How I learned to Play some African Drums

By: Omer Sanchez and Lauren Ansell

 

Over the past year the Altoona community has hosted the African Drum Circle every Sunday in the late afternoon. The Altoona Arts Project, which is a program of trying to enhance the economy of Altoona, but trying to introduce diversity into this town, reached out to some of the local African drum enthusiasts in hopes to encourage a broader artistic feel within the small town. This event is a welcoming and interactive community booster that reaches for any person to challenge his or her’s rhythmic capabilities. Attendance size varies from under one hundred people to a modest handful allowing people to come back and gain a new experience with new people every week. But, perhaps a quick history lesson is in order.

A local organization in Altoona referred as the Altoona Arts originally reached out  to Yamoussa Cemara two years ago, to see if he’s able to create some magic. After a year of preparation, the first ever event happened on Memorial Day 2017, with the help of some local artists to expand creative diversity within the community, being fortunate enough to be supported weekly by Valerie A. Metzler, Steve Everett, Erro Gutshall and Dave Pespot. Yamoussa has been such an important part of this event, once speaking to any of the members there, the influence becomes apparent.  Altoona Arts reached out to him, to try to introduce some culture and show people something incredible.

The event would settle at Heritage Plaza, an open space in downtown Altoona across the bus stop. They would begin by showing the traditional African rhythms and techniques on the collection of drums. This event strives for an inclusive atmosphere that caters to anyone with an interest in African music by providing a series of drums for all welcomed drummers. But, of course, since this is called the Altoona African Drum Circles, then  the stars of the show have to be discussed. That being, the interesting amount of drums that they have in stock for the public to see and play.

The Dunduns were the first drums introduced, not Duns, and yes it does indeed matter on how to pronounce the series. This drum is made of cowskin, which allows this drum to be hit with sticks unlike other goatskin crafted drums supplied. The Dununs is a set of three drums but each drum owns a unique sound and name, making this certain drum a tad complicated. The largest of the three is called a, well a Dundun, and yes, we’re aware that both the set and the largest of the three both have the same names, but work with us here. It provides the lowest pitch of the three. The second largest is called a Sangban, which yes, does produce a lovely sound, while also being perhaps the middle sound of the three. Then last but of course not least, the smallest of the three, the Kenkeni, which does provide perhaps the highest pitch of the set.

Then there’s the Djembe, which are more hourglass shape compared to the rest of the drums, and unlike the Dununs, have goatskin attached, meaning, that it really is a bad idea to use any sticks to play them because they could potentially damage the drums.  Despite that, they aren’t a fragile as glass. After a while, our hands started to get all red, mine personally getting just a bit numb.. With that being said, the African drums came off intimidating at first. But this event is sponsored by patient people to instruct how to play a drum; from how one should hold it, to actually playing them.

After sitting down next to the teachers, they reveal the three main hitting positions every beginner must know in order to play the basic African drum rhythms. First, there’s the Bass-in which the novice drummer can hit the middle of the drums, perhaps the simplest  hit to remember. Slap-where the drummer hit the edge of the drums with fingers slightly apart, and lastly the Tone– similar to the slap but instead yours fingers are touching. After learning the correct hitting spots and finger arrangements, it’s time to count and learn the beating patterns. These tap cycles are the rhythms, new drummers honestly can’t get one wrong. This is something that you’re suppose to be able to enjoy, with whoever because African drum music deems impromptu solos, believing that in a way, it helps anyone on a spiritual level, as well in a physical level. It’s not uncommon to see people drumming as a form of meditation, and when playing the drums last Sunday, I honestly was able to see how it could be therapeutic in a way.

I can personally say that the people who are in charge of the events, are tremendously friendly. Fortunate enough to interview a little bit from everyone, especially from Valerie A. Metzler, who has been a member of the group for a great deal of time. Honestly wasn’t expecting the people in charge of the event to  be as friendly, nor was the amount of fun even possible. While being able to learn some of the amazing, traditional African rhythms. Each tune alone could be a great song, so imagine when combining all of the them together.

Overall, the Altoona African Drum Circle is truly a great event attend, and is an event that we could personally recommend our friends to join in and experience the fun as well. With enough time, I hope this introduction to african culture will excede Altoona’s current narrow art essence and one day reshape the arts more diversely. So please, join them, and perhaps learn a bit of the drums as well, but most importantly, don’t be afraid on messing up a beat.

 

For more Information, visit www.WestAfricanDrumCircle.com

Visit their Facebook Page and Instagram: Altoona West African Drum Circle