Private classes available - Contact us for details
Rhythm(s) of the month
Djabara (Monday classes)
Djabara is a popular Malinke rhythm from the Wassolon ethnic group (North east of Guinea). It is named after the shaker instrument Djabara.
This rhythm used to be played by women holding Djabara when a very important person arrives in the village. Originally not played with Doundoumba/Sangban/kenkeni, this rhythm has been adapted to include these instruments. It is now also played as a popular rhythm at many various occasions.
CLASSES SCHEDULE - ONGOING CLASSES ALL YEAR LONG
(Schedule for following month is posted by the end of each month)
Beginners group class on listed Tuesdays : 6 to 7.30PM
2nd Beginners group class on listed Thursdays: 7:30 to 9.00PM
Beginners / Intermediate group class on listed Tuesdays: 7:30 to 9 PM
2nd "Beginners / Intermediate" group class on listed Thursdays: 6 to 7.30 PM
Intermediate / Adv group class on listed Mondays: 7.15PM to 8.45PM
(Intermediate / Adv Monday group classes at alternate location - Contact us for location details)
Please specify your drumming level, as well as the best time and method
for us to contact you (email or phone)
How did you hear from us:
Drumming class Inquiry details: (English or French)
All over West Africa, and in the world, the Republic of Guinea is known for its wide and rich tradition of percussion based music and dance. This is also one of the two countries where the Djembe instrument originated from (Guinea / Mali region of today). Guinea rhythms are from Malinke, Soussou, Baga, Peul ethnic groups and more.
A Guinea traditional ensemble is usually composed of one to 3 double-sided drum players called Doundounfola, playing the Doundoumba. Sangban, and Kenkeni drums. It also includes a few Djembe players for accompaniment (Djembedefola), and one lead Djembe soloist player (Djembebafola), who follows the dancers steps .
Beginner, intermediate, and Intermediate/advanced players on the Doundoumba, Sangban, Kenkeni, Djembe, can attend without any particular prerequisites
(Drop in classes). Beginners work on basic rhythmic patterns in dedicated beginner's group classes, while intermediate and advanced players work on more challenging arrangements in dedicated intermediate and advanced group classes.
Each month is dedicated to a specific rhythm(s) that you will learn in detail, including the different pattern for each instrument (Doundoumba, Sangban, Kenkeni, 1st Djembe, 2nd Djembe..).
Only Guinea rhythms are played in our classes.
If you think it is a little restrictive, there are hundreds of rhythms from Guinea alone, and many of them still known and played inside Guinea only.
The teaching method is focused on developing intuitive understanding of West African percussion music, with a strong focus on synchronization, as well as the basic playing techniques used in a Guinea West Africa drumming ensemble.
Based on his unique exposure to both occidental and West African music teaching method, Alpha has developed a simple teaching method for beginners.
The Doundoumba, Sangban and Kenkeni drums are the base and foundation of Guinea drumming, though unfortunately neglected by many hand drummers who only play the more popular Djembe. In our classes, these double-sided drums are played in every group class together with Djembes.
Among some of the benefits, attending these classes will help you:
- Develop listening skills.
- Facilitate left and right hand drumming coordination and independence.
- Read and write simple percussion notation.
- Explore non-verbal communication.
- Discover improvisation and soloing.
- Discover Guinea tradidions and culture.
Whether you are a beginner drummer or a long time Djembe player with little experience on the Doundoumba base drums, you'll get a chance to further develop your overall understanding of Guinea rhythms tradition and culture, through the practice of these traditional instruments in one of our dedicated group lessons.
Children are welcomed - Parental supervision may be required.
(Case per case basis)
Whenever you have the opportunity, we also strongly recommend that you attend workshops from Guinean Master drummers, either in Guinea or in North America, as this is one of the best source to learn rhythms through traditions.
Master drummers periodically come to Toronto for workshops.
Check our home page board for details.
WELCOME
Comments about Drumming circles / drum circles:
The North American drum circle concept has grown from the initial lack of understanding of West African percussion by the first North Americans who were exposed to the Djembe drum.
Because of its complexity, sophistication, and uniqueness, it was not easy to comprehend the musical structure and rhythmic interaction of West African percussion, and no Master drummers were available to teach in North America at the time.
Consequently, West African drumming mainly was reduced to a simple form of group drumming taken out of its traditional and cultural context, with little to no interaction between drummers.
This is unfortunately reinforcing a common misconception that Djembe playing does not need instruction. Unfortunately, this very simplified form of drum circle group playing has been adopted as being the equivalent of its more sophisticated and highly interactive West African original. Most novice and percussion music enthusiasts are unaware of the difference, while the original sophisticated Djembe ensemble type of playing is being purposely ignored and hidden by many North American "drum makers" and "circle facilitators" for commercial reasons.
"Like any other musical and percussion instrument in the world, the Djembe requires instruction. Imagine trying to learn how to play the piano by yourself..."
Do you want to take your Djembe hand playing technique to the next level?
Do you want to play more complex and challenging arrangements on the world most famous hand drumming instrument?
You've been playing the Djembe in drum circles for some times, but you feel like you need to improve your playing technique to take it to the next level?
Do you want to experience a higher level of musical interaction while playing the Djembe in a group?
There are other people like you in our Intermediate and advanced group classes.
Absolute beginners / beginners:
Do you want to start playing the Djembe, but feel intimidated, or don't really know where to start? Allow us to help you break the ice.
You've been playing the Djembe or hand drums in a drum circle, but feel like you need dedicated instruction?
There are other people like you in our beginner's and intermediate dedicated group classes.
No prior experience is required.
Check out our dedicated group classes and allow us to introduce you to the world of the Guinean percussion ensemble, and its almost endless variety of authentic rhythms passed along since the 13th century, played on the Djembe and various other percussion instruments.
Alpha playing the Doundounba, Sangban, Kenkeni (Modern balai style)
Please visit "About Us" for further information about Alpha Rhythm Roots.
Fun Interactive Djembe class group playing unlike drumming circle toronto GTA
Original Djembe playing ensemble which inspired the drumming circle
gta drum circle
Fun drumming in a group with a different format than drumming circles
Discover how Djembe drum was played in a group centuries ago - drum circles
Playing the Djembe drum unlike in Drum circles toronto
learn how to play Djembe in a group unlike in drumming circles toronto G.T.A
G.T.A Drum circle toronto
Beginners classes
(Absolute beginners)
Beginners / Intermediate classes
Intermediate/Advanced
classes
Beginners classes
(Absolute beginners)
Beginners / Intermediate classes
Intermediate/Advanced
classes
(Optional)
New student of the month
My name is Uwe, I am 30 years old and I started drumming with Alpha's class some weeks ago. But this was not my first time to play the djembe. I began drumming in 1999 in a little German city. It was also Guinean rhythm and a small group. After a half year I moved to another place so I canceled it for a while.
What is it which makes me happy to drum? Well, first it is to play in a group! There are not to many instruments which you can play in a group right from the beginning. It's not a lonesome thing. I have to be aware of what the others playing. And second, drumming is such a fundamental natural thing! If once the whole group is in the right float it begins to move me. Sometimes, at the end of a 90 minutes class, I am thinking "What, that's it? We just really started 15 minutes ago!". I hope I can learn much more during the next time.
By the way I am blind. So when I ever learned to play an instrument I learned it by hearing. There is a musical notation for the blind too, but I see it is big advantage not to "read drumming", just listen and feel!
