Www.drumrhythms.com African Djembe Lesson

Good introductory video for beginning players. Thank you very much for taking the time to record and post this.

I really enjoyed this. It is fun to follow along with!

Al things start in Africa not just big mac

his title card says 'african rhythm workshop.' and regarding written music, the mandenka didn't write it down (at least not till recently) because they were a nonliterate culture, but that doesn't mean it wasn't carefully archived - it was, in memory. the 'playing what one feels' takes place on a melodic and rhythmic framework representing centuries of recorded creative input. does that constitute 'the spirit of drumming' for you?

Well...i dont quite find it offensive, as he never says "this is the african beat" maybe it does kinda detract from the idea of djembe playing, but its not bad. However, i feel that when playing a drum, such as the djembe, there should be no written music, and the rythm should come from what one feels. That is the spirit of drumming.

everyone has a big comment but me =3. im just gonna say i liked it

i didn't comment one way or another on the lesson. only the word usage in the description. mandenka folks i've met are pretty sensitive about the cultural context of their music being misrepresented or mixed up, but that being said, there's a lot of internal disagreement and squabbling over it, too.

really makes me feel at home watching this

Please be sharing and open with what you know if you find the lessons here lacking! As the great master you studied under was so kind to teach you, it would be selfish not to share this kindness and spread it more. The only way to correct false information is with accurate information. Simply calling false information false does nothing to correct it.

(reply pt 3) To a pop-culture infused mind Bach and Wagner may as well be the same person. To the classical musician to confuse the two is absurd! Use wisdom and kindness if you wish to teach; otherwise you only turn people off.

(reply pt 2) If you knew the difference, and you wished to share this insight with the cave dwelling lentil eater, you would find a much more effective path at teacing lies in respecting the person you may consider your student. Imagine if they went to France and ate at McDonalds! To them this may be fine French Cuisine! These categorical distinctions are solid in the mind only of the insider.

To consider a big mac french cuisine would be quite absurd. I agree. Imagine the person who has had neither a big mac nor french cuisine, but eats only... let's say lentils; and let's pretend they grew up in a cave. To this person french cuisne and the big mac are quite similar!

(and one more continuation; who knew i was this wordy) as a big mac has nutritional value, so his music has cultural value. but it's as african as a big mac is french. let the packaging reflect that, because some people do care.

(continuing from previous post) here's an analog: french cuisine uses many ingredients like beef, bread, onions, tomatoes and cheese. therefore, it's legitimate to call a big mac french cuisine, right? of course not. well, that's what this teacher has done: mixed and matched phrases, techniques and instruments from inside and outside africa.

misrepresentation such as this is what is disrespectful, to the culture and to those who wish to learn about it. it can blur the line between traditional and neotraditional repertoire and technique. that distinction is something most drummers or listeners don't care about, but that doesn't mean no one cares. and i claim no deep insight, just an appreciation for what we say and don't say, imply and don't imply with our choice of words.