists Gift Mugwidi, Josephat Mandaza and Simboti.
20th January - Deep-Dive videos 17 and 18 + resources now available.
10th January - Raised progression tag and info (new info page introduces Raised progressions and some helpful perspectives).
10th January - First Steps - Using Mbira.Online Notation/Tablature (new page introducing notes, chords, song structure + improvisation exercises). Removed on October 3rd - Discover Mbira and Mbira Essentials offer a better introduction.
9th January - Mandarendare notation now available (includes requests from MS).
5th January - New Deep-Dive resources available for videos 14 and 16 (none for 15). Some cool stuff!
2020
28th December - Nyamamusango notation now available.
15th December - uploaded Nyamamusango videos from Caution and Pasivillias (duet) and Bezil (solo).
13th December - Nhemamusasa notation request packs now available (requested by SM and JR).
12th November - Chipembere Nhimutimu notation now available.
9th November - uploaded Chipembere Nhimutimu and Mandarendare vidoes.
23rd October - New Mbira Singing Resources Page with basic mbira singing video and song words for Mukatiende.
18th October - Mbavarira notation request pack now available (requested by HB).
16th October - Added a new ‘Tab’ button on the main menu so you can quickly access all tablature/notation. Moved to Members area on 01/10/21.
16th October - Bangidza and Mukatiende notation requests now available (requested by SM and MS).
13th October - Nyamaropa notation requests now available (requested by SM , HS and DG).
22nd September - Marenje notation available.
10th September - started uploading Forward’s beautiful Marenje Videos - more on their way (including a duet from Caution and Pasivillias) - notation to follow in the next few days.
11th August - Mahororo notation available.
9th August - 8 new Mahororo Videos uploaded.
28th July - Deep-Dive videos 12 (basic singing) and 13 (three-note pattern/treble improvisation) and resources now available.
13th July - Bangidza notation available.
9th July - 13 new Bangidza videos. Cover photos on all posts (making searches + posts more colourful/memorable). First few tags listed on Tags page (artists/songs/main progressions). Re-named pages for easier navigation: Posts now takes you to all posts. News takes you to updates/request/help page. Tags now renamed, took you to the old search page. Start now renamed took you to the welcome/orientation page.
July 2020 - ‘Mbira Deep-Dive’ video course + downloads page now included in your subscription. Google transpose plugin announcement. Welcome orientation page + Notation Page no longer linked.
June 2020 - First version of mbira.online with all six ‘Mbira Masters Community’ song packs: Nyamaropa, Mbavarira, Taireva, Nhemamusasa, Shumba and Mukatiende.