Tasumakan - Madan is released

[James]

Hi Folks,

We have just released the latest new rhythm, Madan, from the Tasumakan series.

It's now available for download immediately.

We have decided to give free review copies to anyone over with over 500 posts as a way of saying thank you for your contribution to the community.

Simple email me at james at djembefola.com to claim your prize

Otherwise there's a post on our facebook page, which you can like in order to be entered into a draw for a free copy.

Failing all that you can just support us and buy it

I personally think it's great, and have enjoyed learning it.

Click here to learn more about it

[michi]

Hi James and Paddy,

thanks for putting this together!

I just listened/looked at the whole thing. You did a great job! In terms of didactic quality, these videos are up there with the very best of them, such as Mamady's teaching DVDs. The demonstrations are crystal clear and very easy to follow.

I really like having the shekere going during the solo demonstration to mark the pulse. This makes it much easier to follow the phrasing, especially for phrases that are mostly off-beat. (Bolokada made the mistake of not marking the pulse for the solos on his teaching DVD, which makes it a bitch to follow the phrases in some cases; you really have to listen to the performance section instead to understand how the phrases fit into the cycle.)

Thanks for including the solo notation, a lot of people will find that useful. And the play-along tracks are cool for practising solos. Nice touch!

I appreciated the detailed intro as well. There were quite a few bits of info in the cultural background I didn't know.

You are onto a good thing here, please keep it going!

Cheers,

Michi.

[bkidd]

Thanks James for the announcement. Maybe this is extra incentive to get into the 500+ post club.

Paddy, great work. I basically second everything Michi said. I really enjoyed the videos (intro with explanation was super) and production. The sound and video are super clear, and therefore easy to follow. Nice bass djembe btw. I still have to learn the dry slap and swing that Malian rhythms have. Great stuff though.

Thanks,
-Brian

[Waraba]

Just got it and looking forward to viewing

[Dugafola]

(Bolokada made the mistake of not marking the pulse for the solos on his teaching DVD, which makes it a bitch to follow the phrases in some cases; you really have to listen to the performance section instead to understand how the phrases fit into the cycle.)

not his fault. i told the dudes before they shot it that they need to have a metronome or pulse. they attempted to add one in in post production but it was too hard.

[bops]

Thanks so much, guys! It's really an honor to work on this project, and to share ideas with everyone here in the forums. I'm really grateful to James and to all of you who contribute so much to this site.

Paddy

PS. Finally hit 1,000 posts, too! 8)

[davidognomo]

Finally hit 1,000 posts, too!

nice


looking forward to see this new lesson

[James]

Maybe this is extra incentive to get into the 500+ post club.

That and you get invited to the djembefola.com parties

Or at least you get access to the Tasumakan forum ha ha....

[bkidd]

That and you get invited to the djembefola.com parties

Or at least you get access to the Tasumakan forum ha ha....

Great, I look forward to it.

[rachelnguyen]

The videos are awesome, you guys! GREAT job. It is interesting that none of the solo phrases I know are the same as in the video. Some are slight variations. Some are completely different. I am going to learn some new stuff!

This is a wonderful learning resource. I am very impressed and will definitely get something out of it.

[Waraba]

Finally, from the 3-dundun breakdown, I understand how those three stick parts are collapsed into each other when played on just a konkoni.

I pick up a lot about technique, even though this is not overtly addressed, by watching your hands perfectly in synch with the excellent-quality audio track. Important subtleties are picked up by the miking.

I surprisingly did not know about that first djembe accompaniment part.

I am wondering for the future:

--can you do some extended breaks?
--can you show some enchauffements (e.g., what happens to sunu at high velocities, including how the stick parts change)
--give some guidelines on how to accompany the dancer with the various solo parts?
--show how to depart from and return to traditional solos while improvising for a dancer

I love this series so much you should set up a "subscribe" function. I'll give you full access to my bank account and credit cards so you can go crazy.

[michi]

I love this series so much you should set up a "subscribe" function. I'll give you full access to my bank account and credit cards so you can go crazy.

You had better watch it… They might actually take you up on that!

Michi.

[bops]

Thanks Waraba!

I am wondering for the future:

--can you do some extended breaks?
--can you show some enchauffements (e.g., what happens to sunu at high velocities, including how the stick parts change)
--give some guidelines on how to accompany the dancer with the various solo parts?
--show how to depart from and return to traditional solos while improvising for a dancer

These are great suggestions. I do think we can do stuff like this in the future, adding to existing lessons more in-depth, with more dunun variations, breaks, and solo phrases. And I really like the idea of showing how the solo fits with the dance steps!

I love this series so much you should set up a "subscribe" function. I'll give you full access to my bank account and credit cards so you can go crazy.

Another great suggestion!

[James]

I love this series so much you should set up a "subscribe" function. I'll give you full access to my bank account and credit cards so you can go crazy.

Done, no backsies!



Thanks for your kind words, I agree that Paddy has done a great job with these videos.

I personally never really dabbled in the world of video lessons until this series, and I'm really happy I have