I took the plunge and asked Sidy if he would give me private lessons. Today was the first one. I think we both agreed that I should work on some new material. Mostly because I don't want my friend Lucia to feel like I have an unfair advantage on the stuff we are doing in class, LOL.
Today, three new rhythms. I honestly can't remember the name of the piece, but I can tell you that it was a serious stretch for my beginner skills. They were hard!
I wish I could describe what happens in my brain when faced with a complex rhythm. It is such a dance between understanding it cerebrally, and feeling it physically, seeing it in my mind, on the drum head, and seeing it in real life when my hands hit the skin. For much of the lesson I found myself staring off into space, unable to look at my hands, or Sidy's, without going blank and losing my place.
For awhile, I got it. I was playing along while Sidy soloed next to me. That was amazing. There were moments when I actually felt like we were playing together. And then, pop, it was gone. I'd get lost and forget what I was doing. I am not sure whether I will be able to figure these rhythms out to practice this week, even with a recording.
So, yeah. My drum kicked my butt today.
And it was great.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Children's Drumming Classes
I am delighted to announce that Sidy Maiga, my wonderful drumming teacher, will be teaching a children's class at Black Rep starting in January. The class will meet from 6pm to 6:45 on Monday evenings and runs for 4 weeks. Cost is $60 and includes a drum for the class. Sidy will also have kid-sized djembes for sale if you would prefer to buy one.
Class dates:
Mondays, January 7th through the 28th, 2008
6 to 6:45 pm
Providence Black Repertory Company
276 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-351-0353
For more information, or to register, please email me at rachelnguyen@cox.net
Class dates:
Mondays, January 7th through the 28th, 2008
6 to 6:45 pm
Providence Black Repertory Company
276 Westminster Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-351-0353
For more information, or to register, please email me at rachelnguyen@cox.net
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Meet the press
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
I get high...
When I play with other people. Always, always, I leave my drumming class feeling like I could climb mount Everest, or sing an aria, or dance in the streets. I never want it to end.
Last night, for the first time, I played distinct tones and slaps. It was a repeating pattern of tone tone slap slap slap slap. I could hear it, and more importantly, my teacher could. I could see the look on his face when he realized that I was playing them. Big smile. Big encouragement. 6 months later and finally, I can play something other than 'non-bass'.
New callouses. Strangely, I have two perfect red lines at the base of my middle fingers. They are some sort of blood blister, I think. Like drummer's stigmata. It is interesting that there is one on each hand.
And my thumbs are developing big callouses on the outside of the knuckle.
I asked Nguyen if he minded that my hands are getting rough and ugly. Not at all, he said.
For me, there is joy in every bump and bruise and blister.
Last night, for the first time, I played distinct tones and slaps. It was a repeating pattern of tone tone slap slap slap slap. I could hear it, and more importantly, my teacher could. I could see the look on his face when he realized that I was playing them. Big smile. Big encouragement. 6 months later and finally, I can play something other than 'non-bass'.
New callouses. Strangely, I have two perfect red lines at the base of my middle fingers. They are some sort of blood blister, I think. Like drummer's stigmata. It is interesting that there is one on each hand.
And my thumbs are developing big callouses on the outside of the knuckle.
I asked Nguyen if he minded that my hands are getting rough and ugly. Not at all, he said.
For me, there is joy in every bump and bruise and blister.
Monday, November 5, 2007
And another
Beautiful. I especially love track 7. Click the album cover to go to Amazon and have a listen.
Listen!
As is often the case when I get obsessed with something, I want to explore. I have been hitting Youtube for djembe videos, and one thing led to another and I found myself on Amazon.com checking out Malian music cds. (You follow that, right?)
Today a couple finally came in the mail.
You MUST check this out. Rokia Traore is a woman from Mali who has been recording for quite some time. Her newest cd, Bowmboï, is simply incredible. It is haunting stuff. Give it a listen.
Making a joyful noise
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Psalm 98:4)
And boy, did we.
Yesterday after the service at Grace Church, we assembled a bunch of drums in the chancel (in front of the altar) and invited people to play in an informal drumming circle. It was fantastic!
The acoustics in Grace are truly remarkable. The sound reverberates off the ceiling and fills the whole, huge, space. So while the parishioners were drinking their coffee and eating snacks, a group of adults and children were improvising on African drums. I started the first rhythm using one Sidiyasa pieces. Gradually, other drums began to fill in. Some of us were playing in unison and others were playing counter beats or other variations. The children picked up very quickly, and were completely enthralled. When their mom tried to pry them away because of another commitment, they begged her to stay longer.
We had 6 djembes and a couple of congas. As we settled into a rhythm, I could see people starting to dance in the back of the church.
Vera started the next rhythm. She, too, chose one from her African drumming class. It was a bit simpler, which made it perfect for a drumming circle. We all had a chance to "solo". The sound was so powerful!
Then we had to swap drums because everyone wanted a chance to play my new djembe. So Lucia took a turn and started a rhythm. Then Vera got to try it. I think they are all in serious drum lust now that they have played it. I can't get over what a beautiful sound it has.
