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Preview the new CD
This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!  |
 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 [...]  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 [...]  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 hit the drum but it is about the technique you use. [...]  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. [...]  Respect yourself, respect others. Sometimes if you are new to an area and trying to break into an unfamiliar world music scene or drumming situation a subtle approach is better then an aggressive approach. [...]  People often ask me about a training program. What could they do to improve their drumming and or improve more rapidly? I put together the following suggestions based on my own training program that I have followed for many years. Those of you who know me personaly know I am a bit of a fanatic so of course you can tone down the program to suit your own personal needs. So just take a few ideas from here or all of them. “Arai gor dai” as they say in Thailand (“up to you”)! So pick and choose and enjoy your practice and training ritual. remember it’s “playing” and playing is FUN! [...]  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 [...]  Peeing blood is a problem that happens for some of us when we play drums too hard. Stanford did a study on drummers who peed blood and also long distance runners who also peed blood and said it is from the break down of cells in the hand (or foot) being passed too quickly through the kidneys. Fo me the problem is simply about playing too hard..it starts with the mental (not being relaxed), [...] 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 fola. Eddie Tamba of Liberia represents on Khao San Road Bangkok, Thailand The drum jam had originally started [...] How do you find the drum or dance teacher who is right for you? Why do you even need a teacher? With out help, Djembe playing or conga playing can become repetitive and frustrating. Some of us try to learn on our own, from books, on line videos, DVD’s of Mamady Keita and playing to CD’s or I Tunes. Drum instructor Michael P on congas @Barabajaba show Maybe we have a friend who plays [...] When an established conga player transitions to learn to play djembe he or she has certain advantages and disadvantages. When you play congas, there is much emphasis on pushing in to the drum to make tone. On a goat skin djembe, do to the thin tight skin, you must pull the sound out. work on pulling and keeping your hands in near the rim Despite this energetic difference, the technique for making tone [...] In my time I have seen everything happen at playing sessions. From people breakdown crying, to fist fights. Drumming, as we all know being incredibly theraputic, can bring out both the best and worst in people, or at least some deep rooted “stuff”.
playing djembe on the street at night It is important to know when to communicate and also how to. I have a history of problems with neighbors about “noise”. Let’s [...] Silencing the inner critic. For most of us when we are drumming , practicing and playing we are playing to an imaginary critic. Often this critic is saying, “you are not good enough”. I have learned over the years to simply not pay attention to the critic or whatever negative images or feelings that may come up while playing. Or we can be playing against someone who was at or in a playing situation. [...] Don’t let your ego in the way of making you a great drummer. A great freind and teacher used to tell us before class. “Leave your ego at the door”. When we come together to drum, to learn or to play together it is important we come with respect for each other no matter what level of playing we are at. Everyone can drum and everyone has their own unique beat or inner rhythm. [...] I often hear people, friends and students complain that they can not play as fast as they would like to. Watch any video of the top players in Africa or Cuba play and it is truly amazing. How do they do it? A key to playing fast is playing relaxed. This does not mean “sleepy” it means “tension less”. Some people can relax or play with tension easier then others. There are mental aspects [...] function startGallery_11() { var myGallery = new gallery($(“myGallery_11″), { timed: true, showCarousel: true, showInfopane: true, showArrows: true, embedLinks: true, slideInfoZoneOpacity: 0.80, delay: 5000, defaultTransition: “fade”, textShowCarousel: “Show/Hide Thumbnails” }); document.getElementById(“myGallery_11″).style.display = “block”; myGallery.toggleCarousel(); } window.addEvent(“domready”, startGallery_11); flpowers flower power 1 flowers and nature in Thailand flower power 2 flowers and nature in Thailand buildings 1 asian architecture buildings 2 asian architecture flower power 3 flowers and nature of thailand drummer statue in park veggies in market fresh veggies in market at Paragon shoping center bangkok Thailand traditional drum statue traditional drum statue in bangkok park sunset 1 sunset at Pattay Beach Thailand, 2 hr drive from Bangkok. Farangs love this beach resort city sunset 2 Thailand, 2 hr drive from Bangkok. Farangs love this beach resort city sunset 3 Thailand, 2 hr drive from Bangkok. Farangs love this beach resort city sunset 4 Thailand, 2 hr drive from Bangkok. Farangs love this beach resort city sunset 5 Thailand, 2 hr drive from Bangkok. Farangs love this beach resort city Here is my Mali Suku (Soli) djembe solo technique class with master Aruna Sidibe in Bamako Mali, West Africa. I am reciting back to my teacher specific djembe phrases or “techniques” which are age old, and played by all drummers who play traditional Mali west african djembe drums. A good friend and long time drummer recommends that students play every day. Some people think that means they have to sit around for hours at a time but he say’s even five minutes to connect with your instrument (in this case the djembe drum) makes all the difference in the world. You are building a relationship! Another teacher from long ago, Les Lumley from the group, “Ghetto Mysticism” in Boston say’s, “if you [...] Many drummers new to the art of djembe music think that they must play and participate in a drum circle, jam or dance class as a way to learn to drum. Most experienced players will tell you something different. By going to a djembe session or African dance class and sitting on the side watching you can learn much by listening, observing and even taking musical notes! By sitting outside of the music going [...] |
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Copyright © 2012 Michael Pluznick - All Rights Reserved |
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