A bit about me

[Jutta]

I live in Toronto, Ontario Canada. My background is German. I was introduced to the Djembe last Summer by a friend of mine. What a different world!!!!!!!!!!! Wow, I love it.! Finally I can express my feelings through the drum.
I started to take lesson last October(Guinea Rhythms). I love it, but it is a long long process for me to feel the beat!!!!!!!!! Will I ever learn?????????? I am a totally visual learner but are working now at putting all my note's away and actually feel the sound of the drum. Any advise? Jutta

[Dugafola]

hey,

is Mohammed Diaby in Toronto? i know he's in Canada somewhere but forgot where.

welcome.

[Jutta]

yes, Mohammed Diaby is in Toronto right now (Scarbotough and downtown.) I heard he is amazing!

hey,

is Mohammed Diaby in Toronto? i know he's in Canada somewhere but forgot where.

welcome.

[Marc_M]

Hey Jutta -

When I bought my new drum at Saikou's store on Dundas, Mohamed was in while I jammed for a bit. He gave me the thumbs up for the new drum and said it had good sound. As I was at the cash I looked at his flyer for lessons and I noticed he was holding the same drum. Ha ! ! ! No wonder ! ! !

I hope to check Mohamed's class out. Maybe we can check it out one day.

See you in class.

PS. I have the CD with the loops of the parts we are studying in class. Remind me to give it to you ! ! !

Marc

[rachelnguyen]

Hey Jutta,

I haven't been playing for too much longer than you, but yes, it does get easier. When I first started playing, it was like learning a new language... painfully slow! I would have to record the rhythm, then write down all the slaps and tones and bass notes... which hand played which. With all that, I MIGHT be able to approximate the sound while practicing. Maybe. Learning a new part took forever and it seemed like it would never get easier.

Well, it does. I have been taking classes for just under a year, and weekly private lessons since November. (Not continuously, due to travel) And now I can pick up a rhythm much faster, with less fuss. Now, in fact, I can HEAR the bass, tones and slaps when my teacher demonstrates them and I am getting to the point of being able to just play it, once I know the handing.

As to the actual rhythm. I still always seem to veer towards a droning 4/4 tempo. My teacher corrects me on this a lot and with individual parts I am starting to finally break out of it. I think it is a lifetime of hearing the 'thump, thump, thump, thump' of bad dance music that is ingrained in my head! But little by little, I am getting away from it.

Keep us posted on your progress... and good for you! Isn't it amazing to find this crazy joy?!

Love,
Rachel

[Jutta]

Hey Jutta,

I haven't been playing for too much longer than you, but yes, it does get easier. When I first started playing, it was like learning a new language... painfully slow! I would have to record the rhythm, then write down all the slaps and tones and bass notes... which hand played which. With all that, I MIGHT be able to approximate the sound while practicing. Maybe. Learning a new part took forever and it seemed like it would never get easier.

Well, it does. I have been taking classes for just under a year, and weekly private lessons since November. (Not continuously, due to travel) And now I can pick up a rhythm much faster, with less fuss. Now, in fact, I can HEAR the bass, tones and slaps when my teacher demonstrates them and I am getting to the point of being able to just play it, once I know the handing.

As to the actual rhythm. I still always seem to veer towards a droning 4/4 tempo. My teacher corrects me on this a lot and with individual parts I am starting to finally break out of it. I think it is a lifetime of hearing the 'thump, thump, thump, thump' of bad dance music that is ingrained in my head! But little by little, I am getting away from it.

Keep us posted on your progress... and good for you! Isn't it amazing to find this crazy joy?!

Love,
Rachel

Hi Rachel, thanks a million, you made my day. You are so right, we totaly neet to relearn a new language.I am just not sure? I started my first drumming circle last week, because I need more than just my weekly drumming lesson (Guinea Rhytms)I just have such a problem with feeling the drum (hearing the beat....... you know????????? will the drumming cirle influence my knowledge that I have gained so far at my lessons? Happy drumming, Jutta

[Jutta]

Hey Jutta -

When I bought my new drum at Saikou's store on Dundas, Mohammed was in while I jammed for a bit. He gave me the thumbs up for the new drum and said it had good sound. As I was at the cash I looked at his flyer for lessons and I noticed he was holding the same drum. Ha ! ! ! No wonder ! ! !

I hope to check Mohammed's class out. Maybe we can check it out one day.

See you in class.

