Launch of Heartbeat

(Still here) ...

Check it out. Tonight on Bravo Canada, Ledaserene Films launches Episode 1 of their Heartbeat series. Episode 1 features Master Drummer Muhtadi. It's the episode I helped work on when I was in TO earlier this year.

Congrats to the company and wishing a successful run of the series.

It was the Muhtadi experience that inspired me to purchase Dandelion when I was in TO ... and that in itself opened up so many wonderful worlds and experiences - meeting new friends, busking downtown to raise money for the Asian elephants, drum circles, classes, etc.

And even back here in TT, Dandelion exposed me to drum classes, stickfighters, tassa drummers and more.

Ironically, just this morning, I looked at her sitting in the corner of my room and thought: "I haven't drummed in ages!"

Time to bring Dandie out again.

Black African rhythm (instructional video)

This is one of the rhythms the women in the Arouca class taught me on Saturday.

In this video I start slowly so it's easier to see what the rhythm is made up of. Then I play it faster so you can more or less hear what it sounds like. Then slow again, then fast.

For the rim shot (5th shot) make sure to 'cork' the drum (i.e. hold your hand down tight on the skin) so that the rim shot sounds like a 'crack'.

Drums ... and the nectar of light

Today I went to the Arouca drum class (transferred because it is closer than Grande). When I went 2 weeks ago the teacher was sick and there was no class. Last week I couldn't go because I had to go to Joanne's book launch. Today when I went, only the tassa teacher was there. I tried it out for a while and wasn't really getting it, so he told me to play the same rhythm on Dandelion. I was doing that when a large woman (wearing green and blue hiking boots, a blouse with small green and white checks, a short denim skirt with locks piled up on her head and wrapped in a red, gold and green scarf) came up to me, pointed to Dandelion and said: "Dat's your drum?"

"Yes."

"Come," she told me - and I followed her outside. There on a bench were two other women, one with a small drum (which belonged to the large woman) and one with a large bass drum.

"Show us what you learned in Deso's class," one of them said.

So I showed them what I remembered: Avalo, Bele, etc. and they showed me the Black African and Indian beats. We sat there jamming and it not only sounded great, but felt great, sitting outdoors on the bench with these women. Prior to this I was the only 'girl'. The large woman was sitting next to me, jiving away on her little djembe, head and shoulders jerking back and forth in time with the rhythm. At one point we were playing the Jig and she got up and started to do the Tobago jig (dance): "Heel and toe! Heel and toe!"

"Attitude!" one of them called out. "Yuh need attitude!"

So she cocked out her bottom and stared at it with a sultry expression on her face while still doing heel and toe, with us drumming, chanting and laughing in the background: "Heel and toe! Heel and toe!"

At one point the large woman asked me: "Wha's yuh name?" When I told her she almost fainted ... and had to pronounce it about ten times before getting it. Her name is Susan (and the other two I can't recall right now). We were joined somewhat later by two young men, Junior and Israel.

The teacher never turned up and, when Susan called on her cell phone, she found out that he was in hospital (casualty). We continued drumming - and everyone who tried out Dandelion literally said "I am in love with this drum." Her tone is really special. They wanted one just like it.

When we were all leaving, I went to my car and saw this Tiger butterfly ... which appeared to be sucking nectar from my car light. Junior, the woman from the Centre and I stood watching it as it went through the sucking motions, never even flinching as I went close to it to get some macro shots. It only flew off when I drove away.

That was a great 'class'. A pity I won't be able to go next Saturday (I'll be at a film workshop and then at the festival) and I won't be able to go the weekend after either (the last class) because of the Greenlight concert. But the others say we should continue even after the classes are done ...

How to play the Avalo (video)

Yesterday there was a request from Kelly for me to post a pic of my hands drumming (to go with the "to-to te" transcription).

Here is a simple instructional video showing how the Avalo is played. (N.B. A sleepy Jasper in the background looking on). I did it in steps so you can understand the "to-to te" method of remembering the rhythm. I played it slowly so you can understand ... and softly, as it is early Sunday morning and the neighbours are still asleep.

(For some reason Youtube is not uploading this morning, so I have uploaded this video using the new Blogger video upload feature).

The First Recipient of a Beginning

Just got back from drum class. Today we drummed an Orisha beat to accompany some dancers. Also learnt Avalo, Congo, Bele (Belair?) and Pique. In order to practice the beats at home, I had to devise a method that helps me remember how the particular rhythm is constructed.

