Photographs by: Michael Ramsey www.onespokenimage.com
Using the tracks to MEMORIZE the accompaniments and breaks:
To quickly memorize each rhythm you have learned, and get them into muscle memory, we suggest the way that West Africans learn them traditionally in the culture -- by hearing them often over time, and playing them often over time. We find this takes at least 1-2 hours per week, and we personally listen and play along for about 2-3 hours per week. And of course the more you listen and play, the faster you memorize. If you focus for 1-3 months, doing all the steps below, you will likely have all the parts memorized by name for all 50 rhythms and 34 variations.
This takes focus, but it will produce amazing results in your ability to play any popular rhythm with anyone on a moment's notice, and have fun drumming wherever you go!
RHYTHM REFERENCE STUDY METHOD
Here are the steps for the complete Rhythm Reference Study Method, our unique method, using these recordings created by Fara Tolno.
If you have questions, please call us. Robert Hensley, the creator of the Rhythm Reference study method, can be reached at 970-366-0867 most days.
Using the Tracks to Memorize the Rhythms
1 – Plan precise amount of time you will play today, which can be different each day. Whether that is 10 minutes that day, or 1 hour, play for that time and move on when your time is up.
2 – Organize the tracks so you can focus on practicing the rhythms you have already learned from a master drummer.
Hint: Create a playlist labeled "RhythmReference" in your iPod or iTunes, and drag those tracks into the new playlist.
3—Listen to the tracks you have learned from a master drummer, in any order, until you know how to play it correctly, at least once a week. The more you listen and play, of course, the faster you will put every accompaniment into muscle memory.
4—Look at the name of the track as your MP3 player begins each new rhythm, and say the name of the rhythm to yourself over and over as you play those parts carefully and correctly.
5 – Repeat the rhythm and play along until you play every part correctly at least twice in a row, including coming in correctly after the break.
Hint: Select "Repeat 1" on your MP3 player or iPod so the track plays over and over, then click to the next track when you are ready.
6 – Practice playing along with each part, coming in after the break correctly.
7 – Continue playing each part for a minute or two more after the track is done, once you get it right, to instill the rhythm into muscle memory.
8—Play as many rhythms as your time allows for that day, until you have played all 50 rhythms, then move on to your other projects for the day. The objective is not so much to get through them all, but rather to get them right. As you learn them, it will go faster each time, and you will eventually get through them all in 2 hours at one sitting. Then just do it once a week or once a month.
9 – Repeat the process every time you sit down. The ones you know best will go quickly, and the ones you less will take longer, until you do them all quickly, and get them all correctly after the breaks the first time.
10 – Learn more rhythms. Lessons from a master drummer are the only way to properly learn more rhythms correctly, so call Fara Tolno or another master drummer to add to your repertoir. Add the track for each new rhythm you learn to your "RhythmReference" playlist in your iPod or iTunes. And keep playing.
Results: After about 2-3 months, you will have most or all of these rhythms memorized, compared to the years it took most of us playing randomly when lessons were available. Use this method, and it will work. Once you know all the 50 rhythms, it only takes 111 minutes to play them all, so that means only 2 hours per week and you will keep them all in memory forever!
Additional Study Tips
Hint: If a particular rhythm is not sinking in with correct micro-timing, like Abondon or another offbeat or challenging accompaniment, just play it in the background while you work for as long as it takes, until you find yourself tapping it out correctly without even focusing. This is how the Africans learn rhythms as they grow up – by listening for countless hours at home or in the village gatherings and celebrations.
Hint: One week sort the rhythms in ascending order, and the next week sort them in descending order, so you get used to hearing them in any order.
Hint: When you are playing along, there are several ways to practice.
* play each different part after each break, just like Fara does
* play the first part over each different one after each break
* play the second part over each different one after each break
* play the third part over each different part after each break
* play the break over each part, over and over in correct timing
Why and How This Works
Listening many times each month to all 50 rhythms will instill the feeling of the rhythms, which is the most important basis for playing with the correct timing and feeling.
Saying the name of the rhythm on the screen when you listen to the break and accompaniments will help you memorize the names for each of the parts.
Playing along while you listen to each accompaniment will help keep all the rhythms in muscle memory.
Playing in response to the breaks will help you respond with proper timing. Playing in response to the unique signature breaks (like for Yankadi, Sorsornet, and Djole, etc.), will help you identify the rhythms by the breaks alone.
Playing each accompaniment longer on your own after the track is done will instill the part deep into muscle memory. Be sure that you are playing it perfectly before you play for any time on your own.
Playing each part over the other parts (i.e. part 1 over part 2) will help you memorize how they fit over each other, and help you play with other drummers. We included the full ensemble with Dun duns particularly for this purpose, and for listening to the feel of the whole rhythm.
FIND a Part Quickly
Using the Rhythm Reference Recordings:
This is the way we use the Rhythm Reference collections the most, just before dance class to make sure we know the low part for instance, or just before teaching a drum class, or just before a rehearsal with my troupe.
- Sort your Rhythm Reference recordings alphabetically by rhythm (song) title.
- Dial to find the rhythm you need to play or remember. They are named by instrument first, then rhythm name, then the version, like this:
- -- RR-Djembe-Diansa-Fara
- -- RR-Djembe-Diansa-Mamady
- Play the whole rhythm, it will only take 1 to 1 1/2minutes to listen
- If you want to dial to the second or third part, or to the mix of all parts, just skip twenty seconds at a time. Each part is about 20 seconds long, including the break.
TEST Yourself
Using the Rhythm Reference Recordings:
These are great drills to make sure you really have them dialed into memory and keep them there.
Test for Breaks
- Create a separate playlist called "RR-Breaks" that only contains rhythms with unique breaks. Email us for a list to pick them out quickly.
- DRUM: Test yourself by responding to each unique break on your drum with the correct accompaniment.
- LISTEN: Test yourself by naming each rhythm out loud after the break.
Test for Accompaniments
- Create a separate playlist called "RR-Accompaniments" that contains only rhythms with unique signature accompaniments. Email us for a list to pick them out quickly.
- DRUM: Test yourself by answering each break on your djembe with the correct accompaniment.
- LISTEN: Test yourself in reverse by listening to each accompaniment and naming the rhythm.
Sample Track>> Djembe: Fulafare
Sample Track>> Trad Duns: Diansa
Sample Track:Djaa
