Customer Reviews

John Yost Teaches: West African Rhythms / Instructional Djembe and Dundun DVD Video

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I bought this DVD knowing that it contains videos of West African rhythms, just like the title says. The description does not say that it is a DVD of djembe basics. I couldn't disagree more with a previous poster saying it isn't for beginners. There are three notes you need to learn on the djembe - slap, tone, and bass. The other videos may show you that in two minutes but then what? One needs to incorporate those notes and make music. With the two angles you can see the techniques on how to play the notes.

I use this DVD to remember the rhythms and to play along with the other parts. I think the DVD is for the beginner to intermediate student. I have owned and have watched other djembe videos but this is the only one I use frequently even more so than the Mamady Keita videos, which are also strictly rhythms but are on VHS. The instant access to the rhythm parts is a big plus.

It is not exactly what we were thinking it would be. There are no verbal instructions or explanations of the beats--he just does it really slow or really fast.

This is an excellent instructional media format for learning several of the most popular African folk drumming songs for Djembe and Djundjun. I have learned how to play world percussion instruments the hard way through long hours of practice, and I really appreciate the advantages provided in this DVD format for future generations. The Djembe is the recently popular hour glass shaped hand drum from Africa made from Mango, Kwenboa, or other indigenous hardwoods. The Djundjun is played with a drum stick to keep basic bass rhythm and is usually mounted with an Cow bell that is played in synch. Parts are delineated for two or three different sizes of each drum. This allows several players to play in tandem, as is done by Dahui, the author's band. John Yost is a Chicago area drum circle facilitator and veteran player. The actual playing is a top down video of the hand playing that can be played slow or fast. The viewer also has the option of seeing all drums played together in a mixed format or one by one. I would strongly encourage the DVD format being used for such instruction in the future. My only suggestion with all of the megabytes available in this format is to provide the opportunity for viewers to play along drum circle style over prolonged sessions to add to the enjoyment of the DVD. The band Dahui could provide a few of their more than lively tracks or even music video for playing along.

I have found John Yost's CDs, CDV's and DVDs uniformly excellent. The videos are clearly photographed and sound is well produced. Neophytes can see exactly what his is doing and the excellent sound of his strokes gives them something at which to aim. More advanced players can learn new rhythms or slightly different versions of familiar ones while observing the intricacy of the timing. Both the individual sections and the ensemble playing are very clear. Individual sections especially, both those played very slowly and those played up to tempo,are long enough for a viewer to play one part while listening to and watching another. Experienced players will enjoy soloing against the ensemble playing. John not only knows the West African rhythms perfectly, but demonstrates excellent, relaxed technique.

Although the video is well recorded and has excellent sound, I found the video to have little value beyond the rhythm notation that I can already find for free on the internet. There is no verbal instruction or description of techniques used to produce the bass, tone, and slap on a djembe. The examples are good, but strangely there are no ensembles that combine the djembe and dunun drums. These rhythms are supposed to be played with both instruments, but the only option is to listen to the djembes together or the dununs together! Thione Diop's video is better and has the djembe and dununs together on ensembles. However, it also has no real instructional value aside from notation of rhythms that can be freely obtained from the internet.

I am still trying to find any video on the djembe that is really well put together and worth the money...$30.00 for 5 rhythms and no instruction is a pretty steep price to pay in my opinion. For $30 there should be more instructional value from these very talented Master Drummers. Michael Taylor's Remembering How to Drum is the only video that I think is worth the money for an introduction to djembe techniques...although the ensembles on that video are just plain freaky (but they are entertaining). There are many good exercises on Michael's video that would benefit anyone.

This is one of the best Instructional dvds i have ever seen. it has so many different rhythms and it shows you each different part in each one. It is very easy to understand and it shows the rhythms in parts, both slow and fast. Not to mention that it also shows all the parts in a rhythm all together.

I bought this DVD for my wife as a Christmas gift along with a Drum to begin learning on. Although someone beyond beginner status might find this video usefull, we did not and I don't recommend it for beginners.The DVD has no instuctional value for people just starting out.

I bought this book as a gift for someone learning the djembe drum. This book is not for someone brand new to the drum. There is no basic instruction on how to slap, beat, or use the drum, just instruction on some various rhythms for songs. It is not useful for someone who needs to understand the various touches and sounds that can be produced on the djembe. It simply jumps into videos of hands hitting specific rhythms. This is not what was expected.

The content of this video allows one to truly learn the finer skills associated with "copping" west african grooves.

I bought this DVD knowing that it contains videos of West African rhythms, just like the title says. The description does not say that it is a DVD of djembe basics. I couldn't disagree more with a previous poster saying it isn't for beginners. There are three notes you need to learn on the djembe - slap, tone, and bass. The other videos may show you that in two minutes but then what? One needs to incorporate those notes and make music. With the two angles you can see the techniques on how to play the notes.

I use this DVD to remember the rhythms and to play along with the other parts. I think the DVD is for the beginner to intermediate student. I have owned and have watched other djembe videos but this is the only one I use frequently even more so than the Mamady Keita videos, which are also strictly rhythms but are on VHS. The instant access to the rhythm parts is a big plus.