Customer Reviews

Jim Donovan's Rhythmic Foundation : Interactive African Drumming for Everyone

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you haven't had the opportunity to attend one of Jim Donovan's workshops, or even if you have, this DVD will most certainly fulfill your desire to learn, play and expand upon your djembe drumming abilities.

The first section is on technique; where Jim walks you through how to properly sit and hold your drum, and how to make the three basic djembe sounds; bass, tone and slap. The slap is a challenging sound to create, as the hand positioning takes practice to effortlessly achieve the desired sound. I'm pleased to see it included here, as many instructors will leave it for more advanced teachings and it's excellent to have this visual reminder of how it should be performed.

Traditional drum ensembles will often include a set of bass drums, or "djun-djuns" as well as a bell or "toke" player. Jim takes the time to introduce and demonstrate each of these instruments.

The next section on the disc is dedicated to learning various drum rhythms. The first of these rhythms are traditional pieces, each broken down part by part and filmed from above for a bird's eye view of how to play them. After each rhythm is demonstrated, a play along section is included- where Jim plays one part of the rhythm, then instructs you to play along with another. Wonderful.

The second set of rhythms are for relaxation, and of all of the rhythms taught on the DVD, my favorite is that of the "One Drum" exercise. The exercise is simple but quite powerful- this one always stays with me long after I've left one of Jim's workshops. A repetitious pattern combined with conscious breathing allows the left/right halves of your brain to synchronize and helps you to achieve presence, or more simply, to be "in the moment." (This is also known as "entrainment") When this exercise is performed with at least one other person, it sounds like you are playing "One Drum." Played in a room filled with 75 people, it's absolutely mind blowing.

In a world where multi-tasking is expected, presence is its polar opposite. Being able to focus your attention on just one thing, allows you to perform that one task to your fullest potential. I had no idea that a attending a "drumming" workshop would provide such valuable tools to carry over into my day to day life.

The last selection of rhythms are for creative exploration. In this section, the play along section isn't just with Jim, but with a small ensemble which includes a djun-djun player, a person playing the toke bell, and one additional djembe player. Good stuff. It gives you the sense of what you might expect to see at a drum circle or similar event.

The third main section of the disc contains various training exercises. The first is a segment on rhythmic ear training, a follow the leader type of exercise teaching you to play what you hear. As an added challenge, try doing the exercise with your eyes closed. If you ever attend a drum circle, or other community drumming event, this exercise will greatly enhance your ability to follow what other people are playing & to be able to play along with them. A full section of exercises is also included to increase your speed, accuracy & dexterity. (Paradiddles & triplets)

In a nutshell, this DVD is a bargain for all of the material it contains. No matter your skill level, you will most likely find Jim's teaching style to be personable, informative, and a bit humorous at times. The material found within is both simple enough for a beginner to grasp as well as challenging enough for the more advanced player.

And if you have the opportunity to take one of Jim's workshops, by all means - do it!

Drum on!

As a long-time music teacher of drumming and world music, I have to say that this DVD is the best instructional/play along resource that I have ever experienced! You will not believe how much valuable material is packed into each of the six easy to navigate sections. Jim is a master teacher with a unique talent for demonstrating technique, dexterity, coordination, and how to get the best sound out of your drum. The dual visual perspectives (straight on and a bird's eye view) are invaluable. This DVD will enable you to significantly improve your playing, no matter what your level of experience is.
The contents include:
1>Playing techniques for djembe, toke (bell), and djun-djuns,
2>Fun to play ear-training exercises that are challenging for teachers and students alike
3>Engaging exercises to develop speed and dexterity,
4>Easy to follow lessons for eight traditional pieces,
5>A play-along ensemble section where you can create your own music, or play along with your favorite part
6>Rhythms for relaxation. ..It feels like getting a massage, while taking a nap in an oxygen bar!
7>Valuable printable resources, links to articles, and other rhythmic resources on the web.
YOU MUST HAVE THIS DVD!

as explained in the editorial review, this DVD is for ANYONE interested in drumming....it is filled with information that would appeal to all students, from beginners to established players...the DVD could not be anymore 'user friendly'...easy instructions allow one to travel freely thru the contents with many options for users...it would be wise to first watch the DVD in entirety to explore the wealth of material contained...
a starting point could then be established for the experience the DVD provides...personally, i chose to start in the techniques section to remind myself the proper postions and form necessary in hand drumming....the overhead views are excellent and for someone who doesn't get to drum as often as i would like, this refresher is perfect in establishing proper style and sound, etc...there are many excercises to help with speed and power and sections that allow individuals to jam along with those playing on the DVD....i also enjoy listening to the different selections chosen by the author from traditional pieces and instructions on how to play them...these are just a few of the features available!!! i could not speak more highly of this video....it is truly all that is advertised...i cannot recommend it highly enough!!!

