Hand Drums I: The Plethora
The simple hand drum—a skin stretched across a frame, or some sort of resonating chamber—comes in thousands of forms, each with their own techniques. One thing they have in common: they can move your soul. In this workshop we’ll examine and demonstrate some of the more popular instruments, discuss their traditional uses and orchestration, and make some music of our own! This may include: conga, bongo, djembe, dumbek, tambourine, ashiko, bodhran, tar, riqq, tabla, dholak, sabaar, atabaque, ngoma, kpanlogo, and kutiro.
Hand Drums II: Specifics—Conga, Djembe, Ashiko
Which drum do you have? Ever wondered how it’s traditionally played, and orchestrated? This workshop provides clips of traditional players, and offers practice in particular techniques: proper playing posture, playing techniques, popular ensemble configurations. Even if you’ll never play Old School, it’s good to know the roots.
Hand Drums III: The Súle System of Drumpath Rhythms
Over the decades, Súle realized his teachers—dance AND drum—used the same system to pass on their wisdom. Now codified, this system allows one to understand, learn, and play—with clarity AND fun!!—complex percussive music, and apply this new approach to rhythm and melody’s interaction to whatever instrument you play.
Djembe: Basics and Beyond
Do you own a big chalice-shaped drum, but don’t know how to wield it? In this workshop we’ll discuss the drums’ history, introduce proper posture and playing technique, learn traditional orchestration, and get familiar with the two basic “families” of djembe rhythm. Fifth grade and up.
US Percussion: Washboard, Bones, Tambo, and Brushes
When hand drums were outlawed, the music still survived, and new styles were born, using specific percussion choices. Let's talk a little history, learn some technique, sing some songs, and have some fun. From there, we can do anything. Fourth grade and up.
Small Percussion Workshop
Do you have hand percussion—a set of claves, a guiro, a tambourine, bongos, a cowbell, a cabasa/afuche, an agogo, an egg shaker, a pair of sticks—somewhere in the house? Would you like to sound like a pro? Bring what you have to the Small Percussion Workshop and learn techniques to make you—and your instrument—sound its best! Then, we’ll orchestrate ‘em and make great music together. Age seven (with adult) and above.
Sankofa Old School Drumming with The Drummer’s Path System -- Buckets and Sticks!
We post-African humans easily learn through rhythm, melody and fun. Interconnection is also part of our nature; we are social beings. Come learn to drum the natural way—through rhythm, song and fun, together. Using five-gallon buckets and drumsticks, we can embrace the ages-old African/Post-African method of building rhythmic melody to make beautiful music, on the cheap! Fifth grade and up.
Black Banjo: Songs and Styles
Certain ways of playing and particular songs are part of the African American banjo tradition. Come learn some banjo history, some fun songs, and how to get funky on the ‘jo! Fifth grade and up.
Black Banjo Repertoire: African and Post-African Tunes, Their Context, and How to Play Them
Sometimes it’s the song; sometimes it’s the artist. Many jazz, pop, and R-&-B tunes associated with AfrAm artists were, in fact, written by EurAms. Many Old Time and Bluegrass tunes originated in AfrAm culture. Let’s play a bit, try to distinguish some stylistic and cultural points—for clarity’s sake, and have a great time.
Jug Band Workshop
In the early 20th century, African Americans grabbed what they had on hand and created street music the whole world loves: jug band, skiffle, hokum. If you know a couple of chords, can hum a tune, or are a budding songster, come join in! Washboards, comb-&-tissue, jugs, ukuleles, spoons...whatever you have, we can make it work! Any level of proficiency is welcome.
Ukulele For Fun
With just a few fingers and just a few strums, you’re making music! We’ll go over basic chords and strumming patterns, a bit of history, and we’ll play some tunes. Age seven on up.
Rhythm for Inner Peace
Music is a tool, a key to altered consciousness. Learn to use rhythm—alone, or in groups—to change your state of mind. Fifth grade and up.
