An example of a djembe workshop

[Hilde]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibWeLr-- ... re=related

Has anyone been to her workshops? Looks like they are having fun


Moderator's note:

I renamed the topic so that it would be less likely to come up on a google search.

Thank you!

[Hilde]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZBRQ_GTCAo

[Michel]

Isn't this supposed to be in the humor section? Wow.

[michi]

The appropriate thread for this is here.

Michi.

[FreekAce]

So I shouldn't have signed up for this?

[e2c]

To tell you the truth... I feel bad for this lady.

She seems to be enjoying herself, and I can't help wondering how she would feel if she someday takes a notion to look for more information and finds this thread?

I don't think she'd feel good about it, and I wouldn't blame her one bit.

[michi]

To tell you the truth... I feel bad for this lady.

She seems to be enjoying herself, and I can't help wondering how she would feel if she someday takes a notion to look for more information and finds this thread?

I don't think she'd feel good about it, and I wouldn't blame her one bit.

Actions have consequences. If she goes and posts this stuff on YouTube, she should be able to live with the consequences. If she can't, she shouldn't have posted.

e2c, I hear you, and I know what you mean. But let's be crystal clear about this: anyone who goes out and informs the world at large that they know enough to teach djembe obviously believes that they are sufficiently competent. If they fail to make at least a cursory check first about their level of competence (and a cursory check would have been sufficient in this case), they should not complain if people point out that, in fact, they are not that competent after all.

If I'm an extrovert, I had better be strong enough to handle the replies I get. That, or remain silent. I can't have it both ways.

Cheers,

Michi.

[e2c]

michi, she's a drum circle person... there are lots like her. A lot of what she's doing in that video is based directly on the work of a facilitator (his name escapes me right now) who works with elderly people and others who cannot play "hard." He teaches something called "Low Impact Djembe" - and I honestly think there's a place for it. There are people who have injuries, arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteo-) and other problems... and they cannot play in the full-tilt manner.

I think it's better to just let them be - to err (if it is that) on the side of live and let live.

As is, her name is going to come up VERY high on Google searches - with a direct link to this thread. I don't think she's going to be very happy about that.

Moderator's note: We changed the title of the thread so search engines won't return this thread when someone searches for her name.

I also think there is a BIG difference between people like this lady and the "Expert Village" guy.

[Mikeleza]

I agree with e2c.

Its a shame to see you guys having a laugh at this ladies expense.

She is an older lady who has taken up djembe (probably in her later years) and decided to share her passion amongst other people on a community level. So what?!

How about getting back to researching some info on Djaa!?

[freefeet]

michi, she's a drum circle person... there are lots like her. A lot of what she's doing in that video is based directly on the work of a facilitator (his name escapes me right now) who works with elderly people and others who cannot play "hard." He teaches something called "Low Impact Djembe" - and I honestly think there's a place for it. There are people who have injuries, arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteo-) and other problems... and they cannot play in the full-tilt manner.

I once set up a load of djembes for a woman with aggressive MS who set up a drum circle for physically disabled people. It was a joy to help and give my free time to them.

We're not all lucky enough to be young and tough enough to play full tilt djembe. I agree, live and let live.

[FreekAce]

i think its awesome that this lady picked up a drum and is getting other people involved.

that said, if i were to tape myself playing at the level that i'm at, and do it in a way to instruct people to then throw it out on the big wide interwebs, i'd expect not everyone (people on a forum aimed at west african percussion for example) to be all that impressed.

that takes nothing away from lady herself and her passion for the djembe, we all have that in common. the drumcircle i frequent outside of class has some colourful characters as well, i dont pretend to not chuckle when they let loose.

[e2c]

I think most all of us younger folk will likely be older someday - maybe a lot older than we are now.

Let's see if we can play in the same manner at 75 or 80 (and up) as we play now, eh?

I have chronic pain problems, including nerve entrapment in the palm of my left hand. That I can play at a normal level (which some of you clearly take for granted) is kind of amazing, given the things I face.

And I'm at least 20 years younger than this lady.

Please... give the sniping a rest.

Or, to put it another way (as a former ESL/EFL tutor), when someone needs help learning a language, what's the better course - mocking them because of their mistakes and lack of fluency, or helping them to learn to read, speak and write?

[michi]

michi, she's a drum circle person... there are lots like her. A lot of what she's doing in that video is based directly on the work of a facilitator (his name escapes me right now) who works with elderly people and others who cannot play "hard." He teaches something called "Low Impact Djembe" - and I honestly think there's a place for it. There are people who have injuries, arthritis (both rheumatoid and osteo-) and other problems... and they cannot play in the full-tilt manner.

Completely agree. Elderly people can't play like younger ones. The speed and strength are not there, and the risk of injury is higher.

But, looking at the YouTube page, all I see is someone purporting to teach djembe technique. There is no hint on that page of any of the background you related above.

People judge by what they see. So, if nothing else, her mistake is not to have made it clear that she has a different target audience, and that she did not relate any of that background.

Its a shame to see you guys having a laugh at this ladies expense.

She is an older lady who has taken up djembe (probably in her later years) and decided to share her passion amongst other people on a community level. So what?!

I wasn't laughing at her. All I pointed out was that, if I put something up on YouTube, I should be prepared to get negative as well as positive comments.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with her doing community work using the djembe. On the contrary: I give her full marks for doing just that. There are probably quite a lot of people who are having a good time because of it.

As I said above, her main mistake in posting that video is probably that she didn't make it clear what she was doing. So, the negative comments should not come as a surprise.

The internet is a big and sometimes bad place. That's the reality of the situation. Ignoring that reality will lead to painful experiences, whether they are justified or not.

Cheers,

Michi.

[FreekAce]

Please... give the sniping a rest.

is there any going on? think people have explained themselves pretty well and i dont see anything harsh being aimed at anyone at this point.

[Mikeleza]

Her technique isn't too bad and it looks like she has spent some time perfecting it.

She says a very wise thing regarding the origins of djembe. Djembe is pretty much understood by most serious players to come from Mali and Guineas but what she says does not deny or enforce that idea.

As the beginning and specifies what she is trying to teach and where it originates, also good teaching.

She does not proclaim to be anything special... .just a lady teaching djembe. Good on her...

At least she is making an effort to pass on some concepts of the tradition and origin of djembe, she may well inspire a lot of people to research more.

I saw the video and was prepared to back some of the "sniping" ideas about this video but I saw nothing that offends me. Ok so maybe she doesn't have the greatest groove and she isn't the most agile player but she looks like a lovely person who is passionately sharing her love of drumming.

Good on her!

I was referring to the people making jokes and laughing in the first few comments Michi. You are right about the internet but from my point of view there is nothing that deserves too much negative critisism about this video... negative comments would be more of a "hating" action than anything. People should just leave the lady alone I reckon... Theres plenty of great djembe videos on line and they all have a place and relevance to each individual person who wants to learn.

Sorry I hate to be a kill joy but I thought it was worth defending this sweet lady.