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 40 some odd years things have turned around completely for the better. But, with all the information many of us can get overwhelmed. I have students and friends who buy the books, DVD’s on line lessons and never use them.
Many of us have the tendency to gather with a “more is better” type consciousness.

Some people don’t even go back to the data they acquired because they dont know where to start. They have too much instead of too little.
If you are indeed feeling like you don’t know where to start or are overwhelmed start simply. You need to pick a starting point.

Instead of trying to learn everything at once or every arrangement, piece or solo, just pick one rhythm or dance (if you are a dancer this works well too). Just one.
Work on one thing at a time. Start from the very beginning.

Learn the call in (break) and one accompaniment. Get that accompaniment to groove. Play it and feel it. Then learn another. Get each part down and take your time carefully. Learn all the Dunun parts. Remember and memorize the name. If you don’t have Dunun you can play pots, buckets or whatever!

If you were in a class and could not get the whole thing, watch your video,(if you made one) or audio recording and start at the very beginning. Inch by inch, step by step. If you like notation this can help. Maybe you have a friend or teacher that can help review as well.

Again, take it piece by piece, step by step. When I am deciphering video and audio I get the first beat after the call in. The same with notation. I make sure I know where the first beat is in relation to the pulse or down beat. Then I get the first and second. Then the first second and third and so on down the line. I don’t skip to the end of the rhythm ,phrase or sequence.

And even if you can’t get it all, its better then before when you did not know it at all 🙂

When certain students can not remember names to pieces or arrangements I suggest they focus in on only one rhythm for the week, weeks or even longer. I still do this myself when I learn new pieces. I even listen to it in my car, computer or wherever.

To review, let’s use the West African rhythm Kuku. Learn all the dunun parts, learn all the accompaniment parts. Learn the call in. Learn a few solo techniques. Everything you can just for that one piece. Maybe a song or even a dance step or two. If you play for dance class and that piece is being taught try to actually learn a few of the steps when the choreography is being taught.

Memorize all that with out moving on to any other pieces. Then you will remember the name and the piece and you can move on to the next one.
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