Drum Circle

Check out this great groove to try at your next drum circle. This video is lead by our friend Bill Matthews. His full instructional "How to Play the Djembe DVD" is available now.



The Bembe rhythm is from the Afro-Cuban genre that is now commonly heard in modern Latin, Jazz and Rock music. Bembe Shango honors Shango, the Yoruban Orisha of Lightning, Thunder, Drums, Dancing and Yams. Musically, this rhythm is exciting because it can be played at many different tempos and still have a great sound.

Instruments Used above:

Djembe
Ashiko
African Double Bells

Bembe Shango history from songtrellis.com

Labels: african.drumming, afro.cuban, ashiko, beginner.djembe, Bill Matthews, Conga Joy, djembe.lessons, Djembe.Rhythms, Drum Circle, drum technique, drum.circle.facilitator, freestyle

The What's Your Issue Song Competition is designed to give youth around the world a positive outlet to express themselves using music.
Many of the community members here are active songwriters and we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to get your music and your message in front of an engaged audience. Please pass this along to your percussion/drummer/songwriter friends that meet the age requirements.

This competition, judged by singer/actor/activist Jack Black, is looking for three-minute songs from young adults 14 to 24 on any issue that moves them including the environment, education, healthcare, pathway from poverty, national security and defense, public service, human and equal rights issues.


Winner to receive:

Presentation at the 2011 NAMM Show

Presentation at the VIP reception in Washington, DC

Presentation at the Annual awards ceremony co-hosted by Sony Pictures at its Los Angeles studio

Inclusion on the What's Your Issue iTunes Tile.

For Finalists:

Inclusion of song in a compilation CD of emerging artists.

Prizes also include a MacBook laptop and iPod Touches.

How to Enter:

The submission period is open now and runs through mid April 19, 2010.

Songs must be 3-minutes in length, expressing a social issue. Any issues that matters to you. Contestants are encouraged to use the power of music — as only art can — to help illuminate the issue and touch hearts or minds. Any music genre is welcome.

Upload a video of your song to www.youtube.com/whatsyourissuemusic. Upload the video of the song as a "Post a Video Response" to the contest's main video at www.youtube.com/whatsyourissuemusic. You can enter as many videos or songs as you want, as long as they are original.

Music must be an original composition, for which you must hold all rights. Open to anyone 14 to 24.

The contest prefers a video performance of the song because the winner will be flown to Los Angeles to perform the song at the 2010 What's Your Issue Awards Ceremony co-hosted by Sony Pictures Studios, and will be eligible to perform at the annual NAMM Show for 85,000 music industry professionals in January 2011.

Judging:

After close of the submission period, the What's Your Issue Foundation will internally select between two and three dozen semi-finalists for consideration for awards, to be then selected by the VIP Judges and YouTube audience.

The VIP Judges will evaluate the semi-finalists based on (a) originality and creativity overall; (b) execution of the video presentation in an articulate, concise, visual and impactful way; (c) Excellence of the proposed-solution-project, including such factors as how innovative, implementable and impactful the project idea, and its viability for implementation within a neighborhood or community. Innovation and originality in presentation and concept of the proposed project is as important as cinematic expertise.

The YouTube Audience Favorite Award will be selected by the public, on the basis of approval and enthusiasm of the proposed solution-project-idea, as well as the execution of the video, and articulation of the issue and solution.

On or about May 10, 2010, at the conclusion of the public voting period, and VIP Jury selection process, the winners will be announced. For more information, please visit whatsyourissue.tv



About What's Your Issue Foundation
The What’s Your Issue Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization, which runs an internet-based film and song competition, as well as Y/E, The Young Entrepreneur Network. The Film Your Issue competition, in its 5th year, is looking for solution-project ideas to front-burner issues from young adults 14 to 24 in a 3-minute video format, with accompanying one-sheet description. The new Issue Song competition is looking for original 3-minute songs using the power of music to illuminate front-burner issues. For more information, please visit www.whatsyourissue.tv

Labels: Jack Black, Music Contest, Music Education, NAMM, Songwriter

The Doumbek drum comes with as many variations in names as it does in style. Shaped like a Chalice or a Goblet, these drums provide crisp, clear, resonating sound and a beautiful appearance. Whether you play standing up or sitting down, it's hard not to be caught up in the infections beat of a Doumbek drum. The Doumbek is often the lead percussion instrument in Middle Eastern music, featuring prominently in the backbeats of belly dancing melody. As with any popular drum, there are many admired Doumbek players.

Issam Houshan is known as the "King of the Drum" or "Mr.Magic Fingers", but the title of simple Master Percussionist fits him best. His belief that music and dance are intertwined fuels his passion for the drumming. Born in Syria, he is an immigrant to the USA and was trained at Damascus Academy of Music. He has played with Sting at the Grammy awards and has been an integral part of Belly Dance Superstars, a troupe that tours the world. Houshan has also been featured in movies such as 30 days to Vegas and American Belly dancer.

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Amir Naoum Chehade has been musical since birth, and his love of the drum has allowed him to attend The Art Studio in Lebanon before becoming a professional drummer. After immigrating to the USA, Amir performed extensively and became a sought after Arabic drummer in New York. With appearances at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, Amir has also been asked to appear for The United Nations. You can hear his drumming on various Arab, Latin Pop, and Fusion recordings on TV and radio.

