Tag: drummer
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Drumming As A Tool For Grounding Out Our Energy
A student recently asked me why drumming is considered a grounding activity. As someone who is already spiritually inclined and perhaps feels a strong connection to the metaphysical realm, they were looking to cultivate a deeper sense of grounding and connection to their physical body. In case you are not familiar with the term “grounding”… Read More »
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Is it the drum or drummer?
Is it the drum or the drummer, the carpenter or the hammer? You know the old debate. It’s like asking whether it’s the ballplayer or the bat. There are two sides to this discussion, with no definitive right or wrong in my opinion. From my experiences, I’ve seen incredible drummers produce amazing sounds on what… Read More »
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Playing 5 Sets of Some of the Best Congas Ever Made
I am feeling very blessed and happy to have these drums to play and show you! Here today we have some of the nicest conga drums ever made. I made a simple demo video of myself playing these drums so you can get a feel for the all these different and wonderful drums. Of… Read More »
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Who Can Play The Drum? Everyone Is Welcome.
Who exactly can play drums? Is everyone welcome? I say if you come to the drum with respect, yes! Music is music. The drum is a musical instrument. Drumming is music and music see’s no colors, race or age. It is as simple as that. People may see that, (race, color, sex,age) and people may… Read More »
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The Will To Learn or “Poop or Get Off the Can”
Get serious about your drumming! From around the world I get letters and also in my travels I see many people who are not improving in their drumming skills. They are staying at the same level of drumming they were a year or two ago and still can only play one or two rhythms. Why… Read More »
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Overwhelmed trying to learn percussion? Simplify things!
If you are like myself and get overwhelmed easily at a class or with a lot of information from various sources then you do need to simplify things. There is so much information out there between Youtube, the internet, informational books and CD’s that it is easily to overload your system and not learn anything!… Read More »
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All The Parts Are Equally Important In Traditional Roots Drumming
In 1985 I took my first (legal) trip to Cuba to study music. I was in love at once. Besides the fact that everyone liked us even though we were Americans shocked me. The media had once again mislead me. One of the other many things that shocked me in a very positive way was… Read More »
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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 and pride about expressing your own inner rhythm. Being creative. Doing your own thing. Soloing. Freestyle. And I am all for it. I acknowledge my inner rhythm and your inner rhythm. it is a beautiful… Read More »
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New Banded Manito Congas On The Way
Here is the story and photos of some new and very creative work by drummer and artisan Ryan Manito Wendel. (with the help of mother nature herself). These drums are not finished yet and will have traditional style stainless steel hardware. For those of you unfamiliar with Manito Percussion, Ryan is one of the few… Read More »
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Back to basics part one, “where is the one” in West African djembe music?
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… Read More »
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Mali and Guinea West Africa trip photos of musicians, dancers and drummers
[smooth=id:2]; I took these photos on my two trips to Mali and Guinea, West Africa where I studied traditional djembe, drumming, music, culture and African music and dance. Drummers photos feature my teachers Aruna, Brulye and Siaka. Guinea photos at the late great Komoko Sano’s home and compound. Read More »
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Mali Young Masters: Mali Djembe Drum Music Recording Session
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/arunabrulye The Young Guns album was recorded at the community center directly outside the huge bustling market place in Sabalibougou, a small local district of Bamako. Siaka is the leader and premier soloist of this smaller group. He goes through a variety of popular yet traditional peices of djembe music as it is played by… Read More »