Djembe Drumming Lesson - Djembe Tone, Not Djembe Thud
Djembe Drumming Lesson - Djembe Tone, Not Djembe Thud
In the early stages of learning djembe technique it can be difficult to create resonance when making the tone beat on the side of the drum. This video looks at what might be going wrong and what you can do to change a flat thud to a nice rich tone.
Free African Drum Lesson - Four Pulse Exercises
Learn Samba Rhythm... Using Sweets!
This video provides four exercises for playing African rhythms where the counting is in 'threes'. There is an easy exercise which for many people comes naturally; one which is a little trickier to feel; a harder exercise and finally a nice challenge exercise at the end. All these patterns lend themselves to 12/8 and 6/8 patterns for West African djembe and Dundun drumming. Good luck with it and do leave us a comment on the video to tell me how you get on.
Free African Drum Lessons - Mix mix 4/4 + 6/8 Pulse
Free African Drum Lessons - Mix mix 4/4 + 6/8 Pulse
This is an easy exercise to help you get comfortable with playing rhythms where there is a cross-over between a pulse in 3s and a pulse in 2s. Getting started with this simple technique will open many possibilities to develop polyrhythmic patterns and help you get to grips with djembe and dundun rhythm arrangements where the two pulses can be felt simultaneously.
Sidiki’s band, featuring vocalists, instrumentalists, and drummers, added a unique flavour to our workshops, creating a mesmerizing blend of rhythms and melodies. His dedication to showcasing African culture extended beyond music, with enlightening excursions and festival experiences that gave us a deeper understanding of the community.
The course far exceeded expectations, thanks to Sidiki’s commitment to authenticity and punctuality. I am eager to share the rich music and insights gained with the schools, businesses, and community groups I work with back home. This experience has been truly unforgettable, shaping my perspective on music and culture in profound ways.
Beginners Djembe Drum 'Ice Cream' Rhythm
Beginners Djembe Drum 'Ice Cream' Rhythm
This rhythm is one of my favourite groove patterns, as it creates a nice sense of momentum when played alongside other patterns which play on the beat. It is loosely inspired by Senegal rhythms such as the Mbalax rhythm from Sabba drumming. In the video, I use a silly 'ice cream' chant to help grab the feeling of the beat. I also break the rhythm into parts so you can focus on the different techniques and coordination.
FREE TUTORIAL: Learn Djembe 'Populaire' Rhythm
FREE TUTORIAL: Learn Djembe 'Populaire' Rhythm
Djembe 'Populaire' is one of the most important rhythms in West African Djembe playing. It is often called the 'Passport Rhythm' - play this and you can cross the boundary from a beginner to a pro! This seven video playlist starts with a full overview of the rhythm and its specific coordination, followed by six practise patterns that take you in stages to mastering the pattern in full.
Unbeatable Energy bring the drums beats to Channel 4 TV!
Unbeatable Energy bring the drums beats to Channel 4 TV!
Watch Steve Rivers’ APPEARANCE on Channel 4 Steph’s Packed Lunch
This month I was live on air on Channel 4 Steph’s Packed Lunch sharing the joy of drumming with the nation!
The experience was amazing and I can now put in my record book the shortest drum workshop ever delivered – 40 seconds!
Watch the interview and drum workshop here – and join in with the beat!
In the interview, I talked to Steph about the therapeutic benefits of group drumming. 🪘
Steph’s Packed Lunch programme is just that – a programme packed full of different current affairs and discussions, so the challenge was to summarise what is a very broad subject into 3 minutes. ⏱️😯
In the interview, I talked about the way drumming can make us feel energised, release stress and calm the mind.⚡
I mentioned different groups we have worked with, such as:
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Work teams, where the experience of drumming gives colleagues a chance to interact in a real way – particularly remote teams who normally interact with each other through a video screen.
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Bereavement groups, where the social and empathic experience of group drumming helps people cope with their sense of grief and loneliness.
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Neuro-divergent group, where the drumming experience can help participants gain confidence in social situations.
Then came the 40-second workshop! Yes – you really can have a group playing a rhythm within seconds.
Fortunately, I already knew a rhythm which everybody could play instantly.
The rhythm is normally called ‘Clave’ and while its origins are from the beats of Cuba and African Highlife, this pattern is played in many popular tunes in Western culture.
In the programme, I chanted it as ‘Let’s..All..Play…The.Drums…!’
Very soon the whole TV studio was playing the beat – the presenters; the studio audience and even the broadcasting team!
It amazes me how immediate drumming can be! You wouldn’t think it in the clip, but almost every person who participated said they had no rhythm. By the end of the 40-second workshop, they were amazed at what they’d been able to play in such a short space of time. It just goes to show how accessible and inclusive drumming is and what a powerful activity it can be in bringing people together.
While TV studios are a high-energy, ‘full-on’ environment, it was such a fantastic experience and one which I would love to repeat on a future occasion!
If you would like to organise a drumming workshop for your team, or community group, why not give us a call? We would love to tell you more! Contact us here or call us on 0114 274 7527 / 07810406501.
Drumming can teach us a life skill - less effort and more trust.
Drumming can teach us a life skill - less effort and more trust
Time and time again my djembe drum practice reminds me to find an easy effortless approach to other aspects of my professional life. In addition to developing skills in listening and improving emotional well-being, there is a particular effortless grace from djembe drum technique which can offer an important life skill - sometimes success is achieved by doing less rather than more.