Yesterday, we made a joyful noise, indeed.
And boy, did we.
Yesterday after the service at Grace Church, we assembled a bunch of drums in the chancel (in front of the altar) and invited people to play in an informal drumming circle. It was fantastic!
The acoustics in Grace are truly remarkable. The sound reverberates off the ceiling and fills the whole, huge, space. So while the parishioners were drinking their coffee and eating snacks, a group of adults and children were improvising on African drums. I started the first rhythm using one Sidiyasa pieces. Gradually, other drums began to fill in. Some of us were playing in unison and others were playing counter beats or other variations. The children picked up very quickly, and were completely enthralled. When their mom tried to pry them away because of another commitment, they begged her to stay longer.
We had 6 djembes and a couple of congas. As we settled into a rhythm, I could see people starting to dance in the back of the church.
Vera started the next rhythm. She, too, chose one from her African drumming class. It was a bit simpler, which made it perfect for a drumming circle. We all had a chance to "solo". The sound was so powerful!
Then we had to swap drums because everyone wanted a chance to play my new djembe. So Lucia took a turn and started a rhythm. Then Vera got to try it. I think they are all in serious drum lust now that they have played it. I can't get over what a beautiful sound it has.
Yesterday, we made a joyful noise, indeed.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Happiness is...
coming home from a long, grueling night at work to find my two boys happily banging away on my drums.
Emmett, 7, is the best, so he gets to use the new drum. Noah, 10, acknowledges that in this, Emmett rules.
My exhaustion dissipates and I pull rank and take the big drum. Emmett gets the medium one and Noah takes the mini.
Then we, all three, start playing one of the rhythms of Sidiyasa.
At one point the older one gets up and starts dancing. It is so hilarious I come up with a challenge: if he can make me laugh hard enough to mess up my rhythm, he wins.
He wins.
We all win.
I love the smell of my new drum. When I come home and open the door, there is a faint goat smell in the house. When I play, my hands smell of it... and the fragrance wafts up as I hit the drumhead. I am building sense memory. I imagine that when I am old and frail and unable to play or do much of anything, I will be able to conjure the smell of this beautiful drum. My first serious instrument. I want to sink in it's smell, sometimes, like when you bury your face in the coat of your dog (or rabbit!). I lean over and lay my cheek on the tight leather and just inhale as deeply as I can.
Then I play.
Then breathe it in.
Then play.
When I was thinking of buying a drum, I told my friend Lucia that I was going to choose by smell. "I want the stinkiest one" I said. I am going to sniff my way through the drums until I find one so smelly I will, like an animal mother, be able to recognize it by the scent.
Nguyen finds this all a little odd. But I bet if we found a drum that smelled of his childhood, he would understand completely. Fish sauce or thousand day old eggs or tea growing in a field or the incense from the monastery at the bottom of the hill.
Emmett, 7, is the best, so he gets to use the new drum. Noah, 10, acknowledges that in this, Emmett rules.
My exhaustion dissipates and I pull rank and take the big drum. Emmett gets the medium one and Noah takes the mini.
Then we, all three, start playing one of the rhythms of Sidiyasa.
At one point the older one gets up and starts dancing. It is so hilarious I come up with a challenge: if he can make me laugh hard enough to mess up my rhythm, he wins.
He wins.
We all win.
I love the smell of my new drum. When I come home and open the door, there is a faint goat smell in the house. When I play, my hands smell of it... and the fragrance wafts up as I hit the drumhead. I am building sense memory. I imagine that when I am old and frail and unable to play or do much of anything, I will be able to conjure the smell of this beautiful drum. My first serious instrument. I want to sink in it's smell, sometimes, like when you bury your face in the coat of your dog (or rabbit!). I lean over and lay my cheek on the tight leather and just inhale as deeply as I can.
Then I play.
Then breathe it in.
Then play.
When I was thinking of buying a drum, I told my friend Lucia that I was going to choose by smell. "I want the stinkiest one" I said. I am going to sniff my way through the drums until I find one so smelly I will, like an animal mother, be able to recognize it by the scent.
Nguyen finds this all a little odd. But I bet if we found a drum that smelled of his childhood, he would understand completely. Fish sauce or thousand day old eggs or tea growing in a field or the incense from the monastery at the bottom of the hill.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
West african traditional drumming lesson (Sandya)
This is tricky because it is, for some strange reason, broadcasting sideways... but this is a very cool rhythm! I have been practicing it and can do the beginning part of it. Try it!!! The drummer is Mady Keita.
Drumming at Grace
African Drumming comes to Grace Church!
I had a conversation with Fr. Rich this week and we have invited my fabulous teacher, Sidy Maiga, to start teaching classes at Grace Church in Providence. This is huge! I have updated my class listing in the side bar to include the information. If you are a Rhode Islander, I invite you to check it out.
Two of my very favorite things in one place. Does it get any better than this?
Sweet!
Two of my very favorite things in one place. Does it get any better than this?
Sweet!
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