"Muzo" Party...

So this was a fun jam at one of my drum students homes...she is 70 years old this year...has decided to learn to play 6 musical instruments, and is also going through lessons on her RECORDING STUDIO that she has recently set up for herself...

She offered to use her home as a venue for a "Muzo Party"...

Amazing random meeting of an amazing muzo!!!!

So I believe in having my djembe with me WHEREVER I go, and I am simply not shy at all...so I often just sit somewhere and watch the crowds walk by while I drum in my own little world in my head...

This being said, I quite often meet interesting people on my journey in life...

This man was very cool...we chatted and chatted for almost an hour...he gave me tips on drumming styles and hand placements,etc...

He is the drummer for an old 70's band called "Four Jacks and a Jill"...if you have'nt heard of them please google them...old school music but awsome South African Band!!!

I've been invited to his house to have a jam with him - he still has a couple of drum kits - but sadly he wasn't feeling too well when I tried to arrange it...

Will post videos and pics as soon as we have a jam together!!!!

So this was a fun jam at one of my drum students homes...she is 70 years old this year...has decided to learn to play 6 musical instruments, and is also going through lessons on her RECORDING STUDIO that she has recently set up for herself...

She offered to use her home as a venue for a "Muzo Party"...

 Lew behind the drum kit...he's been a drummer for more than 40years and still plays for a band...

In the lounge we had, Drum Kit, Congo/Bongo Set, 5/6 Djembes, 3 Guitars, 1 Cello and 2 pianos(one of them being a beautiful HUGE Grand Piano)

 Lew's Wife Sandy, on the Bongo/Congo set...

Lorraine, my drum student who owns the house, one the Black Mamba Toca Djembe...

 Wesley Wolhuter on Cello and Piano...he has already reached quite a successful point in his music career...what a amazing musician!!!!

And...of course...me behind a piano...I play(in an amateur way)37 different instruments...but professionally on Djembe!!!

Bet you didn't see that one coming...hehehe


Thank you Lorraine for an awsome jam and muzo party!!!!

Drumming with a creche in Mosselbay

 I got hired to do a few drumming lessons and put together a show for a Creche in MosselBay, Western Cape, for their end of year pantomime...

Because I could not obtain permission from each child's parent, I cannot name the creche involved...

The first pic is in their classroom, the second is on the stage...

I will post a video next!

Drumming at the Redberry Festival

 So, I got asked to do a drum circle for 2 days at the Redberry Farm...

They do an annual strawberry festival....

So these are the pics of the 2 days, it was a lot of fun, and I got to market my business like crazy!!!!! As you can see in the pics, I made sure my car's signage was very visible at all times!!!

 Thanks mom for coming round and taking a couple of pics for me.....she also brought me Energade cool drinks to keep me going...I was basically drumming none stop for 6-8hours each day....

 There were times that I got the kids going on a rhythm, then stood back and chatted to their parents about my business and giving the marketing "speech"...lol

 My hands at the end of the day...Zoom in and see just how much pain they were in....

 And so the day went on, people of all ages came and drummed and had fun....This was a school group that rocked up and virtually took over completely....loved having them there...they created such a big "Buzz" for 30mins that it brought a load of people over just because of their happy vibe!!!

And this lovely family took a bunch of their own photos and emailed this kiff pic to me...didn't even know they were taking the photo until I got their mail...

Thanks to the Redberry Farm for the invitation to attend the Fest!!!

Drumming with George High School's Orchestral Ensamble

Thanks to Mr Neil Jack, the music teacher at George High School, for recognizing that music is fun,enjoyable and important on all levels...

Most classically minded music teachers won't even allow me to introduce "African" rhythms to the classes...but Neil...you are a star!!!...Congratulations on your move to York High School, may you have many happy years in their music department!!!

Axel and Daddy playing with the band...

I hope you all enjoy this short clip...

During band practice at a friends house(Lew Wollhuter), my son decided that he ain't sitting around...he fetched his own drum, walked inbetween speakers, cables, amps, guitars, drumsets,pumping music, etc etc etc...found a place right next to his Dad...and just joined in with the band practice...

Note that at a point the music stops for 4 notes...but notice how Ax kept those four notes in a perfect time signature...

Ladies and Gentleman and Fellow Muzo's....introducing the next generation musician right here!!!!!

