Hello From El Paso, TX

[ElPaso2010]

Hello to all. I played rock, blues professionally for 15 years but have not touched a stick in 14 years until 41 days ago when I bought a set of Gretsch drums and started practicing again. This time, though, the journey led me to Babatunde Olatunje on Youtube.com. I was also very much inspired by the raw power and energy of the Burundi drummers. Since power and stamina is what I need right now, every day for 41 days I have played along with them. Since I cannot play the djembe because of a hand disease, I ordered a set of dunans from DrumskullDrums because they are played with sticks, and also an instructional video by Mamady Keita.

Right now I am struggling with grocery money because I bought the dunans, but I do not care. I am even sleeping with the music on so this new way of thinking will penetrate the subconscious.

It is very clear to me that I need a group to learn from, but there seems to be nothing in El Paso, nothing. No one in the music stores knows anyone. Google search turns up nothing. There is nothing here going on in an organized way.

But even that is not going to stop me from joining the heartbeat. Where there is no interest, interest can be created, even if I must take the drums downtown and play them on the street.

Perhaps someone here might know someone? Someone maybe in the military at Fort Bliss who would like to play?

[PhoenixFlyRight]

It's been a few months since you posted this, but I have just managed the courage to look for others interested in drumming. I have a djembe, and will classify myself as a beginner, easily. However, I'm really interested in meeting other traditional drummers, to learn more about drumming and also for social networking and because, frankly, drum circles are amazing. Feel free to contact me if you're interested, especially if you have found others.

[rachelnguyen]

I am bummed out that I missed this post when it first showed up. Dead silence is a terrible way to welcome someone to the forum.

In the off chance that our new dununfola is still lurking around, I say welcome! I hope the new drums are getting broken in nicely. I, too, play dunun, after a few years of studying djembe.

In Mali (where my teacher is from) the normal route to learning drums starts with the dununs. You might play the rhythm section for a LONG time before you can start to solo on djembe.

I am not sure if there are any traditional teachers in El Paso, but there are some videos available here on the site that show dunun parts. (video for dunun seems to be few and far between, unfortunately.)

If you want to pm me offline, I might be able to get some stuff to get you started. Are you playing ballet style? (2 or 3 drums played vertically?) or traditional? (1 drum and a bell played horizontally.)

In any case, sorry we didn't give you a proper welcome back in September. Hope you are still around.

Rachel

[michi]

A PM to the OP might help too!

I'm sorry too that I missed this introduction

Cheers,

Michi.

[rachelnguyen]

And Phoenix, welcome to you, too!