Category Archives: Djembe

Subdividing the Pulse – Movement

Posted on October 14, 2018 by

One of my piano teachers, the one that taught me through to my Teaching Diploma, was fanatical in demanding accuracy in subdividing the pulse. So much so, that when I heard a subway busker playing Bach on her flute, it … Continue reading →

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60/100 The Rhythm Clock

Posted on October 15, 2016 by

A rhythm clock is a pattern of 12 rhythms arranged in a circle like the hours on a clock. Like this:   You can project this image on a whiteboard, and then start all kinds of fun learning activities. First … Continue reading →

Posted in Class Teaching, Composition, Djembe, Improvisation, Percussion, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

42/100 From Chant to Samba (or Djembe)

Posted on June 18, 2016 by

There’s a great chant called H E L L O on www.singup.org. It has worked really well as a samba piece. The only problem is you have to be a paid-up member to access it. BUT, if you are NOT … Continue reading →

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27/100 We’ve lost the key

Posted on May 2, 2016 by

Yes, turned up to teach djembe, to discover that The Key to the room where the djembes are kept and the lessons happen, was lost. I hung around for ten minutes or so while various people scattered in different directions, … Continue reading →

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17/100 Missing Words

Posted on March 19, 2016 by

I’ve a year 3 djembe class who need a lot of practice to develop listening and concentration skills. They struggle to learn some of the longer djembe rhythms, and their pulse keeping is not as steady as I would have … Continue reading →

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11/100 Djembe Piece

Posted on February 15, 2016 by

I put together this simple djembe piece for a mixed year 3 and year 4 class I have this year. They year 4 children had djembe lessons last year with another teacher, and have already done most of my favourite djembe … Continue reading →

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2/100 Ding dong, I’ve got the rhythm in my head

Posted on January 6, 2016 by

I tripped across this singing game a few weeks ago: Here is a youtube clip (one of many). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niN_TB-OJvs I’ve been using this all week, with various classes; year 1 and 2, year 3 and 4 djembe, year 4 and 5 samba … Continue reading →

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Issue 141: Si si si; and Call and Response Songs

Posted on September 29, 2014 by

This seems to be a theme of my lessons this term. Some of the songs I am using don’t, at first sight, fall into this category. I’ve been using the “Rabbit, run on the frozen ground song” in samba and … Continue reading →

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