Thread: Drumming advice needed...

I've taken a break from dancing for a few years (became a Mom and developed some health conditions). I am finally ready to express myself again ... but I've become "uptight" and out of step. I want to learn how to play the drum b/c I think it might help to improve my ability to feel the music and stay in step. I do not play any instruments *yet*. I am also interested in learning to play the Bahrain for my SCA persona.
Which drum would be most helpful/diverse? Is there an instructional video, book, site, etc that might get me started? Do you have any other advice that might help reconnect with the music?
Thank you!

Good for you! I just bought myself a drum too. Ive totally got the bug! I dont think there is anything better to understand the music than the drum, so I don't have any other advice to offer, but Im sure the other more wiser bhuzzers will chime in!

Souhail Kaspar has a decent drumming video; he's a stickler for technique if you're just starting out. I prefer my Alexandria doumbek to the Remos I've played...if there's anywhere local you can go try some out though, I'd recommend it. If you can find a local doumbek teacher - or even a drum circle with some helpful souls - you'd get a quick start!

he darabukka/doumbec/tabla is probably the most diverse drum.

There are reviews of two instructional videos by Uncle Mafufo on my web site at www.shira.net/videocenter-alphaf.htm . He also has a rhythm instruction CD that I like because he uses the words doum and tec to help you "hear" the rhythm before he starts playing it.

Mary Ellen Donald has a couple of good percussion books - one on doumbec, and another on tambourine. You can buy companion CD's for them that contain the exercises. She also sells rhythm CD's - her beginner one plays the rhythms nice and slowly at a continuous speed for 4 minutes enabling you to play along.

Mary Ellen's tambourine book will also work for learning the drum. The information on music and rythms is more dancer related than the original drum book. buy them both and all of the tapes and also the Gems seris to learn the traditional songs.

"Doumbek Techinique & Rythyms" with Amir Naoum by WorldDance (see ad on this site)is a nice video. It includes exercises for getting used to the different strokes (basic doum, tek and ka, plus slap and pop) and for strengthening the fingers for drumming, as well as nice breakdowns of several rhythms. I found it interesting that he referred to the way I learned (from basically every other video or CD I've used, as well as other instructors) to play some basic rhythms such as masmoudi saghir (yeah, yeah, he calls it "balady" too -- hate that) and Saiidi as "old-fashioned" and shows a double ka version of the fill. Some of the drummers in my drum circle came back from Pennsic last year with similar fills for basic rhythms, so evidently there is something to his assertions. (darn it -- back to the learning curve for me . . . .).

Another dvd which the lead drummer of my drum circle liked was "Rhythms of Oriental Dance" with Nesma (dancer) and Kamesh Henkesh (drummer). I'd picked it up beause I knew the name Kamesh Henkesh from many of the albums of my baby dancer-hood back in the 70s and 80s. It's a two disk set -- one dvd and one cd. On the dvd the dancer/musician exchange ideas on the rhythms both verbally and visually, as well as an improvisational dancer/drummer duet. The CD contains several rhythms to practice your drumming.

Although it really isn't about learning drumming, I like Yasmina Ramzy's Nightclub dvd. Again, it is a two disk set -- both dvd -- and one of them is very good on breaking down rhythms and showing dancing appropriate to that rhythm.

The best advise has already been given: find and join an existing drum circle -- or start one of your own!

Kat

I just got into the doumbek. The drum teacher who helped me get started recommended the 10 3/4" x 16 3/4" Alexandria Doumbek as a great starter drum. Apparently some drum snobs turn their nose up at it, but it's well-built and it's got a nice sound. If you want to order online, check out Active Musician. They get their Alexandria doumbeks from Mid-East Mfg, but their prices are less expensive.

http://www.activemusician.com/store/...ia+doumbek&m=0

I was also told by several people to get the Amir Naoum DVD that WorldDance NewYork puts out. Unfortunately, I lent my copy to someone I later broke up with and I think it's lost forever (before I even got a chance to use it, so sad!), but at DeepDiscountDVD's price, I don't think it'll hurt to pick up another copy.

http://www.deepdiscount.com/viewprod...ductId=7258043

What an excellent idea! I think I will look into finding a local drum circle! That would be the best way to learn b/c they might be able to catch silly mistakes before I develop poor habits...

I live very close to a Guitar Center. I've been ogling the drums for a long while, mostly for my daughter (she's been begging for the Rolland V-Drum kit for years) but only recently thinking of getting them for myself. The guys there are like most of the drummers I've encountered - into the Kits for RockNRoll - and so don't have much advice for hand drumming. There are also only 2 basic over view dvd/books there... each with only a small chapter on what I am interested in.

Thank you ladies for the specific DVD, CD, advice. I am looking into these I think my husband is happy I've picked MED up again... LOL! Funny how one's enthusiasm for something seems to feed the other's.