Playing Finger Cymbals while Belly Dancing

Finger cymbals are a great way to make your own music while you belly dance. Commonly called zills by dancers, these small handheld cymbals will add energy to your dance performance. Most often, two pairs of cymbals are used with cymbals being fastened to both middle fingers and both thumbs. The zills should be adjusted so that they are tight enough to not risk flying off while you perform and should be located on your fingers in such a way that it is comfortable for you to press both halves of the pair together.

After you have acquired your zills and they are comfortably fastened to your hands, it is time to start practicing. Although the finger cymbals seem simple enough, this is deceptive. To incorporate your own music into your dance, you will need to practice regularly. Start with shorter sessions to give the muscles in your fingers and hands a change to develop strength just like when you first started learning your belly dancing moves and had to develop strength in your stomach muscles. Start by simply listening to some of your dance music with the zills on. Without dancing, see how you can use the zills to make a pleasant accompaniment to the music. Remember, the sounds should be subtle, it is not necessary to make large movements, click the cymbals together carefully. Let the tone ring. Try sliding movements.

After an exploration period, set goals for your practicing before beginning a song. Try playing along with the melody. After that is easy, try playing along with rhythm of the drums. Then try playing along with any harmonic rhythms. Your goals is to make using the finger cymbals feel like a natural part of moving your hands. When you are comfortable with the sounds the zills make and how playing them works, try adding them to a dance without any other music playing. Some practice techniques include dancing to a regular rhythm you create with just the zills, and dancing while singing a song you are very familiar with and playing the zills. When you feel ready, you can attempt dancing with your regular belly dancing music and playing the zills. Start with minimal playing and work your way up to more regular accompaniment. Even when you get to this stage, it can be useful to still regularly use beginning practice techniques. It can take a while before you become a skilled player.

Playing the zills will give your belly dancing a layer of added depth. Making your own music can be a beautiful addition to your dancing routines.