After reading all of the 5 star reviews, I felt I couldn't go wrong with this DVD. I honestly have never had an instance where I am in complete disagreement with other reviews on a product....this is a first. The DVD arrived and I was so excited!I am new to djembe drumming and wanted a resource I could learn from and practice with. This DVD was NOT professionally produced! The picture quality is horrible and the way the DVD is put together does not produce a smooth flow. Be prepared to keep a remote close by because you will constantly have to switch to each section. I personally don't see where you get 2 hours of great drumming from this DVD. There are a couple of nice sections with illustrative drumming, but certainly not 2 hours worth. This was way over priced for what you get. A big disappointment for me. I can't explain why there are 18 5 star recommendations when I rate it so poorly.

I would recommend this DVD to beginners only. If you have not played in drum circles, have never picked up a drum before, or can't seem to keep a beat, then this is a good DVD for you. It will help introduce you to the fundamentals of hand drumming among many other things. If you are looking to transition from a beginner level to intermediate, I would suggest looking for a DVD that is aimed for intermediate drum players.

This dvd was so helpful! He covers everything from the type of chair to use and how to comfortably sit, to how to play the drum well. I was impressed.

This DVD is worth every penny. I can't believe how much material is packed into it. There is detailed instruction about how to hold your djembe and how to properly strike it making a variety of sounds. There are exercises to work on your speed, dexterity, and listening skills. There are tons of rhythms to learn with great explanations and a chance to practice them with Jim and his ensemble. And if that's not enough, there is a resource section that you can access from your computer if you want even more information. This DVD will keep you busy for a long time!!

This DVD is the first drumming DVD you should buy and the only one that you will ever need. Jim starts at the very beginning with how to hit the drum, and goes the whole way through to complex African rhythms. If you are a beginner, Jim explains it so well that, with practice, you'll be playing the complex rhythms along with him in no time. There are relaxing rhythms and energizing rhythms so you can find something no matter what mood you are in. I've played the DVD just to listen to the rhythms and to dance along in the living room. It works for that just as well.

A great way to get to a party started is to leave some drums out and put this DVD in. Your guests won't be able to resist playing along. Before long your parties will be the talk of the town.

This DVD with a drum would be a great gift for a young person interested in music and rhythm. The rhythmic beating of the drum helps to balance the brain and learning music has been proven to help with learning. All ages and skill levels can participate making it the perfect family gift as well.

If you ever get a chance to see Jim in person, either in concert or by attending one of his classes, don't pass it up. You'll never be disappointed and he's much more lifelike in person. You'll never regret time spent with Jim Donovan or watching this DVD.

Lowest review rating I've ever given a product! As a musician, I've been excited to add percussion to my band & life. I've played guitar for over 40 years. In the last 10 years, I've amassed a library of over 75 instructional & performance videos - plus I've watched many others that I checked out of our local library & decided not to buy. I should have reviewed this one before buying it; I'm so disappointed. It should be free or very low priced, as it is more like a promo trailer to spark interest in drumming. I, frankly, got nothing useful out of it - information or technique. I also found it comparatively clumsy to navigate. The picture quality, sound quality, & camera angles are good. But it offers me nothing compared to the other percussion dvd's in my library and to some I watched but didn't buy. Like some others I didn't care for, it is an amaturish production.

To be honest, I bought it BECAUSE of the glowing reviews here. Now I must say that I'm very puzzled about the great desparity in all the reviews. It has no place in my personal library, so I plan to donate it to my local library. Maybe it will prove helpful to others. At least it won't cost them anything to watch it.

I am very pleased with this purchase!! It is so enjoyable to watch and listen to Jim as he guides one through carefully chosen and presented patterns. Lots of opportunity to play along..so important to me as I have limited opportunities to play in drum circles....lots of additional resources also. This will keep me very busy and very happy!!!