What do you think of Drum Circles?

[the kid]

I may go into politics on a burn the bondholders ticket

[michi]

you could tell he has had a lot west african training and it instantly changed the vibe. halfway through the night another player who i've seen at several african workshops showed up and it did not take long before some of the regular players just packed it in for the night as it seemed that they were struggeling to try and find something to play. normally i'm the one that packes it in because i get so bored after an hour or two. it restored my faith that drumcircles can (almost) be as much fun as class.

Keep in mind that, obviously, it wasn't as much fun for the people who left. It seems that it is impossible to please both sides.

Trained players tend to get bored by the unstructured nature of drum circles and the simplicity of the rhythms. Untrained players cannot follow when trained players come on the scene because they have not learned the rules and the complexity of traditional rhythms.

This harks back to the idea of drumming as language. Trained and untrained people speak different languages on the drum, and it seems that, once someone has been trained, it is difficult or impossible to go back and speak the earlier language.

Cheers,

Michi.

[FreekAce]

the people that left were the ones that normally tend to push the latin rhythm to the point where there is little room for anything else, they tend to dominate (i'm talking 1 or 2 people). hence my excitement that things were switched up for a change. normally i'm the one packing things in because i get bored and tired with the same old drone. the rest of the circle certainly did not seem to mind the african vibe and the dancefloor was packed. i dont make an issue out of the latin vibe, and try to adjust my playing to that, dont see why every now and then it cant go the other way.

[Garvin]

Argh! Sorry to vent, but I got vibed hardcore 2 nights in a row while on vacation in Florida. Nokomis and Siesta Key drum circles. I totally understand the territorial nature of these things a little better now.

One of the main dudes tonight told me in between "rhythms" that basically they try not to play anything that can be understood because it is too commercial or something. Like playing obvious phrases is frowned upon because it leads to actual communication I guess. There were some really nice folks and decent drummers there, but the control thing is hilarious to me. I was absolutely not trying to tell anyone what to play at all, just playing accompaniment and occasionally hitting some of my go-to licks for practice.

If you can't communicate what you are trying to say with your instrument, then you have bigger problems than one guy showing up once a year and playing a solo or two. If you want to play music, don't talk about it or try to control it. Just play.

[michi]

Argh! Sorry to vent, but I got vibed hardcore 2 nights in a row while on vacation in Florida. Nokomis and Siesta Key drum circles. I totally understand the territorial nature of these things a little better now.

Yes, a common problem in drum circles, especially if there are regulars who are always there and feel they own the circle somehow. The larger the circle, the worse the problem. (Statistically, the more people, the more likely it is for someone to feel the need to control proceedings.)

Cheers,

Michi.

[Paul]

Statistically

I would hate to have carried out that analysis.... Beginning to think your a djembe economist..

[michi]

Beginning to think your a djembe economist..

Engineer, actually

Michi.

[Antoino Parker]

I got my first djembe from a store in kenosha wi and the next week went to my 1 drum circle and I think if you have 4 good drummers they can sway the group to keep some form of rhythm if not it sounds like a train wreck