As we move into the wonderful, colourful season of Autumn I've been reflecting on the fabulous Spring and Summer I have had with Kontaani.
So many fabulous people have come together with one common bond - African Drumming!
Folk from all walks of life, all religions, all ages, sit down together each week simply to drum.
February saw the arrival into the UK of our friend and tutor Mobe (Diane's husband) from Guinea Conakry. Mobe and Diane are a wonderful partnership who are a joy to have as our tutors. It's fabulous to hear that their own professional Drum and Dance troupe - Wassasou are unfolding - can't wait for their first performance!
I have had an amazing few months playing with semi-professional performance troupe Kamara under the tuition and guidance of my old friend and tutor David Woolley. I have learnt so much from David, he was my first mentor and tutor when I began my love affair with West African drumming.
My decision to leave Kamara in order to put all my energies into developing Kontaani and advancing my own skills was a really difficult one, but I was being torn between practising for Kamara and working on developing Kontaani - I couldn't put enough energy and commitment into both AND hold down a demanding full time job AND spend time with my family. Something had to give.
I really miss playing with Kamara.
Kontaani is going from strength to strength and after a period of enjoying getting out and about doing various gigs in and around the local area, we are using the Autumn and Winter time to train, practise, enhance our existing numbers with more complex rhythms and introduce brand new numbers to our repertoire.
We will emerge next Spring as stronger, more confident players who 'kick ass' (as our musician friend Maisie Johnson described our playing!).
As well as the original line up of the Kontaani Troupe I have introduced the Wednesday beginners class. Members from this class can aspire towards joining the main troupe or just continue to enjoy getting together for an evening of noisy frolics, as is usually the case!
I have also invited a few of the more advanced players, who put their heart and soul into drumming, to form the Kontaani advanced group.
I'm very excited about this group - we will train hard to a much higher level, not only to improve the overall sound of the main Kontaani troupe, but also to create a separate performance troupe in order to play gigs on a more professional level.
My decision to have private lessons with Jamie Riley of Drumroots in order to build on my own existing skills, not only as a player, but to enhance my knowledge in order to teach beginners, has been totally the right decision. Jamie's laid back, supportive and encouraging teaching methods are like having a meditation lesson from the Dalai Lama!
I leave the lesson uplifted and encouraged and fully charged with the thirst to get better and better!
I'm not feeling depressed about the onset of the Autumn and Winter months - I'm looking forward to using the time to progress and emerge out the other side more confident and a better drummer - ready for a summer of fun and gigs with my fellow drum buddies.
Happy Mabon everyone!
Marie x
So many fabulous people have come together with one common bond - African Drumming!
Folk from all walks of life, all religions, all ages, sit down together each week simply to drum.
February saw the arrival into the UK of our friend and tutor Mobe (Diane's husband) from Guinea Conakry. Mobe and Diane are a wonderful partnership who are a joy to have as our tutors. It's fabulous to hear that their own professional Drum and Dance troupe - Wassasou are unfolding - can't wait for their first performance!
I have had an amazing few months playing with semi-professional performance troupe Kamara under the tuition and guidance of my old friend and tutor David Woolley. I have learnt so much from David, he was my first mentor and tutor when I began my love affair with West African drumming.
My decision to leave Kamara in order to put all my energies into developing Kontaani and advancing my own skills was a really difficult one, but I was being torn between practising for Kamara and working on developing Kontaani - I couldn't put enough energy and commitment into both AND hold down a demanding full time job AND spend time with my family. Something had to give.
I really miss playing with Kamara.
Kontaani is going from strength to strength and after a period of enjoying getting out and about doing various gigs in and around the local area, we are using the Autumn and Winter time to train, practise, enhance our existing numbers with more complex rhythms and introduce brand new numbers to our repertoire.
We will emerge next Spring as stronger, more confident players who 'kick ass' (as our musician friend Maisie Johnson described our playing!).
As well as the original line up of the Kontaani Troupe I have introduced the Wednesday beginners class. Members from this class can aspire towards joining the main troupe or just continue to enjoy getting together for an evening of noisy frolics, as is usually the case!
I have also invited a few of the more advanced players, who put their heart and soul into drumming, to form the Kontaani advanced group.
I'm very excited about this group - we will train hard to a much higher level, not only to improve the overall sound of the main Kontaani troupe, but also to create a separate performance troupe in order to play gigs on a more professional level.
My decision to have private lessons with Jamie Riley of Drumroots in order to build on my own existing skills, not only as a player, but to enhance my knowledge in order to teach beginners, has been totally the right decision. Jamie's laid back, supportive and encouraging teaching methods are like having a meditation lesson from the Dalai Lama!
I leave the lesson uplifted and encouraged and fully charged with the thirst to get better and better!
I'm not feeling depressed about the onset of the Autumn and Winter months - I'm looking forward to using the time to progress and emerge out the other side more confident and a better drummer - ready for a summer of fun and gigs with my fellow drum buddies.
Happy Mabon everyone!
Marie x