Customer Reviews

Remembering How to Drum: Djembe Technique

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I recently borrowed a copy of the hand-drumming DVD "Remembering How to Drum" by Holy Goat Percussion ( www.holygoat.com ). Holy Goat was founded by Chicago-based djembe drummer Michael Taylor. It's honestly the best instructional video of it's kind!

The DVD has several different aspects that are all really good:

1) Basic Notes on the drum.
2) Warm-Ups and Exercises
3) Ensemble Rhythms
4) Extras

Each section of the video has great introductory comments. The basics are pretty well explained, but the warm-ups and exercises are first-rate, particularly the yoga stretches. The introductions and explanations are well done - it wasn't the "drum-lingo" you might've expected, nor was it all hocus-pocus new-agey, nor was it chocked full of "honor the traditions of the motherland". It was clear, well-spoken, articulate, and intelligent.

The exercises and basics are pretty well done, but the videography is top-notch! Other videos I've seen offer a "bird's eye" view of the drum, but this one gives you the ability to choose how you want to view the instructor - either head on or "over the shoulder". I prefer the latter because it a) gives you a full-screen shot of what his hands are doing and b) makes it easier to match what his hands are doing rather than trying to switch the mirror image of a "face-to-face" shot. Both views let you see the other option in a small window on the screen. Each offers a text-based notation on screen so that you can "read" what you're playing: "BTTBSS" for "Bass Tone Tone Bass Slap Slap". Of course, with the DVD you can infinitely loop the exercises as well.

The intermediate/advanced techniques moved REALLY fast and this is probably the only section of the video worthy of complaint. There were no explanations, no slow vs. fast mode, and the transitions, while fluid, were just too fast to follow. It would've helped to have seen the patterns on-screen BEFORE he started playing the them. It would've also helped to have breaks between the patterns to allow you to start/stop/loop them. Keep in mind this info was still good, but could've used some flushing out and in-depth coverage.

The ensemble sections were AWESOME! They show two six-part rhythms. They are shot so that the same guy plays each part and comically holds down the whole ensemble with himself! With DVD technology, you can choose what you want to hear: select each part individually, each section (djembes or djuns, the full ensemble, or just the solo.

Extras include on-camera interveiws with Taylor, a promo for "Rhythm", the night club were the instructional portions of the DVD were filmed (www.drumallnight.com), and a 15-minute concert by Taylor's West African drum ensemble. The ensemble in concert clips were hot - really well shot/mixed and great demo of how a full ensemble can rock. It's good inspirational stuff. Very flashy. Also included are drum maintenance and tuning instructions that are FAR better than anything I've seen short of Paulo Mattioli's "Skin It, Tune It, Play It" full-length video on that topic.

The videography and sound quality on this production are top notch! With the DVD, it won't wear out like your favorite VHS tapes so you can watch it, loop it, put it on surround sound, and "SLAP DAT GOAT" 'til the cows come home.... ;^)

If you're going to buy an instructional djembe video, this is the place to start. This is the stuff!

I have viewed, as well as bought several drumming DVDs in the past year. This DVD is by FAR the best I have seen. I notice new things daily, and continue to grow as a drummer. There is a lot of information about your drum, in this DVD. Including technique, Practice Rhythms that loop untill you are finished, and many many extras. This DVD has shone new light on my otherwise dizmal drumming path. This DVD taught me to hear the music, and follow suit. I watch it daily, as part of my daily routine, and to me, its just as important as Yoga. I cant wait for Taylor to produce more... OH!!! In the Supplemental section check out the Holy Goat Ensamble Performance! WOW!
Blessings to Taylor,
Sean Harmon

Very clear. Thorough. "Remembering How to Drum: Djembe Technique" is really well put together. I was looking for a DVD that would lead me through the basics. This one did that, along with reminding me that the urge to drum is innate (hence, the title.) I knew a bit about yoga, proper breathing and arm and finger exercises -- but this DVD showed how they all fit.
Good visuals.
I highly recommend it.

Chicago IL

I ordered a copy of this DVD and it would not play on my Apple iBook. Every other DVD I have ever put in the iBook has played. I even tried other DVDs in the iBook after this one would not play. They worked. I returned the DVD to Amazon and had them send me another one. The second one also would not play on the iBook. This time I tried putting it in the DVD player on top of our television set. It played. So, fellow iBook djembe players... be advised this DVD may not play on your iBook. (Apple 800 MHz Power PC G3, MacOS X 10.2.8) Otherwise, great DVD.

