New DVDs: Rythmes Traditionnels Du Mandingue

[michi]

Volume 2 and 3 (intermediate and advanced) of the 1998 VHS instructionals by Mamady have just been released.

Volume 2: Intermediate

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Volume 2 contains Kassa, Senefoli, Sofa, Mendiani, Djansa, Garangedon, and Soli Rapide. (The latter four include the solo original).

Volume 3: Advanced

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Volume 3 contains Dunungbe, Soliwoulen, Tiriba, Kakilambe, N'Goron, Soko, Kotedjuga, and Soboninkun. (The latter two include the solo original.)

Cheers,

Michi.

[AoxoA]

How do these compare to vol 4?

[bubudi]

How do these compare to vol 4?

it's a completely different series. this is the first series (rythmes traditionels du mandingue), until now only available on vhs tapes. if you're thinking of learning with mamady or one of his diploma accredited teachers, for the purpose of earning a certificate as a qualified ttm teacher, then this is the better of the two series to go for, as it covers mainly rhythms that you are expected to know well for the ttm exam. out of the 12 original solos you are expected to know for the exam, there are two on each volume (iirc), giving you half of them!. overall this has more of the 'standards' that are played in guinea style dance classes.

vol. 4 belongs to the second series (rythmes du mandingue). in that series there are a couple that overlap with the first series (dunungbe, soko), but most of them are new rhythms, and a few of those new ones are definitely 'standards' (vol 1: djole, vol 2: yankadi/makru, sorsornet). there are 3 original solos shown throughout the 3 volumes.

both series contain 3 levels: beginner (vol 1), intermediate (vol 2) and advanced (vol 3), and have the same format of teaching. the first series was made for vhs so the picture and sound quality will not be as good but still quite fine and everything can be heard very clearly. the first series has more 'standards' and gives you more original solos. there is a little bit of a change of musicians between the two series, and there is a little more soloing in the performances in the second series.

the second series also has vol 4. which takes things a step above the advanced level, to techniques and solos. appearing on this dvd is mohamed bangoura (aka bangourake). this is probably more like the stuff he teaches in his guinea and mini guinea advanced and pro workshops.

[bubudi]

by the way, vol 1 of this first series was already re-released on dvd about a year ago.

traditional manding rhythms, vol 1 (beginners)

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rhythms: fankani, djagbe, soli rapide, kuku, mendiani, djaa, moribayassa

[AoxoA]

Is the way he teaches the solos in the original series the same way he teaches the solos in vol 4 (of the second series)? In volume 4 he doesn't really "teach" the solos in a step by step way---He plays them and its up to you to figure it out.

[michi]

Yes, it's the same on all of his DVDs. He plays the solo at moderate speed but does not break it down. For most solos, that's not a problem, except for a few phrases, such as the last phrase of the Wassolonka solo original, which is tough to learn without some explanation. Stll, the videos are all excellent and well worth buying.

Cheers,

Michi.

[sebaT]

Has anyone else had a picture/sound problems with the intermediate dvd of this series??

I have a copy, and the sound and picture go crazy at some places, making it unable to see or hear anything, for example i cannot watch the solo for soli rapide, it freezes and makes awful shredding sounds.

[michi]

Return the DVD for an exchange--it obviously has a defect.

Cheers,

Michi.

[ronaldhelre]

It's a completely different series..it is awesome...volume 2 and 3 seems nice.

[guidotony69]

it's a completely different series. this is the first series (rythmes traditionels du mandingue), until now only available on vhs tapes. if you're thinking of learning with mamady or one of his diploma accredited teachers, for the purpose of earning a certificate as a qualified ttm teacher, then this is the better of the two series to go for, as it covers mainly rhythms that you are expected to know well for the ttm exam. out of the 12 original solos you are expected to know for the exam, there are two on each volume (iirc), giving you half of them!. overall this has more of the 'standards' that are played in guinea style dance classes

a tam tam mandingue certification is like caviar. overated and pointless. but no seriously...

this program makes folks focus too much on mamady's canned solo sequences. theres a helluva lot more to these rhythms than just the fast food "whitecastle" solos originales that he teaches. mamady keita knows that. his students should also know that. people learn to recite the sequence and they get the certificate. then they think they got the right to hammer away and ruin dance class. it doesnt flow. and geez, we all gotta listen to it. i'm gettin mighty sick of it myself.

get your dvds, but remember they ain't the whole story. not nearly.

[michi]

this program makes folks focus too much on mamady's canned solo sequences. theres a helluva lot more to these rhythms than just the fast food "whitecastle" solos originales that he teaches.

I agree, there is a lot more.

mamady keita knows that. his students should also know that. people learn to recite the sequence and they get the certificate. then they think they got the right to hammer away and ruin dance class.

What makes you say that? Certainly, the certificate holders I have met don't seem to think that. Rather, they were all quite aware that the solo originals are only a starting point.

Cheers,

Michi.

[guidotony69]

What makes you say that?

played with one too many of these ttm folks with timing like a broken clock. as in, they're only in time once every twelve hours. but when the rhythm falls apart, they try an pawn it off as someone elses mistake because they got a reputation they gotta keep up. it rubs me wrong, michi.

they wanna be a hotshot soloist "professor". but do they want to be good musicians who can co-operate? i don't think so. with music, the proof is in the pudding. certificate or not, you can hear a bad player a-comin from miles away.

i'll let you in on a musical secret that will blow you head-gasket: L-I-S-T-E-N !!!

[michi]

played with one too many of these ttm folks with timing like a broken clock. as in, they're only in time once every twelve hours. but when the rhythm falls apart, they try an pawn it off as someone elses mistake because they got a reputation they gotta keep up.

These were certificate holders? I've met and played with quite a few TTM professors, and what you say here doesn't match my experience.

they wanna be a hotshot soloist "professor". but do they want to be good musicians who can co-operate? i don't think so.

That sounds like a generalisation to me. I don't think it makes sense to talk about musicians as a group. Musicians with the certificate differ from each other just as much as musicians without the certificate, so I think they should be spoken of not as a group, but as individuals, each with their own musical style.

with music, the proof is in the pudding. certificate or not, you can hear a bad player a-comin from miles away.

If you are trying to say that the certificate isn't a guarantee that someone is a good musician, I agree in that the certificate doesn't measure musicianship, but competence.

Someone who has the certificate has demonstrated knowledge and skill playing the 60 rhythms and 12 solos that they are tested on. That doesn't mean that they are good musicians or outstanding soloists. However, it does mean that they can play the material during the test to Mamady's satisfaction, with correct timing, feel, and handing. Seeing that it takes most people five to ten years of playing experience before they can even think about going for the certificate, they also tend to be experienced.

Willingness to be a good musician or cooperation are not among the testing criteria for the certificate. The certificate holders whom I've met in person are very co-operative, both as musicians and otherwise, in my opinion.

i'll let you in on a musical secret that will blow you head-gasket: L-I-S-T-E-N !!!

Yes, listening helps a lot when it comes to becoming a better musician. I don't think that's particularly secret though.

Michi.

[AoxoA]

Those "canned" Mamady solos have helped me a lot. I am so glad he developed that teaching methodology.

Something about guidotony69's rant just doesn't make sense. Obviously i have not seen all the TTM certificate holders play. But the few i have seen only play the solo originals when they are teaching them. Otherwise they're using other phrases, etc...Also, I have a hard time believing a TTM professor can't hold time.

I would guess that not too many people have the TTM certification. Guidotony69 : Who, specifically, are you talking about?