Tag: class

  • Drumming Is An Art Form

    Drumming Is An Art Form


     Drumming is an art form and the drum is a musical instrument. It needs to be learned. Why? There are […] Read More »

  • Developing Your Deepest Creative Drumming

    Developing Your Deepest Creative Drumming


    To be “deeply creative” go into the learning mode In the hand drum world there is a lot of talk […] Read More »

  • Amazing Dancer, “Lasensua” from Canada to Maui and beyond!

    Amazing Dancer, “Lasensua” from Canada to Maui and beyond!


    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… Read More »

  • Mano Secreto; Demystifying the secret hand technique for conga drums

    Mano Secreto; Demystifying the secret hand technique for conga drums


    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… Read More »

  • Studying West African drumming in Mali part one

    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… Read More »

  • What is a djembe solo and the four types of djembe solos

    What is a djembe solo and the four types of djembe solos


    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… Read More »

  • How to Play Hand Drums: Getting the Bounce technique

    How to Play Hand Drums: Getting the Bounce technique


    My first drum teacher used to chant repeatedly, “minimum input maximum out put” when it came to the topic of playing techniques and how to hit the drum. It was true over 30 years ago and it is still true now. What he was talking about is that it is not important how hard you… Read More »

  • Having a hard time learning hand drums or djembe?

    Having a hard time learning hand drums or djembe?


    f you are like any of us that have been around the ethnic or world drumming and music scene for many years, then you may have experienced some hard times trying to learn the drumming, percussion or music from another culture. Please don’t get discouraged if you are trying to learn drumming and are having… Read More »

  • How to get work as a drummer, percussionist or musician


    Are you a percussionist, drummer or musician and are ready to go out there into the “real world” and make a go at it as a pro? If so I have some solid suggestions I have learned along the way I can share with you here. If you follow these tips you will be well… Read More »

  • What to look for when buying a djembe


    When you are buying a djembe there are numerous things to look for to assure you are buying the right drum for your self. Here is a guideline of features to be aware of and look for. When buying a djmebe the first thing you want to look at is the wood shell. Put a… Read More »

  • How to practice quietly at home


    Many people have written to me saying, “OK, I agree I need to practice, but where can I practice”? Maybe […] Read More »

  • Avoiding injuries playing hand drums


    Injuries while playing drums can happen to anyone from the most beginning player to the most advanced. One of my […] Read More »

Michael Pluznick Website