Tag: how to play

  • Namory Keita Djembe Fola From The Hamanah Region Of Guinea West Africa

    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 »

  • Developing Your Deepest Creative Drumming

    Developing Your Deepest Creative Drumming


    To be “deeply creative” go into the learning mode In the hand drum world there is a lot of talk and pride about expressing your own inner rhythm. Being creative. Doing your own thing. Soloing. Freestyle. And I am all for it. I acknowledge my inner rhythm and your inner rhythm. it is a beautiful… Read More »

  • My New How To Play Djembe DVD is now available at X8drums.com

    My New How To Play Djembe DVD is now available at X8drums.com


    Well folks, it is finally here! After a very long road of playing, videoing, shooting, editing and re editing I am very excited to let you all know that my all new DVD, “How To Play Djembe” Volume 1 is now available at X8drums.com. It is over 1 hour and 40 minutes long and covers… Read More »

  • Understanding the Basic Fundamentals of Playing the Djembe Drum

    Understanding the Basic Fundamentals of Playing the Djembe Drum


    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… Read More »

  • DVD review: Ultimate Guru Music presents,  “The Art of Fusion Drumming” by Taufiq Qureshi

    DVD review: Ultimate Guru Music presents, “The Art of Fusion Drumming” by Taufiq Qureshi


    I recently received a 2 DVD set from Ultimate Guru Music Company in India of a very interesting musical percussion artist named Taufiqu Queresh. The first thing I noticed is the quality of the box, artwork and packaging. Very well done! When you open the box there is full color booklet attached to the box… Read More »

  • Going beyond the drum circle; learning to play your drum correctly

    Going beyond the drum circle; learning to play your drum correctly


    You have just been to your first drum circle and you are fully charged up and excited to play drums. Or maybe you have been to several drum circles or drumming events. It was fun and exciting to play your drum with other people. You want to do it more and more. So what happens… Read More »

  • What is a djembe solo and the four types of djembe solos

    What is a djembe solo and the four types of djembe solos


    I love to play djembes and I also love to study the music we make with djembes. Djembe soloing is a very small part of djembe music as a whole. The djembe is a communal drum and is about community and unity. We all (myself included) get caught up in being the soloist as it… Read More »

  • How to start (or to continue) to play drums when you are over 40 years old

    How to start (or to continue) to play drums when you are over 40 years old


    Does age matter when playing or performing drumming and percussion music? Yes and no.Many of us who have been playing for a while would obviously like to keep playing for a while. I myself am over 50 years old. I am constantly playing with players half my age and sometimes more. Of course there are… Read More »

  • Playing cold at a hot gig in Bali, Indonesia

    Playing cold at a hot gig in Bali, Indonesia


    What do you do when you are completely cold and suddenly have to play hot? Last night the islands best trumpet player performed with his band at Bali’s version of Yoshis called interestingly enough, Ryopshi’s! Any coincidence? Great sushi and great tunes. Rio Sadik, the trumpet player, singer and “star of the show”, ( as… Read More »

  • Some tips about soloing on Djembe

    Some tips about soloing on Djembe


    Here are some tips on soloing on the djembe drum. Please do not be afraid to express yourself when the time is appropriate (your turn) to solo on djembe. Every chance you get is a good chance to play and improve your playing. I’ll be the first to admit I have thought about throwing my… Read More »

  • Having a hard time learning hand drums or djembe?

    Having a hard time learning hand drums or djembe?


    f you are like any of us that have been around the ethnic or world drumming and music scene for many years, then you may have experienced some hard times trying to learn the drumming, percussion or music from another culture. Please don’t get discouraged if you are trying to learn drumming and are having… Read More »

  • My djembe and conga training program for developing your drumming skills quickly


    People often ask me about a training program. What could they do to improve their drumming and or improve more rapidly? I put together the following suggestions based on my own training program that I have followed for many years. Those of you who know me personaly know I am a bit of a fanatic… Read More »

Michael Pluznick