Pre-requisite: Saturday afternoon’s “Intro to Djembe Drumming Playshop”, or the equivalent experience.
Perfect for most levels (just not raw beginners, they should join us yesterday, first!), including those with some drumming experience who seek fresh rhythmic music instruction, with a solid foundation. Also great for musicians seeking West African rhythmic training.
Explore rhythm on multiple djembe parts, the set of 3 bass drums (dunduns), and an assortment of cowbells (agogo and gonkogui), and shakers (axatse and caxixis).
Enjoy learning the DrumSong arrangement called “Jola”. It’s the first one we learned, from our original djembe teacher, musician and composer, John McDowell, who’d traveled to Senegal to explore the roots of jazz music, West African rhythm.
Acquire the skills of Barbara Gail’s playing technique, to make your drum sing with a deep and resonant bass, a rich tone, and a fiery yet full-bodied slap.
Experience how we use Body Percussion to internalize the Powerful Pulse, the key ingredient behind playing rhythmic ensemble music, as it’s the thread that ties all the voices together.
Feel the magic of interlocking rhythm patterns and your relation to the whole, as you find your place within the unity of the beat.
Learn the trance-inducing feeling of the polymeter “2 against 3″… And learn what that is!
Discover how organized group drumming calms the nervous system, clears the mind, energizes the body and inspires the spirit.
Comprehend and Apply The Rhythm Inlet’s simple and sensible ‘Time Unit Line Notation System’, to easily notate your rhythms. (No reading music, because standard notation doesn’t work for us!)
“This class will start you on an incredible journey you may not have imagined. Mine began in Barbara‘s class a few years ago, then with both she and Jeff, and continues today, drumming daily for myself, with friends, and at drum circles and festivals. Thanks to their skilled and patient teaching, I have entered the world of rhythm and pulse much to the benefit of my overall well being. Always Grateful to these wonderful teachers Barbara Gail and Jeff Hanna. Keep the Pulse!”
~ Eric “Grub” 2020
Other details:
❂ Welcome all adults and motivated teens. No previous musical or drumming experience needed!
❂ Bring a djembe, ashiko or bougarbou if you have one.
❂ A limited number of drums are available for in-class use for $5, for those who don’t have one. Available as a registration add on.
❂ Our number of chairs are limited, so you may be asked to bring your own folding or stacking chair. (Please clean the chair ‘feet’.)
❂ Wonderful, affordable overnight accommodations are also available here at Center Street Retreat. (Limited number). Available as a registration add on.
“Drumming helps to alchemize the intensity & density of individual & collective energies, into a lighter, higher vibration. So let’s keep drumming!” ~ Barbara Gail
Make a weekend of it!
︎ Also join us for Saturday afternoon’s “Intro to Djembe Playshop”
︎ Plus Saturday night’s inspiring “When the Drummers Were Women” art herstory slide show, where ancient artifacts of women drummers come alive in photographs from The Layne Redmond Collection.
︎ Followed by community drumming around an open fire outdoors!
All tickets are sold a la carte, with discounts available for purchasing more than one of Barbara’s drumming workshops!
