Drumming on stage with my 4 year old son

PROOF THAT DRUMMING IS FOR ALL AGES!!

Here is my 4 year old son performing with me at a performing arts evening at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

He has joined me on several stages, including the KKNK(Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees) 2014 RSG(Radio Sonder Grense) stage where he was, in front of 400+ people, named the youngest performing artist ever on a KKNK stage!
#VeryProudDaddy

Performing at Mujos Bar & Restaurant, George

 

   Myself and my cousin, Chase Tyler Demont, performing at Mujos Bar & Restaurant, George, South Africa. This was a one hour informal set. 

Thank you Liesl Kelland(owner). See you again soon!     

Drum circle with friends in random places

Here are somephotos that serve as an example of how much fun drumming brings to everybody's lives!  I hold many many informal drum circles or "Group Drumming".  At the various venues I use for these drum sessions we have many interesting people and artists that join in the fun, from hula hoopers and fire dancers, to drummers of all kinds! It is always interesting to hear the different kinds of Drums that get brought to these circles.

To have an informal drum circle at your house, in your garden, at your work office, at the beach...hehehe...well pretty much ANYWHERE, give me an email or phonecall and we can set it up!

Thunder and Lightning rhythm with the kids

Part of my business is School Social Interaction Groups. This is pretty much the same as a corporate team building circle, but using a simplified style of drumming for the younger minds.

Here I am doing a rhythm with the kids that I call my "Thunder and Lightning" rhythm... (video will be posted soon). We start with softly building up the bass(note in the centre of the drum)...this sounds like thunder rolling over the hills. Then when lightning strikes, the kids move to the treble note(on the edge of the drum) loudly and shouting at the top of their voices as lightning crashes on the ground.  This excercise teaches kids how to use "light and shade"(intensity of volume) when playing on a drum as well as the two basic notes on any drum.

Thank you Babbelbekkies creche for the opportunity to perform at your end of year concert with your kids. They were amazing!

On stage at the CANSA Relay For Life

The CANSA Relay for Life is a annual fundraiser for cancer patients and survivors.

This is a fund raiser event where people walk a distance around a circular track over a period of 24 hours. There are stalls and local businesses involved at the edges of the track, where we spur on the walkers. Live performances and competitions are held throughout the night to keep everyone's spirits high.

Here I am on stage with one of Mossel Bays biggest local artists.

Djembe Drum Paradise is back with a BANG!!

"Everyone HAS rhythm inside of them. The first thing your brain is aware of as a fetus in your mother's stomach is her heartbeat and breathing. Hence...YOU ARE BORN with rhythm..."

Drumming is the best way to discover and unlock that rhythm...

My name is Daniel Nicholson and I am known over the Garden Route as Djembeman. I specialise in 1-on-1 lessons, group lessons, drum circles, (corporate) team building, year-end functions, weddings, and more

I also specialise in facilitating "African" themed evenings with traditional African dancers, drumming, firedancing and even coal walking(on request), perfect for any function/event.

Do you have a small business but no budget for a year end function?

Let me come to your office and do a team building session with your staff of roughly 45 mins. Guaranteed improvement of productivity and team work!

Drumming is suitable for ANY- and EVERYbody... Don't miss out on this amazing experience!

Please contact me for any bookings or quotes.

Drum greetings

Djembeman (Daniel Nicholson - 078 295 8482 / Izelle Nicholson - 082 081 3989)

Drumming on stage with Ard Matthews

So...Over the years I've performed with many local Artists all over South Africa. This was at Herolds Bay Eco Resort in their awesome venue, Down to Earth. Thank you Ard Matthews(Just Jinger) for the awesome performance. "Sugarman" was my highlight of the evening. 

I was hired to welcome the guests upon arrival at the door to add an African ambience to the evening. Thank you to my cousin, Chase Tyler Demont and my wife, Izelle Nicholson, for performing with me... You guys rock! 

Soon soon...

To all those that read this blog...

My sincere apologies for not posting for a while...I have loads and loads of new posts,pics and videos to
upload...it might just take a while as I have no internet at home at the moment...

Please enjoy the time you have on this earth to fill your life up with music and things that matter!!!

See you again soon...

Soon soon...

First Vid sent in by a follower of my old blog...

This Video was sent in by someone who commented on one of my posts and asked me to post his video...

Please feel free to send me YOUR own videos and I will be happy to post them up...

