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"Rise Up" by Barabajaba.

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Your First Djembe Rhythm

The Rhythm Reference Project

This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!

Tasumakan

Back to basics part one, “where is the one” in West African djembe music?

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Drumming to me, especially drumming from the African diaspora  is about learning and always playing basics, or “fundamentals”. If you have ever read any of my articles, you may have noticed me saying, “with out the framework the house will fall down”. Like any other musical instrument  you have to practice regularly. No matter what stage you are in in your drumming career or hobby, be it pro or amateur it is always important [...]

Dealing with complainers at drum jams

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Before coming to a drum circle, drum lesson or class please leave your personal baggage at home. The music scene or drum jam is not the place to bring your personal issues.  Please resolve your issues or complaints outside and away from the drums or drum scene.

Many beginners unaware of how beginning they are feel it is their unalienable right to discuss their needs or feelings in the middle of a music session [...]

How to solo on djembe part one: my philosophy

having fun playing drums and percussion with friends

Soloing on any drum especially djembe can be daunting at first. Everyone wants to do it but how do we start? First of all, what is a solo or “lead”  as we also say in the drumming world?

Traditionally speaking a solo in West African music, specifically music from Guinee and Mali is a phrase or group of phrases chained together that interact and accent the dance choreography or dancers movements. The solo inspires [...]

Amazing female dancer at West African Dununba drum and dance celebration at Kemoko Sano's compound

The late great Komoko Sano

Very athletic and amazing dancers solo and perform at a “dununba” community drum and dance celebration. Dununba  refers to “strong mans dance” as it was originaly called and used as. This djembe drum and west african dance party takes place at my friend and teachers house, the late, great and legendary master dancer, drummer and choreographer Kenoko Sano of Ballettes Africans fame.

Bali Treasures drum and percussion shop in Ubud, Bali

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If you are a drummer or musician or just love percussion and you are ever in Bali  (or on line) you owe it to yourself to check out Bali Treasures. I was recently in Ubud Bali  where I had the pleasure to meet the owner  of the Bali Treasures retail store Ed  A. Balma. Ed also is owner of  what is probably the worlds largest djembe manufacturingcompany.

play along [...]

Coming Soon! Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe. Review and long term test by Michael P

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On a recent trip to Ubud, Bali Indonesia to visit the Bali Treasures company, also known as the Drum Factory I was able to get my hands on the new Toca Stage Series Pro wood djembe for a long term test. This is the factory that makes them for the Toca in USA. Not only that, I was able to pick which drum I wanted to get! [...]

Guinea djembe rhythms

Kuku solo technique

In this video I am playing the popular and social Kuku rhythm from Guinea (Guinee) West Africa where I lived and studied. These are solo techniques I learned from my various teachers in Africa and the USA including Hawaii, California and the east coast as well. [...]

Mali Sunu 4/4 rhythm: 2 drum dunun (dundun) part 1

Mali Sunu 2 dunun drum part

In this video I am showing how to play the Mali style Sunu rhythm composition on two drums “ballet” style which means the drums are not sideways, they are standing up vertically. When I studied with my teachers, master drummer Aruna Sidibe and Brulye Doumbia they taught me this way. They can also be played sideways of course. [...]

Mali Sunu rhythm solo techniques part one

How to play the Mali Sunu djembe solo technique and phrases part one

In this video I am sharing and showing you the traditional solo patterns or “techniques” as many people call them for the Mali style Sunu rhythm arrangement as I learned it from my teachers Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia while I was living and studying in Mali. [...]

Mali Sunu rhythm basic djembe part: fast-med-slow with click

Mali Sunu rhythm basic parts for djembe

This short “how to play” djembe lesson by Michael Pluznick features the basic Mali Sunu rhythm djembe part in fast, medium and very slow *(breakdown) tempo with a click track so you can see and hear where everything goes against the beat or pulse. [...]

Mali Sunu ensemble, djembe solos by Michael Pluznick, Ben Isaacs

Mali Sunu rhythm explanation and ensemble demonstration

Michael Pluznick solos on djembe and then Ben Isaacs expresses his incredible feel and techniques as well. This is a longer version then I originally posted on Youtube. This video lesson features an explanation of the meaning of Mali Sunu played with more of a 4/4 feel. We also will be showing you a version in 6/8 feel soon here as well. Michael Pluznick plays traditional solo techniques or phrases on his Toca [...]

Dununba Dance and Drum party in Guinee West Africa

Dununba drum and dance party at Kemoko Sanos compound in Guinea, West Africa

This is from a Dununba community African drum and West African dance party I sponsored when I was staying and studying with the late, great teacher and master choreorgapher and percussionist Kemoko Sano (aka Komoko Sano) at his compound in Mervielles, Conakry, Guinee, West Africa a few years ago. [...]

