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west africa Archives | African Drumming

Steel Tongue Drums

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Our Steel Tongue Drum boasts long sustain and beautiful harmonies.

They are easy to pick up and play, making them excellent for teaching and improvisation.

🎵 Tones from these instruments are created through the vibrating tongue of steel.
🎵 When a tongue is quickly and lightly struck with the finger or mallet, it vibrates, creating sound waves.
🎵 We recommend playing the instrument with your fingers or mallets.
🎵 All Happy drums include mallets and a padded carrying case.

Check out our guide to Steel drums here.

Now priced at $299 , click the link below to view our range :

https://www.africandrumming.com.au/product-category/handpans-and-tuned-percussion/happy-drums/

 

*Pricing correct as at 1 May 2023, please see our website for current price.

Mali Weave

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West African drums are not tuned to an objective note, but to a subjective pitch.

In other words…there is no right or wrong sound! 🎵
Djembes, bougarabou and dunun are tuned by weaving knots into the vertical ropes. Each knot increases the tension on the hide, raising the pitch of the drum. 🪘

The most common tuning technique is called the Mali Weave. 🇲🇱

Grab yourself a Djembe today.

We want to share your videos 📹

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Every day we share your videos with our community of over 500,000 followers across our social media accounts and we love doing it!
It’s just one way that we can continue to celebrate West African drumming and culture.

Sometimes these videos go viral with millions of views and thousand of re-shares.

We now have a new submission form which makes it easier for you submit your videos for us to hopefully share.
So if you have an impressive video of djembe drumming, dunun drummers, percussionists, African dancing, West African culture, conga & bongo players, African singing or drum making, then we want to see it!
The more creative and vibrant, the better.

Simply click on the link at the bottom of this post, enter as much information as you can about your video and then we will do the rest.
Hopefully we will be able to share your video across our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram & TikTok).

We can’t wait to see your amazing videos!

 

🪘 VIDEO SUBMISSION FORM 🪘

Sessi Sessi – Community Music Ensemble

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Sessi Sessi

Sessi Sessi is our energetic West African drumming community ensemble that’s made up with our advanced student group. Uplifting and high energy performances that gets the crowds moving are their specialty. Our talented students are lead by seasoned professionals who warmly welcomes everybody  to dance and groove. Whether it be at a fund raiser, sports events, block parties, street festivals…..you name it: we’ll perform there!

Be part of the action and check out our Sessi Sessi facebook page

or

Download our Sessi Sessi Bio:

Sessi-Bio

Here’s a video of Sessi Sessi playing in the background for October 2013 vNews Live from Flashjam

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing our 12/8 theme with a Short Bell Pattern

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Rhythmic Challenge for the morning is another 12/8 bell pattern ( to continue the theme for this month.)

Get familiar with the “short bell” pattern on one hand (or wok or any other kitchenware you have handy!) 

1 2 3 4 1
x . x . x x . x . x . x x

Now play away from the beat on your other hand.

1 2 3 4 1
x x . x x . x x . x x

You can see a diagram of the different bell patterns on last week’s blog entry, here!

It is tricky, but when you land it, it is so satisfying! Really does something to the pathways in your mind and body.
Something is growing internally and something is discovered, quite an exciting experience!

Hope to see you on Thursday 6:00pm – 8:00pm (and Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm) this week for four hours of rhythmic insight at Simon’s Dexterity Workshop. Dan will be supporting us all on dun as we go on a polyrhythmic journey into our bodies and minds to massage out the rhythmic gristle!

12/8 Bells and POLYRHYTHMIC FREEDOM!

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12-8 Bell Pattern Exer

 

We have been working hard on our 12/8 bell patterns in the St Kilda Advanced class recently and it’s really coming together!

Using our feet to feel the 6 pulse and playing 5 different bell patterns over the top, then combining them all musically; there is something different about a polyrhythmic Agogo Bell orchestra!

One of the key foundation points is being able to feel the offbeat in our body whilst we walk the downbeat (pulse.) Harder than it sounds but over time our bodies relax into it, and two distinct pulses can be felt internally. Counting 1+2+3+4+5+6+ will help, and going SLOW to start is paramount. If we can feel these contrasting rhythms internally then we are much closer to being able to use them in our drumming. One can explore and execute more sophisticated timing structures and solos, wonderful huh?

Next challenge is to add some vocalisation (chant and song) to the mix; polyrhythmic fun and games with a musical twist!

Getting dexterous and ironing out the rhythmic gristle that binds up our bodies = more freedom for the body and mind.

If you want more, come and study dexterity with me next week!

– Simon.

For more information on Simon’s Dexterity classes, head here!