I'm not looking for any professional videos, just amateur having fun that want to learn from each other!!!

Thanks P

Drumming Gig With Students From Belgium

 So I did another drumming gig with a school in George, Outeniqua High School...

There was a foreign exchange program coming to ts end...so the South African learners took their Belgian counterparts on a tour in a "Loxion"(Location - also called a settlement or township)
where the local people invited them into their shack homes, and danced for them when they left each house....what an amazing experience!!!

 The first photo is a picture of the set up that I used...25 Drums in a big circle, with a skinless shell on display....When I start my drum session(it was done as a Team Building Exercise), I always start by introducing the Djembe, telling them how its made(Machine - Lathe - made drums versus hand carved drums)...what type of skins are used, and a little history about the Djembe.

 Then we start our actual drumming by playing the three basic notes on the Djembe to get them used to the hand placement for those three notes...(If you go back to my earlier posts on this blog I describe the three basic notes in quite a bit of detail)

After that we start to play full rhythms from Ta-Ka-Doem-Ta...to...Heartbeat Rhythms, and even some interesting Polyrythms!!!

At a point in the session when I can see that everyone has got the general understanding of how to play the Djembe, I split the group into three smaller groups...give them 5mins to come up with their very own rhythm.  As you can imagine they compete fiercely with each other and I stir the pot a bit by going over to each group and telling them more or less what I want to hear.  Look how hard they are all concentrating...hehehe


This is the entire group once we were done...tired hands but happy faces...

I am so grateful that what I do for a living is, not only my passion, but it brings joyful memories to people that will not be forgotten for a very long time...

I am privileged to become a small part of all my drum students lives!!!!....




Should you want any more info on my Team Building Drum Sessions please feel free to email me on daniel@djembeman.co.za or even phone me on +2782958482!

Thank you for enjoying my blog with me!

Enjoy your day further!

Daniel Nicholson A.K.A "Djembeman"

"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"...

Axel's Rhythm

My Son at 2yrs old...

This is his own little rhythm that he plays....on the day of making this video, I was in another part of the house and heard him drumming away to himself....when I walked in he came straight to me...grabbed my hand and pulled me to the drum...and played for his Daddy!!!

I love the fact that he came up with this rhythm all by himself...just from being around Dad and Dad's muzo mates...

He "brags" and plays this for every person that comes into the house..they have to see him play the drum before coffee,tea etc can be made and so on....lol

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!!!!

Music in the Genes...

So here is my little boy happily jamming away in a garage with a full band, speakers,amps, you name it!!

But this has to come from somehwere, and yes daddy is a muzo, but where duz it come from???

Thank you Gran....lol...my Gran playing piano in my garage...what an amazing pianist and muzo in her own right!!!

MWA

Creche Drumming Show

So this was done for an end of year pantomime show in MosselBay...

What an incredible day it as for me...up to this point I had only had 3 group lessons with the kids and they astounded me and their parents by a flawless show!!!!

DANKIE KINDERS!!!!

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!

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

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!!!

Drumming at a High School

 Drumming for a company that deals with school programs...

This was just before an event for the teachers of Outeniqua High School in George South Africa...

Was an awsome session...fun was had by all!!!!

Total of 24 drums were used...and I had a skinless drum there to demonstrate how the shell is made,etc...

Hope to do a whole lot more for this school and company!!!

My Business Card

TO ALL THOSE THAT VIEW THIS PAGE...

Drumming is what I do for a living, for an income, and for my sanity...

I will be doing this for the rest of my life and hopefully be able to give the business over to my son one day...

Should any of you even THINK you might know someone or a company that might want to use my services...PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE download this pic of my business card, and email it onward...

As you might or might not know...being a musician is a tough business to crack, however I have over the years built up a solid reputation, and most of it has been through word of mouth...this is why I ask that you continue this tradition that has helped me build my business to the point where it is now!...

Thank you to all those that have contributed to this over the years!....Lets have many more!!!!

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!

8ta Beach Festival

So I got hired to join the 8ta team on their "Its Playtime This Summer Beach Festival" ...

We traveled to beaches from Cape Town along the coast to East London...

These pics were taken in Sedgefield...

 On this particular day, George "the Beatboxer" Avakian(formally the winner of SA's Got Talent 2010, I think)...

At one point he literally called me up on stage and we proceeded to have a "Drum Battle", his mouth versus my hands...

Needless to say...fun was had by all....

How do ya like the fist pound on the right!?