PS. I have the CD with the loops of the parts we are studying in class. Remind me to give it to you ! ! !

Marc

Hi Marc, hey what a surprise. Same site!!!! I think this is the best site I have ever read. has very good Info!! yes , definately I would love to go see Mohammed's class.
Saikou' store, yes what a pleasure to be there. I love it from the moment I walk in. However I wish I would have more time to spend there. Thanks for the C.D. happy drumming Jutta

[Marc_M]

FYI -

For those following this thread, Mohamed Diaby is having a CD Release Party in Toronto on April 28, 2008

Information is posted here

http://www.djembefola.com/board/events-performances/toronto-mohamed-diaby-release-april-2008-t549.html

[rachelnguyen]

Jutta wrote:

I started my first drumming circle last week, because I need more than just my weekly drumming lesson (Guinea Rhytms)I just have such a problem with feeling the drum (hearing the beat....... you know????????? will the drumming cirle influence my knowledge that I have gained so far at my lessons?

Rachel replies:

Ha! I completely STANK at my first few drum circles. (And maybe my drum circle friends would say I still do!) Learning to play an African rhythm and being able to improvise in a circle are two very different skills. Both take practice and I am learning that success in one doesn't mean success in the other. I am obnoxious at drum circles because my fabulous African drum screams louder than any other drum in the place. And I am still pretty tentative about finding rhythms... so my mistakes are LOUD. Last week I think I threw a guy off. In that case, I actually was playing in rhythm, but I was fooling around with microtiming a little and hesitating just a hair before hitting the skin. He lost is place and had to stop.

So don't get discouraged that you can't improvise yet. It takes time and practice.

Just this week at my lesson, my teacher started inviting me to fool around a little with improvisation. This is after almost a year of lessons.

Love,
Rachel

[Jutta]

Jutta wrote:

I started my first drumming circle last week, because I need more than just my weekly drumming lesson (Guinea Rhytms)I just have such a problem with feeling the drum (hearing the beat....... you know????????? will the drumming cirle influence my knowledge that I have gained so far at my lessons?

Rachel replies:

Ha! I completely STANK at my first few drum circles. (And maybe my drum circle friends would say I still do!) Learning to play an African rhythm and being able to improvise in a circle are two very different skills. Both take practice and I am learning that success in one doesn't mean success in the other. I am obnoxious at drum circles because my fabulous African drum screams louder than any other drum in the place. And I am still pretty tentative about finding rhythms... so my mistakes are LOUD. Last week I think I threw a guy off. In that case, I actually was playing in rhythm, but I was fooling around with microtiming a little and hesitating just a hair before hitting the skin. He lost is place and had to stop.

So don't get discouraged that you can't improvise yet. It takes time and practice.

Just this week at my lesson, my teacher started inviting me to fool around a little with improvisation. This is after almost a year of lessons.

Love,
Rachel

Hi Rachel, thanks for all your incouragement. Jutta

[rachelnguyen]

My pleasure, Jutta!

Drumming is a GREAT gift to give yourself. You will definitely learn patience and humility, along with incredible joy.

Please keep checking in with your progress!

Best,
Rachel

[Shasha]

Hi Jutta,

I am extremely visual also and want so much to look at my drum to make sure that my left and right hand are doing what I want. When we are practicing, I have learned to look at the drum of someone near me - it gives me the visual and is teaching me to be in harmony with the people I am playing with instead of just in harmony with myself. It still throws me if I am watching my teacher's hands when he or she goes off another direction in the course of teaching. I am an easy mark for distraction but it is getting easier. The learning curve on this is long, but I'm thinking that means I won't get bored anytime soon. Right?

[Jutta]

Hi Everyone, I am still around, but have not been on this sight for a long time. Love my djembe and are learning every week a little more. ( Little babysteps for me). I went for Christmas to Kiel- Germany and took a lesson there with Tina Idaho (she has a group there and playes with Ibro Konate) I enjoyed every minute of it. Happy drumming, Jutta

[FreekAce]

Hey Jutta,

Im also in TO and study with Mohamed. He's been in Guinea since January and i've been itching for a class.
I make up for it by going to Drummers in Exile on Tuesday nights (yay today!) If you havent been yet, it is at the Annex Wreckroom (across from Bathurst Station) and starts at 830. Good people and always a lot of fun. Maybe i'll see you there some time!

Freek

[Jutta]

Hi Freek, thanks for your note. I may take you up on it. Jutta