In this video he is about a year and a half!

Soul Kitchen Band Practice

So a friend of mine, Craig Gardner, and myself started a band called Soul Kitchen...

This is a about 6months after we officially started the band...we finally bought a PA System, and this was the first time we took it home to test          it out...

Drumming gig at Milkwood Villiage, Wildernis, South Africa

 So thiese are a bunch of my fellow drummers from around the Garden Route...we got together and put on a drumming show at Milkwood Villiage in Wildernis.

We played for about 2 hours and had an absolute blast....here are the guys:

To the right is Zen and Daniel Chippendale(Zen on the Xhosa Dun Dun and Dan on Djembe)

To the left is Myself on the far right...behind me is Pat!...I've known Pat for close on 13years now, and his style of drumming lends itself to the American Indian Tribal Chanting Rhythms...pretty awsome stuff!!!




Here's the one and only Pat:

 Here is Zen playing on the wooden flute...What an amazing musician Zen is as well...not only is he a drummer, but plays the flute, the panpipe and also the didgeareedoo...and a few more but I'm uncertain of the names....

And of course...no show is complete without an adoring audience....thank you to Lauren Mcdonald at Milkwood Villiage for allowing us to make some noise and have a lot of fun doing it!!!...

We hope to do many more in the future!!!!

Charity Drumming at Downtown Music

 I did a gig at Downtown Music in George.

This gig was the 3rd Annual Charity Gig for Child Welfare, that I've organized and hosted.  EdenFM(a local radio station)was also there and played several spots live on air...

This is my friend and fellow drummer, Zane...we did a Djmembe Duo using Polyrhythms to make music!

 My Son, Axel Dean Nicholson, the next generation drummer attends ALL my daytime events...this is his "impressed" face when the jam goes well!!!!...

 Here is a nice angle of the EdenFM radio Jockeys...

We had a great day and even though we did not get much funds in from the event, we had a great public response...even from callers phoning in on air...

It definately got some interesting statistics from the Child Welfare out to the public ear.

Axel at just under two years old, kept going to my banner and pointing at the pic of me...then pointing at me....obviously loving seeing two "Drummer Daddy's" in the same place at once!!!!

He even did a bit of posing at my vehicle...little dude knows how to do the cute thing hey!!!!

I am back with a vengeance!!!!

Hi there,

I have been very quiet over the last year or more building up my business, am now the proud owner of a very successful drumming business!

For more info please contact me on 078 295 8482 or email daniel@djembeman.co.za

WATCH THIS SPACE - Lots of very new and very interesting things coming up!!!!

Daniel

Djembe drum lessons at Afrovibe Backpackers

This is my drum lessons:

We get together at Afrovibe Backpackers in George every Sunday night from 5h00PM
And I teach some rythms.

Here are some pics from last sunday....


keep checking...more to come soon!!!!

new base rythm

try this at home

playing 2 djembes at the same time

yup I seem to have managed to get these rythms right...

Richard Pipe

My good friend and drumming mentor is Richard Pipe from East London
reskinned my djembe for me with a senegalise goatskin

This clip was taken in front of Macdonalds in George

and more....

We met this Great musician, a operatic singer, Evan.
We didn't know the songs he could sing so we ended up just randomly singing notes,but it sounded o.k

more Monks clipz

playing more than one djembe at a time

This is at a party at Monk's in Wilderness.

My brother and a friend have formed a band...the next time I have a chance I will upload some mp3 tracks,for now though here are some vidz

Monk's party with my brother

Hi There....

Recently I had an amazing jam session(turned into party) at Monk's in Wilderness, South Africa.

It was Myself,My Brother Cole and a long time friend,Auret Van Heerden.
Me on my Djembe's,Cole on Guitar and Auret on bass....Tho we all had a turn to jam each others instruments.

I apologize for the quality of the video's but I'm using a small 2mp Nokia camera phone(If anybody wants to donate a cheap digital camera to the website, it would be greatly appreciate it)

Drum Lesson....in the car!

Sometimes I like to sit in my car with the windows rolled up...

The base of the drum resonates sooo nicely in such a small space.
I also find that teaching yourself to play in such a limited space gets your wrists to naturally do what you want them to do...

Try it, and let me know if you get the same effect.

P.S
Forgive the sound just a little bit...vid was taken with my cellphone