“Djembe karan” – Learn the Djembe
Learn the Djembe with master percussionist Amara Kante.
This unique training curriculum will help students sharpen their drumming skills by teaching them drumming techniques, rudiments, and traditional rhythms of the Malinke people of Guinea, West Africa.
The Dundun, Sangban, Kensedeni are additional musical instruments played to accompany the Djembe. They play an integral role in the learning and eventual mastery of traditional Malinke rhythms. The Djembe however impressive solo is curiously naked without this musical trio to complement it.
Please contact Amara Kante directly to purchase a Djembe and/or related musical instruments.
Beginner Level: every second Friday of the month on April 13, May 11 and June 8 from 7 to 9 pm
-General understanding of how to sit and hold a drum.
-Learn to relax while playing.
-Learn solo techniques.
-Basic ability to use a hand drum to make 3 basic sounds, bass, tone, slap.
-Ability to start and stop with a signal.
-Ability to listen to and watch basic rhythms played and play back those basic rhythms with ease.
-Learn the following three ceremonial rhythms: “Tasaba”, “Torodon” and “Morobayasa”.
-“Tasaba” -A mask originally from Ivory Coast. In Guinea its rhythm is played on Malinke instruments to celebrate births and mark official visits.
“Torodon” – A rhythm played prior to the “Soliba”.
-“Moribayassa” – The name of a very old rhythm and dance. The rhythm is played exclusively for the joyful dance of a woman who has overcome a difficult situation.
Cost per class is $40 or $100 for 3 classes
Register with Amara at 647 765 8584 or click here
Intermediate Level: every forth Friday of the month on April 27, May 25 and June 22 from 7 to 9 pm
-Build on and fine tune the skills learned at the beginner level.
-Learn history, regions, purpose, and how to play West African rhythms.
-Learn the following four ceremonial rhythms: “Mandjan”, “Dja”, “Soliwoulen”, “Soro”.
-Learn and practice numerous warm up exercises that you can use at home.
-Learn several rudiments and hand techniques that will greatly improve your sound and stamina.
-Learn to hear and feel the music while playing.
-Call and response and improve timing.
-Learn traditional handing of rhythms.
-“Mandjan” – A rhythm from Baro, dedicated to a famous dancer among the young girls during the “Dja” (Initiation into womanhood before marriage).
-“Dja”- A dance for young girls performed during the full moon and at traditional ceremonies such as weddings in Hamana and Gberedu.
-“Soliwoulen” – A sacred Malinke mask that protects children during the “Soliba”against witchcraft and evil spirits.
-“Soro”- Described as the substance of magic, a spirit, life force, the energy within a seed. This rhythm is part of the “Kassa” (meaning granary) family of rhythms associated with the harvest. The “Kassa” family of rhythms includes “N’Koke”,“Soro” and much more.
Cost per class is $40 or $100 for 3 classes
Register with Amara at 647 765 8584 or click here
“Professional percussionist playing traditional rhythms and instruments from Guinea, Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Senegal: Djembe, dununs, bara, talking drum and krin.”
Of Malinké origin, Amara Kante started playing percussions at the age of seven. His talent was exceptional especially for one so young, that he was invited to perform with the KOTEBA group and the Ballets Africains de Guinée, touring throughout Africa, the United States and Europe.
His extensive professional experience has attracted famous international artists such as Mory Kante and Peter Gabriel.
In 1998, he made one of his dreams come true when he set up the KAWAFOLI school of Manding percussions in Marseille, France where he taught the djembe, dunun and krin.