Category: Music Study
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Respecting Those That Came Before Us
It’s important to acknowledge and respect those that came before us in any form of musical endeavor we are part of. Be it traditional drumming from Africa, Cuba, Haiti or your local drum circle. If you did not start it, someone or several people put in hard work to lay down the foundation for you… Read More »
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The Root System
The Root System. When learning and playing hand drums such as djembe and conga drums, It’s great and very important to specialize and focus. To learn the tradition, technique and skills necessary to play the style and drum type you are learning on. One thing at a time. Step by step. There are always specific… Read More »
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The 4 Types of Djembe Solos
The djembe solo in the west and in the east. 4 types of djembe solos. In West African djembe music originating out of Mali and Guinea areas there are 2 different types or approaches to solo on the djembe. I am talking about these two regions (Guinea and Mali) because that is where I have… Read More »
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The yin and yang of call and response
The yin and yang of call and response. What does call and response really mean? If we look a West African drumming and any drumming from the West African Diaspora originally, it is a system set up of plus and minus, positive and negative, yin and yang, tension- release and call and response. For me… Read More »
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Learning how to stay in time, practice tips for beginners Part 1
A lot of people ask me how to improve their rhythm when they are drumming or learning to drum. Everyone has to start somewhere and there are definitely things to do that can help us improve. A fun way to play, improve, learn to “lock in” and sit in a groove is to play along… Read More »
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Groove and the pocket. The power of simplicity.
Groove and the pocket. The power of simplicity. When you are playing traditional style drumming, especially West African djembe based music you “hold” parts. Everyone is not playing whatever they want constantly. Each djembe player and each dunun player has basic set parts. The parts are part of alchemic formulas from who knows where originally.… Read More »
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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 »
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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 »
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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 »
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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 »
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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 »
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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 »