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 The new MP Signature Model Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembes have arrived in the UK and are avaialbale at WRP (World Rhythm and Percussion) now.. These drums are made in Indonesia from plantation wood which is planted and replanted responsibly. I have been working on these drums for about two years now and also field testing them all around the world and I am really happy with the sound and feel! [...]
 Just for the record, I am not against fusion, hybrid or any other new or old style of drumming of any kind. As a matter of fact I am open to it and do it myself to some extent. I see it as a natural evolution of traditional drumming styles as people who have studied traditional percussion forms and world music move and explore out of the dance, drum class and traditional drumming/music scenes [...]
 My latest instructional series on how to play the djembe and west african drumming styles is now available for easy downloads at X8drums.com. This easy to follow tutorial series features easy to follow instructions, over the shoulder shots and special slow motion sequences to make your learning experience easier and fun! Please check it out at X8drums.com where you can see and hear a free sample. [...]
 This is the first opportunity ever for people who work with rhythm to come together in Asia to network, discuss our knowledge and experience, share our “rhythmical spirit”, and (best of all) have crazy fun together in a tropical setting at one of Malaysia’s best beaches. (Did somebody say “Late night”?) [...]
 Michael Pluznick has been recording with a variety of musicians with great pleasure and success for over 25 years. He has collaborated with Todd Rundgren, Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart ( both of The Grateful Dead),Clarence Clemmons (Bruce Springsteen), Raul Rico (Santana) and Jim Chappell, among others. Designed and manufactured in Bali, Michael worked closely with master carvers and artisans to create a djembe drum that he believes rivals most high-end African made drums in sound, look and definitely 100% in quality. One of the major upgrades to this drum is additional carving on the inside of the drum which creates a larger “choke” or opening for the sound to exit from. The choke should always be larger then your fist size when placed in the opening. He also added a bicycle tire to the bottom of the drum to protect your floors, other peoples floors, to stop the drum from whacking and splitting and to make it easier to hold when you are drumming sitting down. Once you try a drum with a tire on the bottom you will want one on whatever drum you are playing. Legally Harvested Wood Michael’s goal in making this signature drum was to try and design an “eco” drum from “good wood” and also to make a drum that looks, sounds and feels like the best west African drums at a price of almost half their cost. The trees used in manufacturing these drums are replanted and it is regulated and observed closely. The wood that these drums use cost twice as much as the “smuggled” and illegal wood, but to Michael it is worth the cost to try to at least be conscious about it. Kiln Dried The Eco Pro djembes are kiln dried and tested for humidity and moisture. This prevents long term problems with the shell cracking or changing shape over time. The Sound Please watch the videos and see for yourself. These drums have full rich tone, deep bass and a snappy high with slaps that really “POP”! The larger 13″ drum is really remarkable in that it covers so much ground. You can use it as a solo drum, accompaniment drum or anywhere in between. Because of the remarkable strength of the wood and roping methods you can pull these drums as tight as you want. They won’t warp like some lighter drums do. The smaller drum at 12″ is still a nice size, relatively light in weight and has remarkable presence and projection of sound. Despite being a screamer on the high end (if you crank it up) [...]
 Well folks, it is finally here! After a very long road of playing, videoing, shooting, editing and re editing I am very excited to let you all know that my all new DVD, “How To Play Djembe” Volume 1 is now available at X8drums.com. It is over 1 hour and 40 minutes long and covers every possible aspect of how to play the djembe! [...]
 After I wrote my last blog post I went to the nightly drum circle here in Arambol Beach, Goa, India. It is quite large.
The drum circle usually starts off quite nicely before sunset but has been getting out of hand as the evening progresses. The drums entertain and also bring out the wild side of people, especially those who have been drinking all day prior to coming to watch,dance or drum!
drum jam [...]
 A conga student asked me recently, “how do I take a solo when I am playing with a band and the band stops, and I am left by myself? No one else is playing, it is just me”? This is a great question and here is how I do it. [...]
 One thing I have noticed in my many, many moons of drumming is that although someone may be trained in west african drumming music, djembe or dununs and technically be a great or at least a knowledgable djembe player or even drum teacher, it does not mean they know how or can play djembe solo or more accurately lead djembe for a dance class. [...]
 West African hand drumming and specifically speaking, “traditional djembe drumming” is based on a system of fundamentals or “basics” just like any other type or form of drumming be it Indian, Afro Cuban, Brazilian or even the western drum set. There are rudiments or “basic fundamentals” of djembe playing that can be similar to drum set rudiments but also have some other important factors that are often missed in the learning process of many djembe players of all different levels. And what are djembe rudiments? They can consist of techinque, basic rhythm structure concepts, composition (how pieces are formed and go together), “the feel”, learning the basic djembe hand patterns and learning the dunun. It is also important to learn about the history of the music you are playing and the meaning of the pieces as well. I will discuss some of these items now. [...]