After I posted this review at Amazon I got an email from the production company that produced the DVD. They confirmed that they knew it was not compatible with the Mac OSX operating system. Apparently the DVD, which is truly excellent, has gone into a second production run. DVDs from the second production run are OSX compatible. The production company sent me one from the second production run and it works fine on OS X. Blue 7 Media wrote me an email and said that as of June 2005 all the DVDs available through Amazon are from the second run. (Thank you!)

The more I play the more I appreciate the yoga exercises to loosen up and care for my hands!

Taylor,
Your dvd is not good...it is fantastic!!! Excellent work! Bravo Taylor! Well done!

Your "Remembering How to Drum: Djembe Technique" DVD actually provides what it promises to provide and much more:

* Excellent quality of picture
* Excellent quality of sound
* Clear step by step instructions
* Great practise excersises
* Important tips and ideas for good drumming

I will make sure all my drumming friends know about you.

Much love and respect to Taylor for creating this DVD. I'm finding the practice rhythms especially useful. I was fortunate enough to take a beginning djembe class with Taylor at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago a couple of years ago. The DVD is like having class in your living room.

I can't recommend this highly enough. It's not only the best Djembe instructional DVD, it's unmatched in terms of technology. It's loaded with stuff you just can't do on VHS. In the ensemble section you control which of six drums you hear and which are muted. You can change video angles on the fly and toggle subtitles that indicate bass, tone, and slap. There's a Q&A lesson that plays random questions every time. It just makes using the disc more interactive, and a lot of fun.

I'm an intermediate player, but there are exercises both above and below my skill level. Advanced players can jump right into the harder practice rhythms, while beginners are introduced to ghosting and the basics of playing. New drum owners will especially appreciate the tuning, maintenance, and history sections.

Video introductions guide you through the various lessons, and a bunch on interviews let you get to know the instructor. Seriously, if you own a Djembe and a DVD player, this is a must-own.

This video is excellent and gives the learner an opportunity to slowly build skills. A previous review from someone else stated that it only shows how well he can play, and I hesitated to purchase the product because of that, but I would like to clarify that it is only the introduction that shows his skills, and once you actually get into the instructional part, he takes it step by step, slowly and clearly. I think it is always good to see what can be your goal and see how someone can play with advanced skills, but this does not overpower the beginner in this DVD and I highly recommend it.

Having purchased this dvd at the same time as my first djembe nearly 2 years ago, i cant tell you how helpful it has been in guiding me through the basics of rhythm and technique. Taylor has a charisma and enthusiasm for the drum that rubs off on the pupil and carried me through the various skill levels. The exercises are precise and easy to follow and the looping feature means you dont have to keep stopping and starting again with the remote. I took Taylor's advice and found a Master teacher in the Gambia and have now gone on to form my own group in Manchester England.
Thanks again Taylor 5 stars

I actually lived in West Africa for a couple of years and took drumming lessons, but it's been a while and I was hoping to literally remember how to drum (as opposed to the earthy way the artist intended it). It took about 5 minutes to get through the beginner rhythms, which were annotated by notes - telling which were tones, slaps, and basses. That part probably is really useful if you're brand new to drumming.

I was disappointed when I got the intermediate. There's only one rhythm, really, and there's no indication of the notes that comprise it. He works you up to the ultimate rhythm, but doesn't tell you that's what he's doing, so it actually feels like he's making you learn three rhythms in a row. Just when you figure out what the heck he's doing on the first, he switches to the second, then you figure that out and he gets to the third. When it loops back, you really just want to do the third, because that was the goal all along...but no, he's back to the easiest version, and the madness starts all over again. Once you master that rhythm, your only option is to move on to the advanced, which is really the same rhythm, another step harder.

My guess is that the artist's response is that I'm supposed to be able to feel the notes and hear the differences and figure them out myself...but if I wanted that, I'd just buy a CD and listen to that.

Even without the annotation of notes, I could have dealt with this if it had more variety - several rhythms to learn, instead of essentially just one that gets harder as you go along. I have the one down...now what?