Matt:
 
I've played bones in Celtic jam sessions, but never in a drum circle.  What a
great idea.  I purchased a set of the green slate bones and their tone would
probably sound really good in a drum circle.  Thanks for the suggestion.
 
Bruce

--- On Fri, 2/27/09, Matt <jmhpe2000@...> wrote:

From: Matt <jmhpe2000@...>
Subject: [rhythm bones] Drum Circles and bones
To: rhythmbones@yahoogroups.com
Date: Friday, February 27, 2009, 5:35 AM






Scott asked me to post to the group about my activities incorporating
bones into drum circles. He plays with an African percussion group,
and I play (with, at least) some djembe and darbuka also.

For anyone unfamiliar with drum circles, it's pretty well summarized
by a group of people who get together and bang on drums for an hour or
two, composed of raw beginners to experienced professionals. They do
lean more towards the raw beginner side. Most times, all types of
percussion instruments are welcome, some allow other instruments too,
typically woodwinds.

It has only been in the past couple of months that I've felt
comfortable breaking out bones in a drum circle, only due to my own
feelings of insecurity. Being entirely self taught in bones, I have
no index as to how I'm doing, seeing only professionals on DVDs and
the like. The response has been very good, and is generating some
interest in the bones, to the extent that I asked Scott to send me
some cards as I keep getting "Where did you get those?"

For anyone who is a beginner, as I count myself, I would encourage you
to find a circle someplace close. Trust me, there is always one
someplace close. You may not know about it, but they are there. It's
a great place to work out your insecurity, as you can get lost in the
din or stand out in the crowd, and invariably people think the bones
are cool out of novelty.

The other evening, I was playing call and response with my djembe
teacher, we were working at a pretty high rate of speed. It was a
blast, though it was all I could do to keep up. The combination of
the large djembe and the high bones sound was really neat (though her
djembe is obviously possessed by some benevolent spirit as it actually
sings in tones I can't believe).

I'm curious if anyone else on the list has done this, or am I the only
one?

Matt



















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