top of page

Some times things can appear to be a little ruff.

 After The first lesson you will be drumming

Learning the

   basics

'The key to success with any instrument is (PRACTICE)

Many people have some back ground in playing musical instruments.

Some more extensive than others.

Even if you  have never played anything before and find yourself tapping along with the music.

While listening to your favorite song.

You can do this!

                    What is percussion?

 A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater (including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles); struck, scraped or rubbed by hand; or struck against another similar instrument.

The percussion family is believed to include the oldest musical instruments, following the human voice.

 

Some of the list include timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle and tambourine. However, the section can also contain non-percussive instruments, such as whistles and sirens, or a blown conch shell.

On the other hand, keyboard instruments, such as the celesta, are not normally part of the percussion section, but keyboard percussion instruments such as the glockenspiel and xylophone (which do not have piano keyboards) are included.

                                Drums

Druming is the primary focus of the classes being taught.

Most other things can easily be transcended from that core teaching.

Every country and culture has a drum of some sort.

Most drums around the world are played with a striker-malat-stick-pedal.

In most american music drums are put together to form what is referred to as a kit or set.

In band or marching band a snare,  base or tri tom are worn and played.

 

A person who plays a set is refferd to as a drummer as opposed to a percussionist, however it is still percussion.

The drums  that are played with the hand are from various areas and regions.

 

Some of these include the Tar)- It is a frame drum common in Middle Eastern music.

The (tambourine) is a frame drum with jingles attached to the shell.

The (daf) and the (dayereh) are Iranian frame drums.

The (ghaval) is the Azerbaijani frame drum.

The (tonbak) is the Persian goblet drum.The (doumbek) or (tabla) or known as (druma)- is a goblet shaped drum used in Arabic, Jewish, Assyrian, Persian, Balkan, Greek, Armenian, Azeri and Turkish music.

(Mirwas) and (Zarb) are middle eastern .

 

(Jdembe) and (ashiko) ,(djune djunes), (Bougarabou) are african.

(Tabla) are central to Indian music.

The (mridangam) takes the main spot in Indian classical Carnatic  music. (Ghatams) and Kanjiras accompany the (mridangam) in carnatic music.  (Răbāna) or (Raban), (Gáta Béra), (Yak Béra) and (Udákkiya) are used in Sri Lankan music.

 

One drum head in (Daŭla) is played by hand, which is again used in Sri Lanka. Dhōlki is used both in Sri Lanks and India. (Klong Yao) is the Thai "long drum" which is shaped like an elongated or stretched goblet and rope tuned.

 

(Congas) and (bongos) are essential to all kinds of Latin American music, especially that of the Caribbean and South American regions, used in both folklore (punta, santeria, rumba, etc.) and popular music such as merengue, salsa, son, boleros, bachata, cumbia, latin jazz, and others.

The (Tambora), a two-sided drum played with both a stick and a hand, is essential to the merengue dance of Dominican Republic.

 

The (pandero or plenera), is a percussion instrument included in the group of frame drums. A set of these hand drums from Puerto Rico is usually performed in plena music. There are three sizes, primo or requinto (for playing solos), segundo or seguidor, and tercero or tumbador (for playing a fixed rhythm).The maracas and timbales.

 

Last  but not left out is the (hang drum) and the peruvian (cajon) which is used  often in folk music.

Styles and drums that will   be taught in class in the begining                       (Zarb) (Doumbeck) (Djembe)                                     

         What to buy?

You will need a drum for class and to practice on.  If  you  prefer a bigger drum like a Jdembe and your are on a budget I suggest buying a Toca. For the money they are excellent and light wieght. For traditional middle eastern music-bellydancing I suggest a doumbeck 8 1/2 inch.

            Classes consist of

 Basic level 101 ....All the things you will need to know to get started playing rhythms.

Most rhythms are very simple to start with and are related to dancing.

95% of all rhythms covered will middle eastern in origin with an emphasis on dance.

The classes start at the basic level 101.  They go all the way up to Advanced level..

Because so much information is covered in these classes. Recording the classes  on a smart phone or portable recording device  is recommended..

bottom of page