-
What About The Dunun (AKA Djun Djun, Duns and Dounoun)
What about the Dunun? I would like to open up a discussion on a trend I have been seeing in West African drumming in my travels home and abroad. I have been noticing a focus on learning djembe only, especial solos and leading and a lack of emphasis on the importance of dunun parts and… Read More »
-
Dispelling The Myth Of Talent
Dispelling the myth of talent. More often then not, something we see someone doing looks easier than it is or someone makes something look very easy. In this case let’s talk about hand drumming. When you see most of our drum masters play they are very relaxed and maybe they are smiling. Maybe we don’t… Read More »
-
Drumming Is A Shared Experience
When you are drumming there are ways to play besides holding parts. But in a jam, dance class and even a performance when you are indeed holding a part, you are holding the space for others. It’s a shared experience. We have to leave space for each other. We support each other. There is more… Read More »
-
Sometimes it takes a long time to learn how to play like yourself”
“Sometimes it takes a long time to learn how to play like yourself” Quote by Miles Davis. The drum like any other instrument is a life long study. We don’t reach a point and suddenly say “I am there” and stop studying and learning. Technique and your personal sound is something that is always being… Read More »
-
How To Play Drums As We Age
How To Play Djembe and Hand Drums As We Get Older. As we age our body does not react the same way as it did when we were 40, 30 or 20. I started drumming when I was 10. I can not play mindlessly like I did in my teens or 20’s now that I… Read More »
-
Space The Final Frontier
“Space, the final frontier” What is it about space, that makes us want to put stuff in it? When we are playing music and drumming, why do so many of us completely fill the room with notes? If you were to listen back to two identical players playing to the same piece, the one who… Read More »
-
It’s all about love and respect
I have been involved with traditional West African drumming, Afro Cuban, Haitian and other forms of hand drumming and percussion for my entire adult life. In the last 6 years I have added drum circles as well. This post is NOT about traditional vs. drum circles. It is about unity and respect. We need to… Read More »
-
The Djembe Drum-A Short History From Various Sources
The Djembe Drum- Here is an overview and a little bit of information I have gathered from others about the djembe drum we know and love. There is a lot of different data and opinions. This is simply to give you a short overview and not meant as the last or final word. As you… Read More »
-
You can learn learn simply by listening to nature and practicing
One of the most fun things about drumming and percussion is that every time you sit down to play you can learn something new. If you keep open minded you can pick up new ideas from almost anywhere or anything. From a birds song, rain drops falling, crickets to your washing machine. Life is rhythms… Read More »
-
The most important thing you can learn when beginning drumming
Learning to play the 6/8 bell in sync with your foot, (or even better both feet moving evenly) is the single most important thing we can learn when beginning to play drums no matter what the style or type. Afro Cuban, West African, Haitian, Brazilian and any drums originating out of West Africa and the… Read More »
-
Keeping your learning process simple!
Learning by starting simply There is so much amazing and wonderful information being shared online, in apps, youtube, books, Facebook and the wonderful retreats and classes happening such as the recent 20th Annual Wula Drum And Dance Retreat that just happened. When I first started studying drumming there was NO info, so in the last… Read More »
-
Tricks of the trade
Tricks of the trade Certain students and players have minds where they can remember what they have learned simply from going to a class. It’s not the everyday person but I know a few. But most of us forget most of whatever happened in the class. Something is happening that we do get just by… Read More »
