Tag: djembe drum

  • Western Instruments vs West African Drums

    Western Instruments vs West African Drums


    Why will people put the time, energy and attention into learning how to play a flute, piano or guitar properly but not a drum? It’s because in our western culture this is what we have been taught. So we respect this. People would never think to just strum on a guitar randomly with zero knowledge… Read More »

  • Need skin? Heads up to a good deal on the best skins!

    Need skin? Heads up to a good deal on the best skins!


    Ryan ‘Manito’ Wendel has been in deep research mode and now has in stock some amazing skins including cow, steer mule and even camel for your congas and bongos in a variety of thickness and sizes that are just as nice. For a limited time he is offering them at a discount for all my readers… Read More »

  • 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 many different styles of drumming from many different places. I have studied drum music originating from West Africa and end also ending up in the new world. Some people call it traditional african drumming. This… Read More »

  • Becoming a drummer, “where do I fit in” some tips on finding balance

    Becoming a drummer, “where do I fit in” some tips on finding balance


    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… Read More »

  • Michael Pluznick teaches Zaouli break into Kuku djembe solo on Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe

    Michael Pluznick teaches Zaouli break into Kuku djembe solo on Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe


    Toca artist and Toca endorsee Michael Pluznick shows the fun Zaouli break and Kuku solo technique for djembes and dunun on Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe and Toca Freestyle Djundjuns. Read More »

  • It’s not the drum it’s the drummer


    It’s not the drum it’s the drummer! What makes a drum have that special sound? Is it the wood? The place or country it is from? The goat skin or what the goat ate? Just what is it? About 10 years ago I was at a Mamady Keita workshop trying to pick out a djembe… Read More »

  • Djembe Master Bolokada Conde Djembe Drums with Les Percussions Melenke Peform at La Pena


    Master Djembe drummer Bolokada Conde and Les Percussion Melenke performance ensemble and crew in an early West African djembe drum and African dance performance live in Oakland California at La Pena cultural Center for world music and world dance. Musicians from left to right: Bolokada, Wade Peterson, Michael Pluznick (djembe) Sean Areneda (dununs) Rafael djembe,… Read More »

  • Bali from a drummers perspective


    Photo slide show of my recent trip around the amazing and magical tropical island of Bali Indonesia. Includes photos of the many drums and drummers on the island as well. World percussion and djembe drum music by Barabajaba from the new CD entitled Rise Up. Music available on line at I Tunes and CD Baby. Read More »

  • Epic international drum jam on Khao San Road Bangkok, Thailand


    Last night there was an epic drum jam on Khao San Road in Bangkok, Thailand. There were drummers from all across the globe! We got permission to play right in front of the police station because “King”, the local police chief is a big fan of Eddie Tamba our Liberian master of ceremonies and djembe… Read More »

  • Djembe solo “konkoba-dununba” Bolokada Conde


    Djembe Fola (master drummer) Bolokada Conde shows us his amazingly smooth technique soloing on his arrangement of Konkoba dununba in Oakdland California circa 2004 Read More »

  • “Numu Foly” Mali African Dance, Djembe Drums and Chants#8


    Mali West African dance choreography. This piece is called Numu Foly (the black smith dance). This video is from the series West African (Mal)i Dance, Drums and Chants #8. And is from my African drum and dance lessons in Bamako, Mali, West Africa. Read More »

  • HD!! NEW*Chandra Shekar from Barabajaba CD, “Rise Up”


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3irv2xaal4 http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/barabajaba high def video from barabajaba world music and percussion ensemble fromthe Big Island of Hawaii and Bay Area Claifornia, too. This song features a combo of west african, afro cuban and et indian music styles! Read More »

Michael Pluznick