I decided to go with sounds, like how Indian percussionists say things like te taka te ta taka tiki ta ... (etc).

I use "D" to differentiate the left hand from the "T" of the right hand ... and the different vowel endings to indicate the positioning of the hand on the drum (- o: bass; - a: mid; - e:rim)

E.g.
Left hand:
Do (bass) da (mid) de (rim)

Right hand:
To (bass) ta (mid) te (rim)

So Avalo for example is:
To-to te
To-to te te
To-to te
To-to tetete

Bele is:
Da-te da
Da-te da
Da-te da
Da-te da

And so on ...

In other news, a blogger named Kizz left a comment saying she received her Beginning. I think I had posted hers second ... so it must have been this one (?) I can't remember ...

I haven't been keeping track of who is getting what.

Without Worry

Went to visit a spa in Sans Souci with two friends yesterday. The lovely meaning of Sans Souci is 'without worry'.

On the way back, I spotted this lovely grassy cliff overlooking the sea and we made a Dandelion stop.

Taking Dandelion out of her case and preparing to put on the strap.
(Photos of me & Dandy taken by Nish)

Trying to remember one of the beats I learned in the class yesterday.

Messages traveling over the sea.

My name is 'Djembe'.

In tassa class
*

Yesterday I had my first drum class with the stick fighters. It's 'all the way' in Sangre Grande, in the Civic Centre - and the only students are a young Indian man (who's been doing in the class for 4 weeks so far) and I. Upon arrival there, I found out that in addition to learning traditional folk rhythms on the djembe , we will also be learning to play tassa. Talk about a rhythmic multi-cultural baptism. The two tassa teachers were there as well. The first 60 - 90 minutes of the class are for djembe and the next 60 - 90 minutes are for tassa.

I only discovered this on the drive up to Grande: turns out that this is an actual 12-week course (a free one) being offered by the Ministry of Culture. At the end of it we will get certificates.

Around midday, I picked up the teacher, Desmond, in Arouca, then we picked up his son, 'Rattas', and drove to Grande. Desmond can't remember or pronounce my name, so he had me stored in his cellular phone as 'Djembe'. That (and sometimes "Doods") is what he has christened me and continues to call me. He is an interesting person - big and solid with a jolly spirit and a dry, rootsy way of saying things ...

On the drive up to Grande he was telling his son (about me): "Ah not letting she go! She stayin' wit we! Ah want alla dem group to see we have a woman playin' wit we!"

And telling me: "Doods, by de time we finish wit yuh, you go be cuttin' dat djembe like nuttin'! Watch and see!"

When we reached to the Grande Civic Centre ...
Desmond: Yuh have Chinee in yuh?
Me: No. Carib.
Desmond (starts up a rhythm on his djembe): Dis is de 'Carib' riddim. Dis is your riddim!!!
Me (looking at his features): You have Carib too?
Desmond: But how yuh mean?! Yuh know de ting self! My mudder fair-fair jes like you and she hair like you too. She a Carib.

Close ... yet far

Well ... the two guesses from Karen and Kelly were close ... and yet so far. I am not back in TO yet ... but rather went to TObago for the second day of the Muhtadi Drum Festival. (Place beginning with T = Tobago, familiar faces = Muhtadi and some of the people who drum, festivities = drum festival)
This troupe from Toronto had the crowd mesmerised. The female MC (who was very amusing) bawled out to TT women: "Allyuh feel you could wine? Well look what real wine is!"

*

Unlike the festival in TO which was in a park, this stage was near to the beach. There were local players as well as those from TO and other parts of the world. The entire festival ended with a blessing of the drums - a passionate and rhythmic procession from the performance area to the beach, with drums playing, everyone dancing and (in one case literally) catching the spirit. Unfortunately I only took one or two shots with my still camera because I was too busy trying to deal with my video camera which, after years of trusted hard work, is seeing its last days.

All of the performances were enjoyable, but this one from India was my personal favourite (the MC announced him as Mr. Channa) . To his side you will see the hang, a Swiss instrument which many people had not seen before. It sounds like a pan but he played it like a tabla. Hypnotic. (See and hear it in the video below, shot on my digital still camera).


The sequence just after the hang shows him on some drums in the middle of a jam session which followed the drum blessing and ended the festivities.

