Getting Better
Practice
There are many strategies and musical elements to work on to improve you drumming. Below are a few things to try.
Sound
Sound is what gives your music a melody. This is the most basic thing to practice and even advanced players continue to practice and refine their sound. The more you practice sound, the greater differentiation you’ll achieve between your tones and slaps. A person with good sound playing basic parts is more pleasing than a person with less differentiated sound playing a complex part.
Rolls
Rolls are an intermediate technique that are an important component of improvising and learning the traditional solos. To start, practice rolls of 3, 4 and 5.
Play along with recorded music
Not as challenging or as fun as playing with real people, but a great way to practice when you’re having trouble pulling together a group or maybe you want to work on something a little challenging on your own.
Play (Well) with Others
This is what it’s all about. Playing your drum with other people and building community.
Informal Gatherings
It’s a sunny Saturday afternoon and the drum is calling your name. The Mande drums were designed to be played outdoors. Call up some friends, get outside and play in the park!
Dance Classes
A great way to practice for extended lengths of time. There is nothing like playing a djembe accompaniment or dunun part for 30 minutes straight to hone your sound and increase your speed and endurance.
Events
Parties, Celebrations, Gatherings. All a good excuse to play music and add to the atmosphere. Probably the closest thing to a traditional you’ll experience outside of going to Africa!