So now I want to just go through some exercises
to, you can practise these at home, you don’t even need a drum or anything, you can practise
them at work, wherever you want really. I’m not going to come up with the full list,
you can work it out yourself. That’s the first test – email and let
me know how you go. But these are just some exercises to help
you build your independence and basic understanding of 4/4 rhythms. So, throughout all the exercises, what I want
you to do, is be walking. So, I know it’s, it might be a little bit
uncomfortable to be walking in front of your computer, but it’s even more uncomfortable
to be walking in front of some cameras. Trust me. So, I’m walking – 1, 2, 3, 4 – and that’s
the second test. First test, list of places you can do it,
second test, walking. This should be pretty easy so far. So once you’re walking, I want you to be
comfortable walking and then sing a bell pattern, which is a really common bell pattern if you’ve
listened to any Cuban music, or other African music, rock music, funk music, you’ve probably
heard it.
It goes like this: ken-ny ken-ny ka, cha cha… So that’s the first thing I want you to
do, is walk, and sing that rhythm. And the way I’m singing that rhythm ‘kenny
kenny ka, cha cha’. If you’ve got other words or if you’ve
heard other words, use those. I don’t really mind, I’m just in the computer. 1, 2, 3, 4, so we’re going kenny kenny ka
cha cha… And once you can do that, I want you try clapping
the rhythm that you’re singing, like this… So just have a go at that… and that’s
something for you to do in the privacy of your own home, or your boudoir, and if you
don’t get it at first, that’s fine. Most people don’t get it at first. Maybe if you’re a musician, you might get
it, or a dancer. Even if you’re a musical dancer and you
don’t get it, that’s still fine.
I won’t even know about it. Unless you tell me. So the thing I’m going to do to try and
make it easier, so one way you can just approach that and just keep trying to do it, and if
you muck it up, that’s fine, just keep trying. The other way is if I slow it right down and
see if you can work it out that way. So if we’re walking slower – 1 2 3 4 – so
we’re still doing the walking, just slowly, and the first clap is on our first foot. 4, Again, clap. Now, the second clap is just before the second
foot, like this… 3, 4, clap clap foot, 3, 4… Now, the next one is just after the foot,
like this… clap clap foot clap… Another way to think of it is it’s when
you’re lifting your right leg, like this… clap clap foot clap… Exaggerating a little bit… Next one, clap clap foot clap foot clap, so
it’s after the next foot.
Again, clap clap foot clap foot clap… So it’s when you’re lifting your left
leg… And the last one, you’re last foot and clap
are together… clap clap foot clap foot clap clap… So, really slowly, clap clap foot clap, as
you lift your leg, foot clap, as you lift your other leg clap, as you bring the leg
down. I’ll try and do that without falling over,
again… So maybe you have to break it down really
slowly like that to get it, that’s fine. Do it really slowly… and then gradually
speed it up.
And then once you can do it, make sure you’re
singing at the same time, like this… kenny kenny ka cha cha… And that’s the first exercise I want you
to do. – Learn how to play djembe and other African
drumming with African Drumming Online.