Drumming up fun

My drum teacher Peter invited me to a session last night which he called "Drumversations" (conversations with drums). There were to be different kinds of drummers (tassa, djembe, bass, etc.) and we would all contribute our rhythms to the conversation. The tassa drummers never turned up, but when I arrived with Dandelion, there were five men from a drumming group who drum for stick fighting and play traditional folk rhythms. They were surprised when I walked in, partly because (as one told me after) 'girls here don't really play drums' unless they grew up in a family where the parents do folk dancing or drumming.

These stick-fighters have some great rhythms, they are very impressive and were very attentive - giving me tips and pointers. I can't wait until I can 'cut' (rhythms) like they do.

Even though I was tired after a day at the beach, I found the energy to drum with them for two hours. Time well spent.

My Drum Spirits Prayer

Sacred Heart, where the drum class I'm going to is held.
I'm the only person in the class.

*
Spirit of Animal
Spirit of Tree
Spirit of Maker
Spirit of Me
*

Just now as I pulled out Dandelion to practise, I felt the need to connect in a special way and settle myself, as I was feeling scattered. Immediately the little prayer (written above) entered my head. Maybe more will come of it, but for now that's all. It is in honour of the Spirits that come together to tune me into myself so that I can connect with Dandelion and vice versa.

Spirit of Animal - whose skin is the drum skin
Spirit of Tree - whose wood is the body of the drum
Spirit of Maker - the maker who made the drum and also the Supreme Maker
Spirit of Me - Elspeth

I guess everyone has a different way of doing this. Muhtadi did a long drum roll to become centred. The teacher I have now (Peter) puts his hand on his drum and one on his heart and says something ... and he also puts a hand on my drum and says something. Other drummers must have other ways ... and maybe as time goes on these methods evolve until they settle as one thing to that one person. I don't know, I'm new.

For now ... from now on I'll say my 'Drum Spirits' prayer and envision the circular flow I usually see before starting.

Oh well ...

Yesterday when I called to get directions to the drum class I found out that there was no class because they have to practise for a competition in two weeks' time.

Last Wednesday when I'd called, I was told the same thing (that they had to practise). I began to wonder if I was wasting my time or if I should go elsewhere. I don't want to call every week and meet cancellations.

Anyway, the new plan is for Saturday afternoon. Then (they won't be practising) I will begin to learn "the language of the drum", proper technique, stretching and warming up for playing and a lesson plan will be drafted out based on "how fast" I can pick up what I'm being taught.

As Xavier says: "I does just dive into de rhythms one time."

Dandelion goes to school

I've found someone (Xavier) in Santa Cruz who gives drumming classes (djembe). So hopefully Dandelion and I will be going there this evening for 'the beginners class from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.'

I had been to the launch of a short animation film earlier this year and had asked a drummer (one of the performers) where I could find someone who gives drumming lessons. (At this time I hadn't gone to Toronto yet and didn't have Dandelion). I was given the number of the drummer Tamba, who is from South. Upon calling Tamba, he told me he would give me the contact information of someone up North, closer to me ... but I did not actually get this number until I called him a few days ago (after my return).

According to him, every drummer has his nickname. He gave me a contact for 'Redman' and one for 'Lion'. Speaking to Lion was interesting.


Me: Hi, is this Lion?

Lion (deadpan): Yeah.

Me: My name is Elspeth.

Lion: Yeah.

Me: I got your number from Tamba.

Lion: Yeah.

Me: He said you're a drummer.

Lion: Yeah.

Me: You give lessons?

Lion: No.


He then explained (briefly) that he had not drummed in a while and that I should "call dis man". He gave me the number for Xavier, a Malick Folk Performer who gives lessons.

I'm looking forward to this. It's the first thing about returning to TT that has me excited.

Wedding drums and Dandelions

Yesterday at the 8th Muhtadi International Drum Festival (M.I.D.F.) there was a wedding. Jakko Bakko (not sure if this is the spelling, but it's the phoenetic pronunciation) married his partner, Valerie. It was a powerful event, witnessed by their loved ones and hundreds of 'strangers' (the audience). The two had met 7 years ago at the M. I. D. F. and decided to have their wedding on stage at the festival all these years later. They were serenaded on drums by the Muhtadi World Drummers. It was a special treat to witness this moving ceremony.

According to Muhtadi, if anyone attending the festival meets their mate there, they have him to thank (... or did he say 'to blame'?).

At one point I was sitting on the grass in front of the stage and a single white dandelion seed came and hovered on the wind directly before me, almost as though saying: "Here I am!" So simple ... it felt amazing. I thought "Wow ..." (it was as if a wish had come to me, granted). I held out my hand and let it gently land in my palm where it stayed until I blew it.

