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This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!
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 West African hand drumming and specifically speaking, “traditional djembe drumming” is based on a system of fundamentals or “basics” just like any other type or form of drumming be it Indian, Afro Cuban, Brazilian or even the western drum set. There are rudiments or “basic fundamentals” of djembe playing that can be similar to drum set rudiments but also have some other important factors that are often missed in the learning process of many djembe players of all different levels. And what are djembe rudiments? They can consist of techinque, basic rhythm structure concepts, composition (how pieces are formed and go together), “the feel”, learning the basic djembe hand patterns and learning the dunun. It is also important to learn about the history of the music you are playing and the meaning of the pieces as well. I will discuss some of these items now. [...]
 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 [...]
 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 [...]
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.
A good time was had by all in this meeting of electronica and west african drumming at the BBC club and restaurant on Koh Samui Island, Thailand with DJ Steve , Bobby Parrs on guitar and Michael Pluznick on djembe drums, timbales and conga drums, too. Part one.
 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!
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.
Traditional West African Instruments being played at the best drum jam on Khao San Rd. in Bangkok Thailand by Musicians from Guinea, Liberia and around the world (japan, USA, etc): Gongoma, Balon,Djembe & Dunun in Thailand. Check out the songs and dance, too at this Khao San Road drum jam.
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!
http://www.myspace.com/rhythmsofbarab…
Female West African dancers from Guinea West Afrcan and Oakland California drum and solo with Master drummer (djembe fola) Bolokada Conde performs with his group Les Percussions Melenke in Bolinas, California. The first piece with dancers is “Mane”, from Guinea West Africa.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sdoumbiacrew
#1 in a series: This is my best quality High Definition video yet! If your computer is fast enough, press the HD button, You can still watch it in regular format as well! This video was shot at a Dununba (aka dundunba) community celebration and dnace party I attended in Conakry, Guinea West Africa while I was studying with the late great Komoko Sano at his compound. I am installing it in [...]
http://www.earthcds.com/africa/west/mali
Part number one Watch me, (Michael Pluznick) struggle in the deep Mali West African heat trying to remember..and recite djembe solo technjique for my master djembe teacher, “Old Master” Aruna Sidibe… everything Aruna has taught me in the prior 2 and 1/2 months of djembe class for this one piece! I pull it off, but just barely!! To see how it is really played go to my other SUNU djembe and african [...]
Sumba Togola from Mali West Africa performs live African chants and dance with her amazing group of traditional Didadee musicians and drummers . This is an excerpt from the new CD, “Didadee Music of Mali” available on www.earthcds.com. Enter:mali, enter: didadee
http://www.myspace.com/rhythmsofbarab…
Our own special blend of Samba Raggae served up just the way you like it! Live at the Hilo theatre! Drum and dance soiree extraordinaire Michael Pluznick on djembe, Jesse Seymour on surdos, Peter Pitter on jepinique, Boaz Martin on pandeiro, Criag Koland bell, Bo on snare
Bolokada Conde formerly of Les Percussions Du Guinea performs with his new group, “Les Percussions Melenke in Mill Valley, California. We play 3 different Konkoba drum pieces tied together and and west african dancers come out as well in this performance by djembe master Bolokada Conde and students. From left to right:Rafael, Sean Areneda, Michael Pluznick, Mohamed Kouyate, front: Bolokada Conde. Male dancer: Nabe Bangoura
Mali djembe drumming on west african style djembes drums and west african dance at it’s highest level is shown at this baby naming celebration and community drum and dance gathering. “MC” on lead cow skin djembe. Filmed near bamako, Mali west africa, a beautiful jembe jam, showing the best djembe players
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. [...]
Soko rhythm taught by Michael Pluznick at beginers African djembe drum and dunun class in Bangkok, Thailand. For practicality Michael shows both traditional and non traditional, (i.e. ‘ballet”) styles of dunun playing. Ballet style dunun playing is when you play one, two or more dunun drums on the ground with the heads up rather then playing the dununs sideways.
Yankadi rhythm from Guinea, West Africa taught in a beginners djembe drum and dunun class in Bangkok, Thailand. Michael shows both traditional and ballet (dununs down) styles of playing.
Here is the Malinke rhythm called Senefoli a dance done at harvest time from Guinea, West Africa as taught by Michael Pluznick. “Sene” means farming and “foli” means rhythm. Djembe solo by Kenji from Japan. Taught at Rumpuree drum and dance school in Bangkok, Thailand.
This is a new video of Mediani drum, dance and chants made in Bamako Mali West Africa. It sounds almost identical to Guinea (Guinee) style mendiani as well. Dancers and singers (Ami Doumbia left and Malodone right) from the award winning Santogoula community center and local group in the Sabalibougou district of Bamako chant traditional songs and perform traditional based West African dance choreography in Bamako, Mali while accompanied by Aruna, Brulye, Siaka [...]
This video is a compilation of some of the best photos from past Michael Pluznick world music and world jazz videos set to new music by Michael Pluznick and Joel Lindheimer from the world music / world jazz CD, “Miles Dean” available as a download on CDBaby. This CD features musical collaborators Bill Ortiz on trumpet (from Santana band), Kit Walker (keyboardist with Airto and Flora Purim, and others), Jim Chappel and more!
According to the Bamana people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes directly from the saying “Anke dje, anke be” which literally translates to “everyone gather together” and defines the drum’s purpose. In the Bamakan language, “Dje” is the verb for “gather” and “be” translates as “everyone”.
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About Michael 
Michael Pluznick is a studio musician and recording arts specialist. Read more about Michael.
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