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Jonathan Kessler has been involved with professional Middle Eastern music for almost 3 decades. A consummate doumbek drummer, he has performed with many great Arab musicians as well as received airplay for his own compositions. Choosing to specifically focus on the Doumbek, he has shared his passion as a teacher at the University of California. Featured in DRUM! Magazine, Kessler currently can be seen on The Doumbek Video
, which focuses on instructional drumming.

As with any percussion instrument, future enthusiasts rely on leaders in the field to fuel their own passion and learning. Whether they are demonstrating specific Doumbek methods or recording beautiful music, Issam Houshan, Amir Naoum Chehade, and Jonathan Kessler all take the Doumbek to the next level, allowing new drummers to catch the spark and begin their own Doumbek journey.

Labels: Doumbek

Meinl cymbals just introduced a 10" Candela series percussion hihat along with an applicable Low Hat designed specifically for cajon players.

This extremely thin pair can be played with hands or lighter sticks and responds instantly. Perfect for cajon players who need a warm and soft sounding hihat which mounts comfortably within reach of the player.

Listen to this hihat:

The Meinl Drum Gear Low Hat can be mounted down to a minimum height of 27" (69 cm), perfect height for seated players.



To see more detail and buy:
Meinl Candela Percussion Hihat for Cajon Players
Meinl Drum Gear Low Hat

Labels: cajon, cajon.drum, cajons, cymbals, meinl

Playing his first paid gig at age 12 in 1959, Eddie Tuduri has lived every aspect of a drummer's life. His professional drumming career has spanned over 40 years working with artists such as Delaney Bramlett, Bobby Whitlock, The Beach Boys, Dobie Gray, Del Shannon, Rick Nelson and the Stone Canyon Band, Dr. John, Ike Turner and many others.

But it wasn't until his near death experience did he truly experience the layers of love and healing in the music he created.

On a warm September night in 1997, Eddie was catching a few waves in Carpinteria before heading to his gig at a pizza restaurant in Santa Barbara with blues artist, Sky Ferguson. He didn't make it to the gig that night or to the two tours he landed for the fall. Eddie was instead fighting his likely fate of being a quadriplegic after his last wave for the day slammed him to the bottom of the ocean and broke his neck.

It took a six hour spinal surgery and a week in ICU to repair the damage from that wave.

Eddie was then transferred to The Rehabilitation Institute in Santa Barbara where both physical and spiritual healing occurred. As soon as he cleared through the haze of surgery, he managed to get percussion instruments in his ward and began to work on his groove by tapping a stick against his bed frame. Other patients in the ward joined in on the rhythm and the happiness it created.

By experiencing these simple moments of joy through music with people outside of his career of playing drums as a living, he began to understand music at an entirely new level. The basic rhythms of percussion and clapping were making trama patients feel alive and hopeful.

"Rhythm comes from a place deep inside all of us, a place no physical trauma can reach. It moves us in a positive direction mentally, physically, and spiritually." Eddie said reflecting on the moment.

As Eddie gained mobility, they formalized the music making into a drum circle involving occupational therapists. The drumming was used as a tool to address rehab goals and focused on regenerating nerves, attention span and memory in patients. This program earned formal therapeutic merit and was widely accepted at conferences across the country.

While at a conference, he was introduced to the field of developmental disabilities and learned how percussion and drums are used with developmentally challenged kids to result in a true learning experience over time.

Since his injury, Eddie has happily accepted his new path in life to help others through music. He truly feels the joyful spirit of drumming and the way it can be used as a tool for teaching and healing.

Today he is the founder of The Rhythmic Arts Project, created to enhance the lives of people with disabilities utilizing rhythm, djembe drums, and other percussion instruments.

His story is an inspiration to the musician in all of us.

Labels: Djembe Spirit, Drum Circle, drum.circle.facilitator, drum.magic, Music Education, music.therapy, the.healing.power.of.the.drum

For our friends in Canada: This Saturday join artists and musicians in a large drum circle event to raise funds for Haiti earthquake victims. "We just hope everyone can come and have a party and send a lot of good vibes to Haiti. They don't need pity. They need love and compassion," said event planner Stephanie Cerins.

DATE: Saturday, Feb. 13 (all-day entertainment fest)
LOCATION: Comeakin Building of the Quw'utsun Cultural and Conference

Hosted by the genial Rick Dennis, the entertainment runs from 1 p.m. till midnight after a special opening by Tousilum (Ron George) and the Cowichan Spirit Drummers at 1 p.m.

The entire event is by donation with all proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross Haiti Relief fund.

Complete Haiti Drum Circle Fund Raiser Event Details

During a time when music and arts classes are threatened nationwide, the NAMM Foundation continues its effort to recognize schools across the United States with the strongest music education programs

The NAMM Foundation invites schools and communities that support music education to participate in the 2010 Best Communities for Music Education (BCME). Established in 1998, BCME recognizes and celebrates schools, their administrators, teachers, board members, parents and students for their support and commitment to music education. The program also celebrates communities and schools that have set a goal to provide continuing music education to all students.

The 2010 survey period is January 14 - March 12, with the results announced in May. As in the previous years, the 2010 survey is conducted in collaboration with The Institute for Educational Research and Public Service, an affiliate of the University of Kansas.

Find more information and complete the survey at the NAMM Foundation.

Labels: Music Education, NAMM