This class will happen on a weekly basis, unless otherwise notified.
If you are interested in attending I will include your name to an email invitation that is sent out weekly.
If you are playing any of the "house" drums, rings, bracelets & wrist watches will need to be removed in order to prevent damage from happening to the drum, your hand or jewelry.
Any drum used during class is also for sale. That said, from experience, I only recommend purchasing a drum when you know that you are “hooked” and not on impulse alone.
Otherwise, remember to bring your own djembe.
After we get going, Saantis will go around and give anyone who wants to solo a chance to do so. We also just jam to warm up. This class has a mix of beginners and experienced drummers.
For any questions & the location address, contact me at [email protected]
Looking Forward!
We Always have fun!
Ron
Saantis Fenmu Davis
We will be exploring traditional West African polyrhythms on the djembe, dun duns (bass drums). All levels of experience welcome; appropriate parts will be given based upon your experience level. We’ll also be using elements of improvisation which will allow for access to a fuller spectrum of the traditional sound. This will enable and exercise our ability for our creativity to flow. Our goal as a drum ensemble is to become one drummer with as many hands as are playing.
Bio:
I focus on music education and performance. i specialize in traditional African music and percussion from all parts of the world. I am from Philadelphia but trained New York and now I come back to my home town to share my gift with the people. I believe music is the way to unify people.
What I am doing now: I have my traditional african band "Benu Ausar Philly". i am a percussionist for the bands (Philly Reggae Band, Arrastao do Dende, Bad Kitty, Funk Logic, Rafeal Ponde and band, Children of Adam). i just recorded an album with rafeal ponde called "live at the boom room with Rafeal Ponde". I am also the music teacher in the Philadelphia school system. We work with the youth to educate them on percussion instruments from around the world. I also coordinate the African drums for a bunch of schools ( Mastery Charter Schools, Philadelphia Ballet, FACTS School, Juniata Academy to name a few) that have dance classes and final performances yearly. I also am hired by celebrities to play accompaniment (Debbie Allen, Kenyatta Walker just to name a few).
Background: I have over 20 plus years of experiences playing music and 10 years of teaching. I was raise in traditional African culture so I was born with my instruments. I was taught by master drummers from around the world. I have studied under Tchet Kater of Benu Ausar Drum Company. Second I studied under Brother Yao of Asase Yah Drum and Dance & Basi Kolo. These world renowned teachers taught me when I was young and working with Benu Ausar Drummers and Dancers. I was a part of this group during my pre teen and teenage years. We traveled performing all across the world to London, Canada and US. We performed at the Apollo theater for a week long for an African drum and dance play.
Music is in my blood. I love teaching. My experience has allowed me the skill of teaching any and everyone. My passion comes from the elders who taught me, the culture I represent and the youth that look to me as an example. I know I am a humble part of the cycle of music. I was once the youth looking to the masters for guidance and now I am the teacher guiding the people and one day I wish to be the elder who inspire so many youth to become master drummers.
