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!!!!

My Son showing us how its done!!!!

 My Son, Axel Dean Nicholson, at 1 year and 8months old, showing us how to position yourself over a drum and play!!!!










I encourage ALL parents to get your kids into music at ANY age...start young and use any instrument...let them find their own way as to what instrument they play but it is vitally important that music is a part of their lives!!!

Love you my baba boy!!!MWAAAAA

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!!!!

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)

Drumming at Cactus,South Africa

I enjoyed playing a couple of rythms at Cactus,a mexican restuarant and pub in George,South Africa...unfortunately the owner didn't enjoy it as much as the rest of the people there, so I had to can it after a couple of rythms...

Muhammid....Sorry it took so long!!!

Hey there,

This is Muhammid.

He was at Zanzibar(Club in South Africa) when I bumped into him.

All the way from Egypt, heres Muhammid

Drumming at Zanzibar club in S.A

Hi there,

I LOVE my drums...I take them wherever I go.
As you can imagine, lots of other people love them too...so I get to play in all sorts of places.

This is a club in George,South Africa called Zanzibar...here are a couple of clips for you(Hope to see you there sometime...)

Drum Circle with Master Drummer

I am Really Sorry about the quality of these clips, but the sound is great...
I hope you enjoy it....

Master Drummer at Play1

This is Peter, a Master Drummer from the Wilderness area, with his Band.
His brother,Eugene, is playing on the Kit drums.
Peter's Djembe is miked up and sounds amazing.

Reggae Band at Big Blu

This Brilliant reggae drum band was brilliant...
They played at a bar in Mosselbay called Big Blu, in fact that is where our weekly Drum Circles are held, so all the Drummers came together and jammed with the band.

The two in the centre of the last pic are brothers,both drummers and their other brother(Also a drummer) makes and sells Djembe Drums...my Drum comes from him!!!!

Drum Circle in East London,S.A

These are all photo's from one of our weekly Drum Workshops, held by Richard in East London,S.A at a pub called "Imbizo". As you can see the pub has a very African vibe to it which is perfect for Djembe Workshops.

There are a few Experienced Drummers at this particular event. The Lady playing the Big Djembe is also a Master Drummer,(and my very best friend) Beverly.
As you can also see we even have a regular Rastafarian(Bra Gift Watchman).
This Djembe was carved and skinned by Richard,Please e-mail me if you are looking for a drum made by him...his drums are of awesome quality, so good in fact, that some of his drums have even been exported to Germany.
...And of course, no Drumming event would be utterly complete without my BEAUTIFUL Wife with her GORJIS smile(I'm scoring points folks,hehehe).

Master Drummer in East London,S.A

This is my good friend Richard...A Master Drummer from East London,S.A.

Richard has a weekly drum circle at a pub called "Imbizo" or you can find him at "Sugar Shack Backpackers" on the East London Beachfront.

If you ever DO go and introduce yourself to him, tell him I say "Hi"

Caught Free-stylin by my Wife

My Wife caught me jamming my Djembe to a track on my Hi-fi,(Max Normal - Hazel's Joint)

This is a great way to learn and memorize new rhythms for yourself.
Enjoy

Tribal Rhythm2

This is the Tribal Rhythm that My friend Bev taught me....it comes straight from the Transkei in South Africa. Its a typical African Tribal rhythm found in far apart villages.

If you want to know more about the Transkei go to www.wildcoast.com.

I hope this clip is easy to understand.
Dan

Tribal Rhythm1

This is a tribal trance rhythm I learnt from my 61yr old friend(Beverly) in East London...

The trick of this rhythm is to keep playing the same rhythm without any change for as long as possible...its quite easy to get lost in the rhythm as I hope you will find out.

In my next clip I will give more detail in how to play this Awesome rhythm.

Ta-ka-doem-ta African Drum Rhythm Rounding Off

This is a quick tip how to play the African "Ta- Ka- Doem- Ta" Rhythm, with a nice rounded off sound.

This method of "Rounding Off" can be used with any rhythm you play, in fact you will see it many many more times on this blog.
It has a nice whole sound, and really fills up the space between the notes that you play.

I hope this video is explained well, Enjoy.

Djembe Basic Notes Rythm

On the last clip I showed the 3 basic notes found on a Djembe Drum,

This is the actual rhythm that you can play using only those 3notes.
I have added a couple of tones here and there but you will get the idea.

Don't worry if you are not as fast in the beginning, the point isn't speed, as long as you are consistent in playing the CORRECT rhythm.

Djembe Basic Notes Introduction

These are the 3 basic notes found on a Djembe Drum...Base,Middle and Treble.

As you get better you will learn to get more sounds and notes out of your drum, but even the most experienced drummers need to come back to these 3notes every now and again.