THE BALALAIKA TUTORIAL ON DVD is the easiest way to
learn all balalaika technics. This well composed
tutorial is an interesting source of knowledge for
those who just starting to learn how to play the
balalaika and for those who already have some
experience. No balalaika secrets were left behind on
this great video lesson. You will see it all with your
own eyes and learn from the best in the world.
The author of THE BALALAIKA TUTORIAL DVD is acclaimed
balalaika virtuoso Alex Siniavski who arrived in the
United States in 1992 from St.Petersburg, Russia. Alex
was a leading member (balalaika prima) of The Andreev
State symphonic balalaika orchestra, the most
prestigious in the former USSR and Russia. Mr.
Siniavski graduated with honors from the Leningrad
State Musical Conservatory.
WHAT DO PEOPLE SAY:
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...
...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...
Read full Article by Judy Sherman from the BDAA newsletter, The official journal of the Balalaika and Domra Association of America.
I just wanted to say how I have apprecated your DVD. It has answered
questions I have had for many years. Basically, I have been learning
from a book (Ilyukhin, samouchitel igry na balalaike) and from
listening to recordings. Although I had "mastered" a basic technique
for strumming and for tremolo, I really had no idea about pizzicato,
especially single pizzicato. So, I am very grateful, and there is a
lot of material for me to work on for a long time...
S nailuchshem pozhelaniyem,
Robin Westenra
Saturday, April 29, 2006
To order BALALAIKA TUTORIAL ON DVD by Alex Siniavski please use PayPal link on the left. The price is $70 US dollars including first class shipping.
Usually shipped within two business days.
12 balalaika video lessons by Alex Siniavski. Screenshot of DVD's introduction.
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.
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
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
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.
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 Stooges: Sasha Ressetar (balalaika), Michael L. Sensor (balalaika), Andy Koslow (balalaika contrabass), Serge Rogozin (balalaika), and Riccardo Heald (domra).
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"... 
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... 