Kuku djembe solo techniques part one

Kuku djembe solo technique part one

This is part one of the Kuku solo techniques shown here with the small ensemble with Wade Peterson on ballet style dununs (aka “djundjun” or “dundun”) , Ben Isaacs on support djembe and MIchael Pluznick on lead or solo djembe. [...]

Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia

Aruna Sidibe and Brulye, my two teachers in Mali West Africa

Mali Djembe Master Drummer Aruna SIdibe & Brulye Doumbia *(Dununs) perform traditional West African djembe rhythms from the world drumming recording session for the Old Master CD on www.earthcds.com

Michael P plays new Toca Freestyle Djembe on Bangkok Roof

Toca djembe test and review on a Bangkok roof top

Michael Pluznick test drives the new Toca Freestyle PVC (plastic) djembe and plays a djembe solo on the roof of a Bangkok hotel, 35 stories high in Bangkok Thailand. This HD high definition video was shot on a Canon HF-S21 high defintion camcorder. The Toca djembe is interesting because this drum is not effected by moisture like a goat skin djembe. Check out the sounds! [...]

It's not the drum it's the drummer

Bolokada Conde Master Djembe 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 from a local seller there who was displaying his goods outside the workshop. I asked Mamady, what do you [...]

“HOT”!! African Dancers from Liberia,Cameroon, West Africa perform African Dance

Wide world of drumming

West African dancers and djembe and dunun drummers perform mixed west african drumming and african dance.  The African dancers  are from Cameroon, Liberia and  other parts of West Africa. In this performance of live world music and  world dance we are performing  at the incredible Skytop Dream Bar in downtown Bangkok, Thailand for a music festival and celebration. MIchael Pluznick (aka MIchael P), Kenji of Japan and Louis from Mexico w/ Michael K [...]

Mali Grand Masters!!! Djembe class with Brulye and Aruna: Mendiani

Aruna Sidibe and Brulye, my two teachers in Mali West Africa

Aruna and Brulye teach Michael P Mendiani solo technique at a djembe class at Centre Togola in the Sabalibougou district of Bamako Mali. Drum class and djembe class is held here every day of the week. If you want to study djembe in Mali, this is the place to go for a djembe lesson or african dance class. These guys and their students really play djembe well! Very inspiring drumming!

Dundunba Drum and African Dance Party: Clown and Awesome Dancers

The late great Komoko Sano

Community celebration known as a Dundunba drum and African dance party at the late , great performer and master choreographer  Kemoko Sano’s compound in Merveilles, Guinea, West Africa. In this dance video a Clown solos and Awesome Dancers dance at the dundunba djembe drum and african dance party.

Balinese djembe player solos in Kassa class@ Bali Treasures

Michael P playing with friends on Bali beach

Balinese djembe player *(worker in the Bali Treasures drum and percussion store), solos on a nice Toca djembe in Kassa (from Guinee West Africa) djembe and dunun class@ Bali Treasures retail store in Ubud, Bali , Iidonesia.

Bali Treasures informal djembe and dunun class with Michael P

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Fun little djembe and dunun west african drum class with some fellow lovers of djembe,dununs and west african music. In this video we play the new Toca djembes at the Bali Treasures retail store located in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia.

Much Fun @ Bali Treasures retail store and drum factory in Ubud Bali Indonesia

raw shells are beautiful

If you are a drummer or musician or just love percussion and you are ever in Bali  (or on line) you owe it to yourself to check out Bali Treasures. I was recently in Ubud Bali  where I had the pleasure to meet the owner  of the Bali Treasures retail store Ed  A. Balma. Ed also is owner of  what is probably the worlds largest djembe manufacturing company. We went there afterwards and [...]

Amazing and athletic dancers solo and perform at traditional "Dununba" drum and dance party @Kemoko Sano's

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Very athletic and amazing dancers solo and perform at a “dununba” community drum and dance celebration. Dununba  refers to “strong mans dance” as it was originaly called and used as. This djembe drum and west african dance party takes place at my friend and teachers house, the late, great and legendary Konoko Sano of Ballettes Africans fame.

Skilled djembe drummers and dancers perform at Dununba community celebration

Dununba drum and dance party in Guinea!

From a Dununba (doundounba)  I sponsored  in Guinee, West Africa.  A Doundoundba is a West African drum and dance community celebration or “Dundunba” party at the late great Kemoko Sano’s compound.

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.