Thread: Live drumming in class

I recently add live drummers the first Thursday of the month to my regular weekly classes. They come in for the Intermediate class.

My question is - how should I structure this monthly event? So far, it is just random improv time for everyone to experiment. I bring veils and swords, and the students bring zills and just work on what they want.

The 3 or 4 drummers in the dance studio are too loud for me to teach over.

But . . . I still want some structure to this class since it just seems like a party every month.

Any suggestions on what to do when the drummers come into class?

First -- you shouldn't have to "teach over them." You need to structure your class plan around what you want to accomplish by having the drummers there and then instruct them as to what you will expect from them each month (give them some lead time so they can be prepared -- if there isn't a "leader" among the drummers, designate one and instruct him to instruct the other drummers!). Remember, you are the boss! :policeblinker: Here are some ideas for different monthly drum/dance classes:

1) Have them play a specific rhythm for a specific length of time -- say Masmoudi kabir for 5 minutes. Before they begin, you explain the rhythm, have one of them demonstrate the basic rhythmic pattern, then give some ideas how they might dance to the rhythm, including steps from folklore. If possible, have the drummers play a various speeds -- slow/moderate/fast -- with each rhythm. Go over zill patterns students might try with this rhythm. Give examples of well-known songs that include the rhythm. Rinse. Repeat.

2) Unless your class is very large, have each student do a 1-2 minute "solo" for her classmates to drumming of her choice (that means she chooses the rhythm or rhythms that will be played and the order in which they are played).

3) Work with the dancers and the drummers on how to signal each other: What can a dancer do to signal the drummers she wants a change in rhythm or is ready to end, etc. What can the drummers do to signal the dancer that a change is coming?

4) Put together one or two short combinations that would work well to specific rhythms. Teach a combo (no drumming), then have the drummers play that combo's specific rhythm while you and the class drill that combo. Move on to the next combo and the next rhythm. Also, be sure to demo how, with a little alteration, the combo that worked to one rhythm can be made to work well with a completely different rhythm.

Just some ideas -- hope some of them work for you. Having drummers available for your students is a real plus!

Kat

Right on, Kat!

Vahana, it's your class - you're the boss!

The problem is that if you sit someone down, man or woman, and put a noisemaker in their lap of some sort they are likely to fiddle with it. I have seen it, folks, and I fight the urge myself during the classes that I drum for every week. Put four drummers together and you've got trouble!

Hopefully it is a variety of drums so that they aren't just ending up jamming in their own "drum circle" kinda thing and there is a combination of sound building the rhythm. Does anyone play a riqq?

Not being a dancer I would never offer a suggestion to a teacher on what to teach, but Kat's comments seem appropriate for a learning opportunity to me. But also your improv/dance party once a month might be the kind of event that helps your students build their confidence and hone their skills.

Have you seen the thread "Live drumming in dance class?"

Lastly, a p.s. - do you have to pay these drummers? What's the rate?


Larry

Wow, thank you both for giving me great insight into how to handle this. The drummers are a blessing for us to have access too and I am so thrilled. Yet, last week when I was driving home, I just didn't have a feeling of accomplishment for what I wanted to give the class that night. Your comments really help and I will use these guidelines to add more structure to the next session.

Larry, these are not professional drummers and they are learning too. You are correct that the four of them turn into their own drum circle! LOL Nonetheless, I love these guys and really have been impressed with what they have accomplished. They do not get paid and they just use this time for practice.

Our drummers are husbands and family members, plus one beginning student dancer of mine. My troupe performs to the Tabla Solo from the Aswan Dances with Soher Zaki cd. This incredibly motivated group of beginning drummers have started learning to play that piece and are doing very well. The goal is for them to play with us live when we perform the number at a festival in September. Aren't they just awesome!?

So, as a drummer Larry, what do you think of the dance party-type class when you drum?

I agree with Kat completely. My fiance comes to the beginning of my Intensive Beginner classes and I lead the 2nd part of my warmups with him playing. It's more of get up and get going part of the class to get everyone's pulse going. :)

You set the beat and get everyone started, lead some movements and allow for improv phrases to get everyone going. You can always have them present, in small groups, to the rest of the class in order to keep them on track with an end goal so it doesn't end up a big chat fest. :)

Bless you Vahana for giving some drummers a chance to play! It was where I got a big boost in my playing as well, thanks to Jenna and Saundra here locally with their classes (woo hoo, ladies!) I was and still am most grateful to play for them for free - I get to play whilst in the presence of dancers whom I admire and enjoy! I can praise them enough...

There was only one time where the teacher used the last session of the class quarter as an open dance floor, with me playing along to recorded music that was the choreo for the quarter. I was pretty new then, and so were many of the students, so I felt it was a bit awkward. Otherwise the teachers haven't chosen to try this sort of thing...but I'm up for it if they are!

NahimehJoon - sounds like a great session!

I LOVE LIVE DRUMMERS IN CLASS!
A teacher of mine used to do this, and the experience of learning rhythms while getting down to live music was SO valuable!

As for the volume being an issue: when my teacher needed to talk, she'd just look over at the drummers with a certain "I need to talk now" look and they'd continue playing but in a MUCH quieter tone so she could talk. When she was done talking, they'd go back into loud playing. This gave us a chance to practice a move/combo, but when our teacher saw we needed correction, the drumming didn't have to stop altogether! It was SUCH a great class.

I like that idea, Summer Sahar. I think the "lead" drummer and I can easily work out some signals. He wants to create a tabla solo for me anyway, so he and I have been working on non-verbal communication.

Larry, I like the format you mentioned with the drummers playing along to the recorded music so the students can practice their choreography.

It sounds like the improv time I was giving the class is still a good thing, so long as I can keep everyone dancing and don't let anyone just sit and watch. .p::