The simple hand drum—a skin stretched across a frame, or some sort of resonating chamber—comes in thousands of forms, each with their own techniques. One thing they have in common: they can move your soul. In this workshop we’ll examine and demonstrate some of the more popular instruments, discuss their traditional uses and orchestration, and make some music of our own! This may include: conga, bongo, djembe, dumbek, tambourine, ashiko, bodhran, tar, riqq, tabla, dholak, sabaar, atabaque, ngoma, kpanlogo, and kutiro.
Hand Drums II: Specifics—Conga, Djembe, Ashiko
Which drum do you have? Ever wondered how it’s traditionally played, and orchestrated? This workshop provides clips of traditional players, and offers practice in particular techniques: proper playing posture, playing techniques, popular ensemble configurations. Even if you’ll never play Old School, it’s good to know the roots.
Hand Drums III: The Súle System of Drumpath Rhythms
Over the decades, Súle realized his teachers—dance AND drum—used the same system to pass on their wisdom. Now codified, this system allows one to understand, learn, and play—with clarity AND fun!!—complex percussive music, and apply this new approach to rhythm and melody’s interaction to whatever instrument you play.
Djembe: Basics and Beyond
Do you own a big chalice-shaped drum, but don’t know how to wield it? In this workshop we’ll discuss the drums’ history, introduce proper posture and playing technique, learn traditional orchestration, and get familiar with the two basic “families” of djembe rhythm. Fifth grade and up.
US Percussion: Washboard, Bones, Tambo, and Brushes
When hand drums were outlawed, the music still survived, and new styles were born, using specific percussion choices. Let's talk a little history, learn some technique, sing some songs, and have some fun. From there, we can do anything. Fourth grade and up.
Small Percussion Workshop
Do you have hand percussion—a set of claves, a guiro, a tambourine, bongos, a cowbell, a cabasa/afuche, an agogo, an egg shaker, a pair of sticks—somewhere in the house? Would you like to sound like a pro? Bring what you have to the Small Percussion Workshop and learn techniques to make you—and your instrument—sound its best! Then, we’ll orchestrate ‘em and make great music together. Age seven (with adult) and above.
Sankofa Old School Drumming with The Drummer’s Path System -- Buckets and Sticks!
We post-African humans easily learn through rhythm, melody and fun. Interconnection is also part of our nature; we are social beings. Come learn to drum the natural way—through rhythm, song and fun, together. Using five-gallon buckets and drumsticks, we can embrace the ages-old African/Post-African method of building rhythmic melody to make beautiful music, on the cheap! Fifth grade and up.
Black Banjo: Songs and Styles
Certain ways of playing and particular songs are part of the African American banjo tradition. Come learn some banjo history, some fun songs, and how to get funky on the ‘jo! Fifth grade and up.
Black Banjo Repertoire: African and Post-African Tunes, Their Context, and How to Play Them
Sometimes it’s the song; sometimes it’s the artist. Many jazz, pop, and R-&-B tunes associated with AfrAm artists were, in fact, written by EurAms. Many Old Time and Bluegrass tunes originated in AfrAm culture. Let’s play a bit, try to distinguish some stylistic and cultural points—for clarity’s sake, and have a great time.
Jug Band Workshop
In the early 20th century, African Americans grabbed what they had on hand and created street music the whole world loves: jug band, skiffle, hokum. If you know a couple of chords, can hum a tune, or are a budding songster, come join in! Washboards, comb-&-tissue, jugs, ukuleles, spoons...whatever you have, we can make it work! Any level of proficiency is welcome.
Ukulele For Fun
With just a few fingers and just a few strums, you’re making music! We’ll go over basic chords and strumming patterns, a bit of history, and we’ll play some tunes. Age seven on up.
Rhythm for Inner Peace
Music is a tool, a key to altered consciousness. Learn to use rhythm—alone, or in groups—to change your state of mind. Fifth grade and up.