a goblet-shaped hand drum originating in West Africa

the low, medium and high pitched strikes on the djembe

three bass drums (kenkeni, sangban and dundunba) that create an accompanying bass line for the djembe

an iron bell playing a distinct rhythm alongside the dunduns

Task A - Djembe Hand Sounds Video

Djembe Bass Video

Djembe Tone Video

Djembe Slap Video

Kenkeni Video

Sangban Video

Dundunba Video

Task B Listening Pattern Audio

Call Pattern Video

Djembe Part 1 & Call Pattern Video

Djembe Part 2 Pattern Video

Full Performance Video

Task C Performance Video

Context and technique in West African drumming

Music

Kuku - djembe and dundun parts

Kuku - structure and solo parts

Warabadon - djembe and dundun parts

Warabadon - structure and solo parts

Composing in a Kuku or Warabadon style

Pupils are introduced to drumming from the regions of West Africa, performing as an ensemble and developing their understanding of djembe technique, the structure and musical conventions of the music, how rhythm and tempo are used to create excitement and the culture connected with the music.

Djembe drumming and rhythms from the regions of West Africa

a dance song, celebrating the return of the women from fishing expeditions

a rhythm that emphasises (accents) notes in between the main beats, sometimes referred to as 'off-beat'

the highest pitch dundun; this often keeps the pulse by playing on the beat

the middle pitch dundun; this plays more complex rhythms

the lowest pitch dundun; this plays a more traditional bass drum role, accenting the strong beats

Hand Sounds Video

Kuku - Djembe Part 1 Video

Kuku - Djembe Part 2 Video

Kuku - Djembe Break Video

Kuku - Djembe Full Rhythm Video

Task A Djembe Performance Video

Kuku - Kenkeni Part Video

Kuku - Sangban Part Video

Kuku - Dundunba Part Video

a phrase that signals a piece is going to start, change or end

a phrase that is used to build to the climax of a piece

a short phrase that breaks up the main rhythms

a featured part of a composition played by one person

Kuku - Échauffement Video

Kuku - Échauffement Structure Video

Kuku - Tempo Change (Fast Section) Video

Kuku - Solos Video

a rhythm from Burkina Faso, often played at weddings

when each beat of the bar is divided into three quavers rather than two

a compound time signature with twelve quavers in a bar; these quavers are in four groups of three

a triplet rhythm in which only the first and third notes are played, skipping the middle one

4/4 Quavers Example Audio

12/8 Quavers Example Audio

12/8 Shuffle Example Audio

Warabadon - Djembe Call Video

Warabadon - Djembe Part 1 Video

Warabadon - Djembe Part 2 Video

Warabadon - Djembe Break Video

Warabadon - Djembe Full Structure Video

Warabadon - Task A Feedback Performance Video

Warabadon - Kenkeni Video

Warabadon - Sangban & Dundunba Video

Warabadon - Dunduns Break Video

the combination of two or more different rhythms at the same time

a featured part of a composition played by one person, where the player makes up the rhythm on the spot

three notes played in the time it normally takes to play two

Warabadon - Échauffement Video

Warabadon - Échauffement Structure Video

Warabadon - Tempo Change Video

Warabadon - Solos Video

Warabadon - Task B Solos Improvisation Video

the different sections of a piece of music and how the piece is organised

a time signature with four beats in a bar

a time signature with twelve quavers in a bar; these are in four groups of three

Ostinato Example 1 Video

Ostinato Example 2 Video

Ostinato Structure Video

Composition Performance Video

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Djembe drumming and rhythms from the regions of West Africa

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