Drum Set Manuals
South Indian Rhythms for Drum Set
This manual provides a doorway into the concept of adapting South Indian rhythms and mathematical cells to playing drum set grooves. No prior background in Indian music is required to benefit from these ideas. Hopefully this manual will inspire you to further explore the amazing depth of the Indian rhythm systems from both South (Carnatic) and North (Hindustani) Indian music traditions.PDF $8.00
a-rhythm-etic
This study offers a glimpse into the power of the North Indian tabla drum language and the fundamental mathematics the language comprises, presented here as a unique yet universal method called a-rhythm-etic. The concept is simple but with great possibilities. Rhythm cells in this method are rendered with spoken syllables that are strung together to form potent musical shapes and metric structures that are applicable to any instrument and in any style of music. Using basic tabla syllables (called bols) you will discover new and essential entry points into rhythm invention, while speaking syllables clearly and with inflection will enhance the musicality of your practice.PDF $8.00
Belrak
Derived from traditional West African bell patterns and support rhythms, the 200+ variations in this intensive study are derived from traditional African bell patterns from the Ewe people of coastal Ghana. This work represents the culmination of over 30 years of studying African music with teachers in Ghana and Boston. Sources are provided at the end with major influences coming from Professor David Locke (Tufts University), Godwin Agbeli and his sons Reuben, Emmanuel and Nani, and drummer and colleague Bertram Lehmann. Several pages comprise original compositions and concepts.PDF $5.00
Agbekor
Solo drum set arrangement of African bell, support drums, and master drum phrases. All Agbekor patterns incorporate a drum language that allows one to render the entire composition using the voice. Support instruments—totodzi, kagan—are, in fact, named for their basic rhythmic pattern. Slow Agbekor examples shown on below and on the next page provide important insight into the depth of the Ewe drum language. Vocables ease the memorization of long phrases, and provide an effective means of practicing away from the instrument. A performance could, in fact, include the player reciting the phrases as they are rendered, or reciting then playing to create more variety.PDF $5.00
Gahu
Solo drum set arrangement of bell, support drum, and master drum phrases. In the 1950s, Ewe fisherman on expedition in Badagry, Western Nigeria, discovered Gahu in its original, much slower, Nigerian form (called Kokosawa) and brought it back with them to their native Ghanaian soil. Nigerian Kokosawa was adopted by the Anlo-Ewes who live along the coastal region of Ghana. Gahu actually means "money dance." It makes the people in the village feel happy; they offer money as praise and appreciation to the performers. The Anlo-Ewes perform Gahu at twice the speed as Kokosawa. This drumset arrangement is for the faster tempo.PDF $5.00
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WORLD-RHYTHM PIANO: African and Indian Rhythm Concepts Treated as Piano Exercises