Balafon

[Michel]

And Sory will also teach at the couleur tradition week of workshops in Belgium! Balafon diatonique, by the way.

[djembefeeling]

A wonderful little gem can be found on the percussion.org site. Its called balafonno 2. some guy did all the work to put the piece note by note into percussion studio. there are two balas involved, one ngoma ngouri, and one bougarabou. Enjoy this mp3 version of it...

[Garvin]

Hey all, great thread. I just recieved my balafon from DS (awesome!) and have been sifting through youtube for good lesson-type videos. I just ordered Lynnes book after finding out about it here. I've been trying to stick to just one piece for now and have gone through a couple of this guys videos on Sorsonet http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgKmRH4macM is this anyone from the forum?

Anyway, it's a great broken down video with variations etc... I've found a few other good beginner ones, but I just have to stick to one thing for now or I won't get anywhere. I found that I feel most natural with the bass on my right. I play drumset and ride with my ride hand, comp with my left. Should be mutually beneficial. Also, my "teacher" at this point is Facinet Bangoura (who Nate posted a video of a couple pages ago). He plays bass on the right. He lives in ABQ now, but we are gonna do some lessons via skype (that's why I put quotes around teacher).

I've definitely had an emotional introduction to this instrument. It is a real mindbender at first. I sort of assumed it would click with me because of the independance stuff I have from jazz drumming, but the melody plays tricks on my ears (and hands). All of the respect and reverence I had for the master players was increased ten-fold once I actually tried to play this thing. It is a beautiful instrument though, and best of all my wife actually encourages me to practice it in the house!

[Garvin]

Just a quick update on balafon lessons via skype... They've been going great! Facinet has given me 3 variations for Sorsonet, plus the intro song/break and some runs (flourishes) I don't know what to call them really... That cool mess of descending notes that you hear between phrases.

Also, I started learning a couple of parts for Kassa. I do have a question for those of you who've studied this a bit more. I realize that I asked for "Kassa" and there are lots of Kassa's. But is there a name for the song on bala which differs fromt he way we refer to the rhythm? I know on lots of djembe CD's, the track is named for the song which is sung rather than the rhythm being played. Does that make sense? If so, are you folks aware of the name of the song for balafon which is played for Kassa, or shall I refer to it as Kassa? I'd ask Facinet next time, but lessons are spaced apart quite a bit and I forgot to ask yesterday.

I did recieve the book mentioned above. It's pretty good. Lots of basic accompaniments and systems of notation for teachers. The field recordings are pretty raw. My perception of those speaks a lot more to my spoiled nature as a young person than to the quality of the material though. They were made in the early 80's before you could fit high quality recording gear in the same pocket as your wallet, car keys, and phone.

The most important thing about moving forward with bala right now (for me) is not to get distracted by the amount of other reference materials. I need to just stick to what Facinet has given me and maybe some of the exercises in the book. I'm amazed at how hard I'm finding this instrument. I really expected to be able to take right off on it since I've played so much other stuff. It really does trick your brain.

[GGsBalafonFr]

Hello All,

I'm balafola since 4 years and learn it with M'bemba CAMARA (Djembe, Dun Dun & Balafon players) who lives in France near Lyon.
I'm very interested in sharing about balafon because i really love this instrument.
I'm actually working at creating a video lesson to transmit what i've learned.

Nicolas
France (near Lyon)

You can see my videos on youtube

[djembefeeling]

Hi Nicholas,

this is really nice, you are a sweetheart for uplaoding, thanks!

I have a balafon from Guinea but don't know what to do with it, for there is so little material out there for heptatonic balas. Yours is a Guinean heptatonic bala, isn't it? And yet, the tracks you play seem to be from another country. Which is it? Senegal, Burkina?

best, jürgen

p.s. please keep doing these free video-lessons. do you also have nice tunes for beginners?

[the kid]

this is really nice, you are a sweetheart for uplaoding, thanks!

Jurgen this is like something you'd tell your wife

[djembefeeling]

Jurgen this is like something you'd tell your wife

hey kid, the moment I wrote it I knew this is going to match your special taste of humor, but I went with it anyway. By the way: this is something you never tell your wife after a couple of years in marriage...

[GGsBalafonFr]

Hi Nicholas,
p.s. please keep doing these free video-lessons. do you also have nice tunes for beginners?

I thought it was for beginners :=)

you too are a sweetheart :=)

My Bala is a guinean one, and most of the song I learned are guinean or at least "manding"

Greetings from France

[slavko]

Hi

If you want to study balafon, Kindia is a good place. Look for Tafory Gangan district and then ask for Mamadou Sylla, balafonist. He's great man and balafonist. You can say, Souleiman the Blanc greets him. They are making great instruments too. You will meet family of el Hadji Djeli Sory Kouyate and Abou Sylla. Here is link to the myspace page of the Percussion de Kindia group. http://www.myspace.com/percussiondekindia

also here you have some balafon footage with Mamoudou : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x8CvFLYPXo

greetings!

[GGsBalafonFr]

Thanks for this post.
They are really great at playing balafon

I have laughted when the he kicked the kid out of the range of camera

Musicaly yours