Djembé Pure

Advanced training project (approx. 2-year course)

This advanced training is designed for djembé players who want to acquire a solid, comprehensive knowledge of djembé music or who strive to enter the semi-professional or professional arena. Past advanced training groups have produced numerous professional djembé players. Rhythms of various Mandinke tribes are taught and practiced systematically and comprehensively. The beginning level corresponds to that of advanced courses taught by me. We will begin immediately with relatively complex grooves, such as dundunba rhythms.

Apart from introducing participants to the rhythms themselves, the course will focus on working with grooves and the inner structure of individual rhythms, which will allow us to gain an understanding of the various melodic levels of individual rhythms and to considerably expand the beat concept, this being the most commonly used approach to rhythmical music.

The melodic lines of a rhythm are responsible for its structure. Various styles of micro-timing create the groove which is characteristic of African music.
Various styles for getting rhythms to swing have developed in West Africa, depending on the region in question. Filigree rhythmic subtleties manifest themselves in micro-timing. It is dependent upon the type of rhythm used, and it changes in accordance with the tempo in which the rhythm is played. As more and more insight into these delicate structures is gained, it becomes clear how ternary and binary rhythms can indiscernibly blend into each other.
We will explore these various styles as well as examining the basic rules followed by every solo, which can vary from rhythm to rhythm.
Of course we will also take a close look at bass drums and acquire a large repertoire of various rhythms "along the way."

Course units / mode of instruction

The course will encompass approx. 40 days, or a total of well over three hundred hours of instruction divided up into blocks of several days.
The individual meetings will take place in Germany.
Participation is limited to a maximum of 15.
The prospective level of proficiency can only be achieved if there is as little fluctuation in the group as possible. For this reason it is only possible to attend the course in its entirety. Practice between the individual units is a prerequisite for successful attendance. Otherwise it will not be possible to grasp a large part of the music I will be teaching. Whoever is not familiar with my style of instruction and would like to get to know me ahead of time can register for a course for advanced players.

Costs and registration

Registration is possible immediately after contacting me via telephone or e-mail. I will then send out course materials. The costs of the individual meetings depend on their length including accommodation and meals.

Dates

Djembé Pur 2011 West
Starting November 25. – 27. 2011
Oberhausen

Djembé Pur 2012 North
Confirmed dates:
March, 15. – 18. 2012
May, 3. – 6. 2012
July, 5. – 8. 2012
September, 20. – 23. 2012
Near Hannover

Djembé Pur 2012 South
Starting November, 01. – 04. 2012
Southern Germany

For more information, please contact me.