 In all my years playing, studying and teaching West African rhythms and percussion I have always come across an interesting and challenging situation. It is really hard to find people, that is to say djembe players, other fellow percussionists or drum students who want to learn the dunun patterns, individual traditional dunun parts and or ballet arrangements on 2 or 3 dununs or more. dununs are also known as djun djuns, doun douns or [...]
 In December I will be teaching a very fun and relaxed two week workshop in West African drumming, djembe, dununs and “non competitive” drumming for all levels in the very beautifu, peaceful and exotic village of Arambol , Goa, India. All levels of drummers are welcomed and you do not have to take the entire course. [...]
 I am very happy and excited to tell you about an amazing new film documentary by Aja Salvatore called “Music In Mali: Life Is Hard, Music Is Good”. This feature-length documentary is about the musicians, dancers and everyday people of Mali who are creating inspiring heartfelt music in some of the most difficult living conditions of West Africa. [...]
 Let’s face the facts. Until Mamady Keita arrived in the USA we were playing djembe ass backwards. For example, Mandiani was more often then not being played backwards as Soli, (Donba in Senegal) or visa versa. We were doing the best we could at the time as there was very limited resources available in the late 70′s and very few instructors as well. It was prior to the internet and consumer cmcorders were still [...]
 Maybe you are a beginer or perhaps you have been drumming a while. A challenge or problem that we all face at one time or another in our drumming life is “where do I fit”? What is the type of music I really want to play and who are the people that I want to play with or learn from? Do I want to freestyle or play traditional music? [...]
 After field testing and working closely with the Drum Factory and Ed Balma in Ubud, Bali for over a year we now have two new beautiful prototype MP Eco Pro wood djembe models ready for the market, a 12 ” and a 13″ (6ocm and 65cm) ! They will be distributed in the USA by X8. It’s been a long and windy road bringing these drums to fruition but here they are. [...]
 ver the last 25 years or more I have had the great pleasure and good luck to be able to record percussion in recording studios all around the world. My first recording studio experience playing percussion instruments was with my friend and first drum teacher George Terzis. George invited me to a small recording session to play some Brazilian and Afro Cuban rhythms on top of some funk music in Boston in 1979. There were two rooms and I was impressed by all the gear and the organization of all the recording equiptment as well. It was like a top secret spy room from an 007 movie! [...]
 Have you ever broken your skin on your drum or had your head pop on your djembe drum? I remember way back when I had just bought a new drum at a Mamady Keita workshop from Drumskulls. After the drum class when I arrived back home I put it in my kitchen and walked in the other room. I heard a loud bang. When I walked back in the head was completely ripped apart. What had I done? All I could do at the time was (sob) and call the goood guys down at the drum shop and drive all the way back to Santa Cruz from San Rafael (2 hours away). [...]
 If you have been looking for a summer activity or always wanted to do a drum intensive or simply experience West African drumming, dance and music and can’t make it all the way to West Africa here is the next best thing, African dance camp. Not only do you get to drum and dance as much as you want (or can), but you also get to live in a comfortable community setting with children, [...]
 I have had the great opportunity to know and to have been playing for Lasensua for over 20 years or more. I first met her on the Big Island of Hawaii. Lasensua has lived, studied & performed in many areas of the world. Her travels started in 1974, when she became immersed in Hawaiian culture through their music & “Hula” dance. She has journeyed to Brazil, Cuba, West Africa, Caribbean, Tahiti, India & Indonesia to live and study dance on location. [...]
 I recently received a 2 DVD set from Ultimate Guru Music Company in India of a very interesting musical percussion artist named Taufiqu Queresh. The first thing I noticed is the quality of the box, artwork and packaging. Very well done! When you open the box there is full color booklet attached to the box so you will not loose it. The design of this project was very well thought out. The book includes photos, credits and sound explanations. [...]
 Have you heard of the Mano Secreto? It is the secret hand technique used and first made popular by percussion legends Changuito and also Giovanni Hildago. Prior to these great conga players there was another player named tat Guines in Havana Cuba who was developing this technique. Why is it secret? Because until recently (well about 10 years or so ) no one else could do it. Now everyone is doing it but there are not a lot of great instructional videos about it unfortunately. [...]
 You have just been to your first drum circle and you are fully charged up and excited to play drums. Or maybe you have been to several drum circles or drumming events. It was fun and exciting to play your drum with other people. You want to do it more and more. So what happens next? Maybe you are having fun playing in your home to a CD, DVD, iTunes or by yourself at the beach. [...]