Unfortunately I wasn't feeling too well so left early ... therefore missing the rest of that day's line-up. I was hoping to return today to take in a few acts before leaving for Montreal, but I think the day will be consumed largely with packing and making sure I'm not forgetting anything important:

Satya - check
Dandelion - check

When I got home last night and was playing Dandelion, my hands surprised me. They were flying all over Dandie's skin, very fluently playing impressive rhythms that (to me) seemed to come out of nowhere ... as if they had a life of their own. Even my cousin, who was there listening to me, noticed a difference. I told her that maybe I had picked up something during the short time I was at the drum festival. Then I remembered the little hovering dandelion seed ...

Dandelion, the brave Drum

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Today Dandelion and I will be going to The Muhtadi International Drum Festival. Yesterday I decided to name my drum Dandelion ... a name of dual significance.

In keeping with the dandelion as a flower, every time the drum is played, powerful vibrations will spread far and wide with positive results (reminiscent of a wish being made, the dandelion being blown and the seeds being dispersed).

The other aspect reflects the meaning behind the 'Lion" part of the name Dandelion. As power animals, Lions are active and fiery, icons of bravery, courage, strength, self-worth. The meanings of the Adinkra carvings on this particular drum echo this.

Kwatakye (or Gyawu) Atiko: bravery and valour

Pa Gya: to strike fire or make fire. (Said to be a symbol of war).

I say Dandelion is brave enough to go where guided ... striking/making the fires of Love ... starting world wars where the bombs being dropped are positive vibes and manifestations.

*

(I love this write-up about the Lion as a power animal):

Lions are perhaps the most social of the big cats, living in communities called prides. Within this unit, the females are the better hunters, working together to kill their prey. They are the primary caretakers of the young cubs, while the male protects the group from predators. All adults are affectionate toward the cubs, who live a playful and carefree existence.

One meaning of Lion, then, relates to family, cooperation, and community. Working with Lion medicine means understanding that one's well-being is based on being able to live and work in harmony with others, without sacrificing one's individuality. (Think of the lion's proud roar.)

We find the key to this balance between self and others in some of the widespread symbols for this feline. The lion is the astrological animal related to the sign of Leo, which rules the heart. Leo is ruled by the Sun, another symbol of Lion. As the sun provides us with life-giving warmth and light, so the warmth of an open heart provides comfort for all who are touched by it.

The French word for heart is coeur, the root word for courage. Courage comes from the heart and from one's deep sense of personal authority. When we have the courage to be true to ourselves, we have the power to act in ways that are in accord with our own spirit.

This is the true meaning of self-esteem, an honoring of oneself that bypasses false ways of gaining the illusion of self-esteem, such as comparing oneself to others and deflating their worth in order to inflate one's own value.

One who acts from a true sense of worth has a quality of self-appreciation that is inspiring and contagious. An individual who relates to others from the heart is capable of leadership, achievement, and the kind of success that encourages the accomplishments of others.

In ancient Egypt, a young lion symbolized the rising of the sun. So, in working with Lion medicine, we may experience the emergence of our own true, radiant selves.

Source

More busks for tusks

Photo taken by Nancy at our busking location on Wednesday

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Yesterday (a few hours ago) we busked in the same spot on the corner of Yonge and whatever-street-that-is with the "World's Biggest Bookstore". This time we were joined by Mike and Rob from the drum class.

Warming up

Before we began Nancy laid out the elephant booklets we'd been given at Wednesday night's benefit concert and I wrote up the necessary on the sidewalk with chalk. Nancy's roommate had given her a medium-sized wooden elephant (with one tusk symbolically missing) for display purposes. It stood by the large plastic cup we had (instead of a hat this time) for donations.

We started drumming at about 9:30 p.m. and, within 20 minutes, we had made $14 and attracted a small audience of people who also drummed and wanted to join in. They never got to, though. The night's festivities were cut short by a woman came up to us and told us to stop playing because there are condominiums nearby and we were disturbing residents.

Saving Asian Elephants one drum at a time (edited with more info on benefit concert)

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)


Last night when I met up with two friends to go here, one of them, Nancy told me about a jazz concert a friend of hers has organised (for tonight) to raise funds on behalf of the Asian Elephants. We are going to the concert ... but we've decided that prior to that we will have a little concert of our own.

