Tasumakan - The Sound of Fire

[James]

Hey djembefolas I'm really excited to announce the launch of a really exciting project that has been in the pipeline for years (literally):

Tasumakan - The sound of Fire, is the latest way to learn djembe drumming online.

It is a collaboration between djembefola.com and Tasuma Productions (aka our very own Bops of Wadoma fame).

The first Rhythm of the series, Tansole, will be released this Friday at mid day Central European time.

As a way of saying thank you we are giving away a free "review copy" away to one lucky person (drawn at random) every day here in the forum from Friday the 8th until Tuesday the 12th of July.

All you have to do is come and say hi in this thread on Friday. You also need to an Introduced yourself.

The idea of a review copy is that you tell us what you think. There's of course no way to enforce that, but .... meh.... we'll see what happens

We are also giving away a copy to 5 lucky people who come like my "Tasumakan" post on the djembefola.com facebook by Friday

If you want to support djembefola.com, this your opportunity. We'd love any help you can give us to spread the work!

[Paul]

Fair play to you both.. I might even get around to introducing myself after five years

[James]

Hey Guys, Sales are now open.

You can click here to find out more about Tasumakan

[archetypo]

While I am definitely in support of djembefola.com, I also feel pretty strongly about supporting actual djembefola from the Mande region. Not trying to be a downer, but I've noticed that a lot of westerners have been very quick to profit from the popularity of the djembe, while African teachers, who often come from a background lacking in education and new media literacy, are left in the dust, scrounging for students.

While I'm curious to check this out, I would feel more comfortable supporting it if I knew that there was some sort of a tithing from the sales of this to give back to the tradition from which we have all benefitted so much. That would also be in keeping with the tradition itself - it's not just about being a virtuoso player, a fact which I think many westerners tend to forget.

[jharnum]

That's something to think about, long and hard. I think I agree, but it's a slippery slope, isn't it?

I play and teach jazz. I play and teach didgeridoo. I respect both traditions and my own teachers. It's a great idea to give credit (and credits in the form of $$) where credit is due, but at some point one has to make one's own way. Should I be donating to the Louis Armstrong House? Hmm, bad example because Louis wasn't hurting for cash for most of his professional career, nor was he stuck without access to technologies of western culture. I only buy didgeridoos from traditional makers and send my students to same. Is that enough? How much is enough? I don't really know, myself.

How can we show respect, make a living, and be good to each other and to those who taught us? Any models you know of that do a good job of this, archetypo?

[bops]

Hi Archetypo, thanks for your reply. You bring up a valid point, and one that's not lost on James or myself. Indeed, we will be donating a percentage of proceeds to a charity that focuses on West Africa, although we haven't yet decided on the specifics. Do you have a favorite charity to recommend?

I also agree that students should definitely seek out instruction from a jembefola from the Mande tradition as often as possible, though I would add that this is an increasingly gray area - it isn't always easy to identify who is and who isn't a "traditional" teacher. My first jembe teacher was from Dakar, and while he wasn't brought up in the Mande tradition, he still had wonderful lessons to share with me about the mentor-apprentice relationship and about West African culture in general. One of my favorite teachers is Michael Markus, who always challenged and inspired me. He's not African, but he is a great jembe player who truly has a gift for teaching. My most influential teachers, on the other hand, are those who teach just by doing. The point is that valuable lessons can come from many different sources. Different teachers have different perspectives, and that's a good thing. Having studied in both Mali and Guinea, I have a rather broad perspective. Furthermore, these videos are intended to supplement instruction with a teacher, not replace it. My advice to students is to seek instruction from many sources - if it is worthwhile, you will benefit, and if not, you'll soon know.

So, thanks again for your comments, I hope you decide to check out the videos. In any case, talk to you soon.

Paddy

[pepedanza]

If you respect the Tradition, have the blessings of your teacher, and give credit where credit is due, you are spreading the good Word and benefiting everybody. "Quick to profit" is a very judgemental statement. Some people are simply doing what they love, and doing it well, and it's no sin to make a living out of it. While it is wonderful and commendable to spread the benefits as well as one can, we can do without the white man's guilt trip.

[michi]

I got a chance to review the teaching videos during production and I can vouch for the quality. The clips are crystal-clear, played with impeccable technique, and you get to learn all parts, including dunduns, played at both slow and normal tempo, plus a nice solo with traditional phrases. This is definitely on par with the best teaching videos out there.

Cheers,

Michi.

[highthere420]

I would love to take a look at this material! I own several books and dvds, I attend practice twice a week with two different teachers, I enjoy taking in the music from all angles. One can NEVER have too many teachers (real teachers), each person or book or whatever media has it's own unique little sparkle, which a lot of the time you'll pick up a little shimmer from yourself.

[EvanP]

Definitely looks cool!

[loveliestlovely]

Hi there!

I would really appreciate the opportunity to trial a copy of your new online teaching system and would be more than happy to provide you with constructive feedback.

Currently, I am researching west african drum rhythms to utilise in piano composition for my master's research project. So your site and program would be credited within my thesis.

I spent some time in Ghana learning drumming with the Kusun ensemble and would love to expand my knowledge online.

Great idea!

[fa_ramiro]

Hi all! i would like to check that hot stuff!!!!
And later give my review....
Looking foward to it!

thanks.
ramiro.

[kenanimal]

I'm new to the world of learning djembe but I've been playing with it as a hobby. I'm in China right now so I'm not really sure if the djembe's (2) I have are the real deal. I'm hoping to find a teacher (online or in person) who will guide me since all I do is play a song from my pc and try to jam with it at home with my drum.

[Mikeleza]

I see classes like this very valuable, especially for beginners!

... and I would beg to differ, when saying that this sort of thing is "profiting" from West Africa and not giving back. Any classes like this are helping to promote West African music and develop peoples interest in it. Students buy djembes from west africa and most often then not, the teachers who run West African classes are the first ones to organise workshops with djembe masters.

Without workshops from western teachers there would be a lot less interest in the music/dance in general I think.... If that is not giving back, I don't know what is!

It is a good thing to be conscious of but I don't think it is appropriate in this example.

Mike

[Michel]

It looks great Bops, when I don't get a free copy I will for sure buy the Tansole lessons online. Great choice of rhythm, curious for your lessons because I studied Tansole a while already.

And besides all this: Lots of new members for djembefola.com!