 My first trip to Africa was to Mali ,West Africa. I was always scared to go to Africa even though all my friends and students had already gone and the reports were always very positive. I was scared of getting sick. I heard the horror stories of people getting sick there, the poor hospitals, bad conditions and everything else. But in the back of my mind since I first started playing in the 70′s I knew I would go, I knew I had to go. I was just waiting for the right timing, [...]
 I love to play djembes and I also love to study the music we make with djembes. Djembe soloing is a very small part of djembe music as a whole. The djembe is a communal drum and is about community and unity. We all (myself included) get caught up in being the soloist as it is so much fun! But keep in mind that it is about a whole group of people, musicians,dancers and others, too! [...]
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Introducing the new MP Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembe drums
After field testing and working closely with the Drum Factory and Ed Balma in Ubud, Bali for over a year we now have two new beautiful prototype MP Eco Pro wood djembe models ready for the market, a 12 ” and a 13″ (6ocm and 65cm) ! They will be distributed in the USA by X8. It’s been a long and windy road bringing these drums to fruition but here they are. [...]
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How to Re-Head a Djembe by Shorty Palmer
Have you ever broken your skin on your drum or had your head pop on your djembe drum? I remember way back when I had just bought a new drum at a Mamady Keita workshop from Drumskulls. After the drum class when I arrived back home I put it in my kitchen and walked in the other room. I heard a loud bang. When I walked back in the head was completely ripped apart. What had I done? All I could do at the time was (sob) and call the goood guys down at the drum shop and drive all the way back to Santa Cruz from San Rafael (2 hours away). [...]
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DVD review: Ultimate Guru Music presents, “The Art of Fusion Drumming” by Taufiq Qureshi
I recently received a 2 DVD set from Ultimate Guru Music Company in India of a very interesting musical percussion artist named Taufiqu Queresh. The first thing I noticed is the quality of the box, artwork and packaging. Very well done! When you open the box there is full color booklet attached to the box so you will not loose it. The design of this project was very well thought out. The book includes photos, credits and sound explanations. [...]
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Panasonic’s DMC-TZ7 Hybrid Camera [...]
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Learning with the help of tools: camcorders, cameras and recording devices
Learning music and dance from the African diaspora can be fun but also challenging at times. If you did not grow up listening, drumming or dancing to this music then it may take some time to learn. There are different ways we all learn. Some people learn best by math or numbers. Understanding how rhythms and rhythm structures are formed and divided. I call this “math”. Others learn by feeling, or copying and repeateating. [...]
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New How To Play Djembe on line (downloadable) Djembe and West African drumming Lessons now available!
My latest instructional series on how to play the djembe and west african drumming styles is now available for easy downloads at X8drums.com. This easy to follow tutorial series features easy to follow instructions, over the shoulder shots and special slow motion sequences to make your learning experience easier and fun! Please check it out at X8drums.com where you can see and hear a free sample. [...]
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The First Asian Rhythm Facilitators’ Conference (1ARFC) is happening!
This is the first opportunity ever for people who work with rhythm to come together in Asia to network, discuss our knowledge and experience, share our “rhythmical spirit”, and (best of all) have crazy fun together in a tropical setting at one of Malaysia’s best beaches. (Did somebody say “Late night”?) [...]
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My New How To Play Djembe DVD is now available at X8drums.com
Well folks, it is finally here! After a very long road of playing, videoing, shooting, editing and re editing I am very excited to let you all know that my all new DVD, “How To Play Djembe” Volume 1 is now available at X8drums.com. It is over 1 hour and 40 minutes long and covers every possible aspect of how to play the djembe! [...]
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When stuff comes up at drum circles or out performing
After I wrote my last blog post I went to the nightly drum circle here in Arambol Beach, Goa, India. It is quite large.
The drum circle usually starts off quite nicely before sunset but has been getting out of hand as the evening progresses. The drums entertain and also bring out the wild side of people, especially those who have been drinking all day prior to coming to watch,dance or drum!
drum jam [...]
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How To Play A Conga Solo By Yourself With A Band
A conga student asked me recently, “how do I take a solo when I am playing with a band and the band stops, and I am left by myself? No one else is playing, it is just me”? This is a great question and here is how I do it. [...]
-
When stuff comes up at drum circles or out performing
After I wrote my last blog post I went to the nightly drum circle here in Arambol Beach, Goa, India. It is quite large.
The drum circle usually starts off quite nicely before sunset but has been getting out of hand as the evening progresses. The drums entertain and also bring out the wild side of people, especially those who have been drinking all day prior to coming to watch,dance or drum!
drum jam [...]
-
“Music In Mali: Life Is Hard, Music Is Good” Movie preview
I am very happy and excited to tell you about an amazing new film documentary by Aja Salvatore called “Music In Mali: Life Is Hard, Music Is Good”. This feature-length documentary is about the musicians, dancers and everyday people of Mali who are creating inspiring heartfelt music in some of the most difficult living conditions of West Africa. [...]