Weeks ago when we all first met, we had planned to go drum-busking in front of The Big Carrot. But last night we decided we would drum-busk this evening, before we attend the benefit concert for the Elephants (Information here). Instead of doing it in front of the Carrot, we'll drum in the Dundas Square area, where there is a lot more pedestrian traffic. It may end up being just two of us, but we've decided that whatever money we make (hopefully more than $1.91), will go toward the Asian Elephant fund.

(Nelly the Elephant will be proud).

Very interesting that drumming encourages 'community'. I just looked up elephant as a power animal and it means something similar: community, love, commitment, etc. (Read the link if you have the time/are interested).

The drum-busking will take place in the Dundas Square area starting at 6:00 p.m. Admission: free. Donations for the Elephants encouraged.

The jazz concert will take place at 720 Bathurst Street, South of Bloor, West side, downstairs. Admission: $20. (50% of proceeds go to the fund for the Elephants).

To find out more and donate online to the Asian Elephant fund, visit The Elephants' Umbrella Fund.

Come Together (with video)

A friend of mine asked me to play a special prayer for her on my new drum. So today I went to a nearby field (full of dandelions, which I love) and stood among them to play the prayer. I put my digital camera on the ground under me and the drum, to record the prayer to send to her. No sooner had I started playing than I heard enthusiastic, excited little giggles behind me. It turned out to be two Chinese children ("Hannah", about 7 or 8 and "Kevin", about 6) who had left their mother and run across the field when they heard the drum. Lucky thing my camera was on, so I ended up recording what they started to do ...

Afterwards, I was putting the drum back into its backpack. The two children stood staring at me with fascination. Then Hannah proudly said: "We speak Chinese."

Me: So can you teach me to say something in Chinese?

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says he doesn't want you to go.

Me: What does he want me to do?

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says he wants you to stay.

Me: Stay and do what?

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says he wants you to play your drum.

Me: Okay.

(I pull back out the drum and start to play and they start to dance. Less than one minute into the drumming/dancing ...).

Kevin: (says something in rapid Chinese)

Hannah: He says you can go home now.

Drumming in The Cave

Detail of one of the paintings on the wall at The Dance Cave

Last night I met Eyad and Traci, two of the three new friends I'd met at the drumming class (Nancy is away for the week so she couldn't join us). Last Tuesday we had planned to meet and go drumming outdoors with the drum circle, but due to rain and thunder, plans were aborted. This week (warm and bright weather) it was indoors at The Dance Cave.

Before it all begins ... chairs being set up in a circle for the drummers.

At one point I stopped and placed my camera on my drum head to keep it still for this shot with a very slow shutter speed (since the room was dark). Hence the people dancing in the centre are blurred to the point that they can't be seen.

Now you can see them, with use of the flash.

It was fun. The drumming sounded great at points and at other times, like a mass of noise. At one point it got so loud I couldn't hear myself think, much less drum. E, who goes all the time, had walked with ear plugs. T had forgotten hers. By the end of the night, after about two hours of drumming, my hands looked like a small bunch of ripe figs.

Drum busking duo takes Toronto by storm (includes video)

(Canada Chronicles continued ...)

Inspired by Muhtadi, working on the drumming documentary with Leda Serene Films (explore their website) and the various classes and drum circles/jams I've been experiencing, I couldn't resist purchasing my 'gift' of a new drum at Saikou's drum shop.

J gets a rhythm going

Yesterday was a public holiday (Vctoria Day). J and I went drumming high up on the steps leading to Casa Loma. It was a scenic, quiet spot (so that we would not disturb residential dwellers). The first person to give us audience was an old jazz drummer from New Orleans with a name I have since forgotten. He sat and watched as we drummed, took a picture of us and told us that he knew Saikou (where our drums are from), Muhtadi and also Bill Trotman from Trinidad. After he left, several tourists on their way up to the landmark paused and took in our renditions.

Our first 'donation' of $1 from an Oriental fan

Luckily I had my hat with me. I put it on the ground before us as we drummed. Several tourists (mainly enthusiastic Chinese? Japanese? people with cameras) stopped and took photos near to us or posing directly with us. We were like a tourism spectacle.

We gave thanks to our contributors with drum rolls.

Within one and a half hours of impressing new fans with varied drum patterns, we made $1.91 CAD (The equivalent of a little over $10TT). Not much in the grand scheme of things, but the excitement of getting any money at all in the hat was enough to make our day. We're saving that money to put in the hat next time we go drum-busking (in a busier area this time). When money is in the hat other people will be more encouraged to add to our 'busking bank'.

(Below: short video clip of the experience)