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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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Sol Percussion is back in action! With Akbar Moghaddam
Sol Percussion by Akbar Moghaddam is back! This is great news for the percussion world as Akbar is always very innovative and creative and the percussion and conga drum-cajon-bongo market needs his wonderful new products and insight to push the bar even higher then where it is currently at now. I have always loved his… 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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Sol Percussion by Akbar Is Back And Better Than Ever!
Sol Percussion by legendary drum artisan Akbar is finally back. He is now up and running with new and improved products including hand made bongos and cajons from a variety of local and exotic hardwoods. Congas will be following shortly. Akbar Moghaddam not only manufactured Sol in the past he also owned Valje and redesigned the… Read More »
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Namory Keita Djembe Fola From The Hamanah Region Of Guinea West Africa
Namory Keita a Melenke Djembe Fola, (djembe master) from the Hamanah region of Guinea West Africa is living and teaching on the east coast of the USA in New England. I have been spending the last two months studying and performing with Namory and I would like to report that not only is he an… Read More »
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How To Make A Slap Sound On Your Djembe
In this free video I would like to show you how to make what I call a Guinea style slap on your Djembe. I say Guinea style as there are several different ways to make a slap. One famous teacher named Dr. Djobi from the Ivory Coast of West Africa has 8 different slaps. I… Read More »
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Solo Now, Learn Later. What Is A Djembe Solo?
Solo now, learn later! Beginning drummers often ask me or write in with the question, how do they express themselves and their inner rhythm on the djembe drum with in the traditional west african rhythm context? When playing traditional rhythms almost always, beginning drummers want to learn to solo at once. They want to move… Read More »
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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 »
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Getting Real With Our Drumming
It Takes All Types! I met with a very old friend today, one of the first people I ever drummed with back in the early 70’s and some one who has inspired and encouraged me in the past as well. We were on the beach talking to some kids from Sweeden and he was telling… Read More »
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Stand Up For Your (Drummers) Rights!
Being prepared through communication and having your bases covered. I have made an agreement with myself that I also tell anyone hiring me for a gig, or to prospective bands that I will not play unless i am properly mic’d. Just like any other player in the band or group. Conga drums especially need microphones.… Read More »
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Open Mic Nights: The Good And The Bad
Open Mic Nights: The Good And The Bad or “Don’t Play for Free”! Open mic nights at clubs are a perfect way for beginning musicians of all kinds to get a chance to break their cherries so to speak, to see what it’s like to play in front of people and to play with others… 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 »
