I have done more practicing with the drum. Particularly, Ive been focussing on memorizing entire sequences and executing them just as David Thiaw demonstrates in the book and audio. I am proud to feel like I can play a djembe.

I am having a lot of fun now in improvising on the instrument; I like to begin by playing a rhythm or sequence and then start adding beats and pats that weren’t originally in the sequence to make it more complex. Once I have this foundation in the rhythms, then I can deviate from them and change them in ways, but then still have the foundation to be able to come back into the original rhythm which creates unity in the piece.

We are nearing the end of the semester and I am grateful to feel competent with this interesting and eclectic percussion instrument. I’m happy to have a djembe at home and glad that I can always refer to the audio play-along that I have.

Hurray for Djembe!