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There are many kinds and types of djembe and African drum rhythms
Let’s face the facts. Until Mamady Keita arrived in the USA we were playing djembe ass backwards. For example, Mandiani was more often then not being played backwards as Soli, (Donba in Senegal) or visa versa. We were doing the best we could at the time as there was very limited resources available in the late 70′s and very few instructors as well. It was prior to the internet and consumer cmcorders were still [...]
-
Introducing the new MP Eco Pro 12″ and 13″ wood djembe drums
After field testing and working closely with the Drum Factory and Ed Balma in Ubud, Bali for over a year we now have two new beautiful prototype MP Eco Pro wood djembe models ready for the market, a 12 ” and a 13″ (6ocm and 65cm) ! They will be distributed in the USA by X8. It’s been a long and windy road bringing these drums to fruition but here they are. [...]
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Studying West African drumming in Mali part one
My first trip to Africa was to Mali ,West Africa. I was always scared to go to Africa even though all my friends and students had already gone and the reports were always very positive. I was scared of getting sick. I heard the horror stories of people getting sick there, the poor hospitals, bad conditions and everything else. But in the back of my mind since I first started playing in the 70′s I knew I would go, I knew I had to go. I was just waiting for the right timing, [...]
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The art of drumming, learning the basics and more!
Just for the record, I am not against fusion, hybrid or any other new or old style of drumming of any kind. As a matter of fact I am open to it and do it myself to some extent. I see it as a natural evolution of traditional drumming styles as people who have studied traditional percussion forms and world music move and explore out of the dance, drum class and traditional drumming/music scenes [...]
-
The First Asian Rhythm Facilitators’ Conference (1ARFC) is happening!
This is the first opportunity ever for people who work with rhythm to come together in Asia to network, discuss our knowledge and experience, share our “rhythmical spirit”, and (best of all) have crazy fun together in a tropical setting at one of Malaysia’s best beaches. (Did somebody say “Late night”?) [...]
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The New MP Signature series Eco Pro Djembes are now available at X8drums.com in USA and WRP in London soon!
Michael Pluznick has been recording with a variety of musicians with great pleasure and success for over 25 years. He has collaborated with Todd Rundgren, Jerry Garcia and Mickey Hart ( both of The Grateful Dead),Clarence Clemmons (Bruce Springsteen), Raul Rico (Santana) and Jim Chappell, among others. Designed and manufactured in Bali, Michael worked closely with master carvers and artisans to create a djembe drum that he believes rivals most high-end African made drums in sound, look and definitely 100% in quality. One of the major upgrades to this drum is additional carving on the inside of the drum which creates a larger “choke” or opening for the sound to exit from. The choke should always be larger then your fist size when placed in the opening. He also added a bicycle tire to the bottom of the drum to protect your floors, other peoples floors, to stop the drum from whacking and splitting and to make it easier to hold when you are drumming sitting down. Once you try a drum with a tire on the bottom you will want one on whatever drum you are playing. Legally Harvested Wood Michael’s goal in making this signature drum was to try and design an “eco” drum from “good wood” and also to make a drum that looks, sounds and feels like the best west African drums at a price of almost half their cost. The trees used in manufacturing these drums are replanted and it is regulated and observed closely. The wood that these drums use cost twice as much as the “smuggled” and illegal wood, but to Michael it is worth the cost to try to at least be conscious about it. Kiln Dried The Eco Pro djembes are kiln dried and tested for humidity and moisture. This prevents long term problems with the shell cracking or changing shape over time. The Sound Please watch the videos and see for yourself. These drums have full rich tone, deep bass and a snappy high with slaps that really “POP”! The larger 13″ drum is really remarkable in that it covers so much ground. You can use it as a solo drum, accompaniment drum or anywhere in between. Because of the remarkable strength of the wood and roping methods you can pull these drums as tight as you want. They won’t warp like some lighter drums do. The smaller drum at 12″ is still a nice size, relatively light in weight and has remarkable presence and projection of sound. Despite being a screamer on the high end (if you crank it up) [...]
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How to play djembe drums for west african dance class
One thing I have noticed in my many, many moons of drumming is that although someone may be trained in west african drumming music, djembe or dununs and technically be a great or at least a knowledgable djembe player or even drum teacher, it does not mean they know how or can play djembe solo or more accurately lead djembe for a dance class. [...]
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Djembe drum and percussion workshop with Michael Pluznick in Arambol Goa this winter
In December I will be teaching a very fun and relaxed two week workshop in West African drumming, djembe, dununs and “non competitive” drumming for all levels in the very beautifu, peaceful and exotic village of Arambol , Goa, India. All levels of drummers are welcomed and you do not have to take the entire course. [...]
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About Michael 
Michael Pluznick is a studio musician and recording arts specialist. Read more about Michael.
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