Well this is my third class along with a practice class as we are giving a program on Sept 30th at a local metaphysical [Creative Energy] store that is having a big sale!!

I am loving this a whole big bunch-- it is so cool and the folks in the class are really easy and very helpful.

I now know the names of the different drums ...Djembes Bougarabous Djun Djuns and Ashiko... i play a Djembe-- pronounced Jem Bay ... JP our teacher has allowed me to borrow one to practice with until my drum which he is ordering comes in!! Here is a good site to see all the drums along with a description of each of them.

we have different rhythms from the other drums-- JP leads the group and plays whats called "Break" to signal when we move to another rhythms. This is kind of hard to catch on to as he plays alot of totally different rhythms and I have to listen carefully to what he is playing to hear the break--- problem is I have to concentrate so hard on what I am playing that I sometimes miss the break!!!! there are so many different sounds going on at once that its really easy to get distracted and loose my place!!!!

tonite one of the guys ,Ian, wrote down the codes for the so called music-- so i can practice at home -- there are words like Gun Dun which are right and left hand bass sounds and Go and Do for the tone sounds

so a rhythm would be like this

gun [1 bass] go do go[3tone] gun dun[2bass] gun dun[2bass] go do go do[3tone] gun dun[2bass]

weird huh???? the tone sounds are played on the edge of the drum-- and the bass sounds are played in the center of the drum--

Thankfully we are having another practice tomorrow night as I am still not exactly sure about what is happening when....

JP is going to play the Didgeridoo and we will have other hand percussion instruments like shakers, a wooden frog played with a small mallet, etc...playing totally different rhythms!!


I am really excited about Saturday and cant wait to hear it all come together-- JP is a cool guy and hears all these rhythms in his head-- its incredible to see him figure it all out---

my drum wont be in until next week but I am ok with that - he is waiting to talk to the guy directly so he can get the best drum --- i just know my drum will be awesome for sure---

I am totally exhausted after practice and my arms feel like lead so I am gonna take a break and go watch some TV for a while--

Wow i am totally stoked-- I just took my very first drum lesson last nite!!

I have been wanting to do this for a very long time and as the Universe works, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with a gal who is taking the lessons and she convinced me to go on Tuesday nite!

One of the local metaphysical stores offers the lessons for $10.00 and they supply the drum if you dont have one.

I didnt know anything about drumming... but it has always intrigued me and I was so excited to finally make the decision to join the grup.

DJ is the teacher-- a young man, long black hair held in a pony tail and a gentle, kind spirit...perfect for a teacher!! The class has about 12-15 people...some who obviously have been drumming for quite a long time and others who are just starting out and then my friend Sally and I who were the total novices!!

We are playing Djembe Drums from Africa-- the link will take you to a page that describes the drums!!

The middle of the drum is played with a flat hand and it plays the bass notes... moving to the outside edge of the drum you strike it with the upper palm making a higher sound. We began with a simple rhythm...one bass two edge slaps then two bass.
I am not sure this is the correct terminology but at least it gives ya an idea!!

We drummed for HOURS-- my arms were totally weak and exhausted and my hands were stinging by the time we finished. We did a total of three different rhythms I think.

There were several different kinds of drums that people were playing-- they all werent Djuembe's. One gal had three drums laid on their sides and stacked on top of each other-- DJ told me the name but I cant remember-- They were played with sticks and carried the bass sounds.

I LOVED the class and talked to DJ about getting my own drum! He is going to order one for me -- we will talk about it next Tuesday!!

I didnt get home till almost 11pm... and I was TIRED but at the same time exhilerated with my new found knowledge!! I cant wait for next Tuesday to arrive!!