recycled duns

[johnc]

I'm purchasing recycled duns, made outa oil drums and pvc plastic pipe, They have been painted and look great. They are for school as it is a much much cheaper option. The drum maker is very experienced local chap with lots of African adventures and music degree in percussion.

He tells me he has seen drums made in Africa in a similar fashion.

Anybody got a ramble on recycled dun making etc please ramble as im interested to hear stuff

the school djembe collection will be up to 14 next week with also squat ghana sangban and the recycled full size dun and sangban on legs.

its been an intense four months from nothing to this and to cap it off Mamady Keita is comming to town in September...first time in Australia for workshops apparently


the iron is hot


cheers

[bops]

I've seen and played some great sounding dununs made from oil drums. These are common in Guinea and Mali. They are indeed cheaper, and also reduce deforestation. If they are headed properly, it's a great option.

I've never played any PVC drums. I can't imagine that would sound good at all. I would stay away from plastic if you can.

[bubudi]

pvc can sound fairly decent. if working with this material, the dust is pretty toxic so you will definitely want to wear a mask and wash hands immediately after handling. in africa you will see a lot of dunun made from recycled cans because it eliminates the need to have the shell carved, cutting down most of the cost.

[johnc]

picked up the recycled oil can/pvc pipe dun and sangban on Thursday. Sound great! Perhaps not as melodic as Guinea wood but we played them along side a wood set on friday and it was not bad. Skinned with cow at one end and thick male goat on the other for variety. Good sound projection! Great for schools or tight budgets. We will add a kenkeni down the track.

The newly formed school west African drumming ensemble has its first gig at assembly on Monday moring. Rhythms from the rhumba, kuku and djole will be played. Just simpl stuff - call - djembe 1 by all - then call - then dejembe 2 - a call - a roll - a call - a flam finish. Ages from 7 to 10 years. The seven year old can hold a simple dun dun rhythm for awhile


we need a name - some west african suggestions and translations would be appreciated.


cheers


john

[rachelnguyen]

Hey John,

No ideas for names, but I wanted to send congratulations on your budding West African music program. It is very cool indeed.

On Saturday, my teacher invited me to play with him at a Nigerian Heritage Festival.
After we played, a group of kids from a local community college played and danced some Ghanaian rhythms. It was quite amazing to see a bunch of American college kids getting their groove on. My friend from Ghana was very impressed. Next to me, a Nigerian man made a comment about how happy he was to see the the culture was being preserved, even as it pained him that it wasn't his own kids up there playing.

So, yeah for you for introducing these children to this beautiful culture.

Love,
Rachel

[johnc]

Cheers rachel


needed to come up with a name in 10 seconds due to the principal wanting to put something in the school newsletter about our performance yesterday.

We are now the "Bamana Ensemble". A tribute to Mady Keita who has been a strong source of inspiration for things African. Sometimes quick thinking works best!

john

[bops]

We are now the "Bamana Ensemble". A tribute to Mady Keita who has been a strong source of inspiration for things African. Sometimes quick thinking works best!

Good choice...

Glad to hear that the dununs are working out well. You should upload a picture if you have a chance.

[johnc]

Hi Bobs

I will put the camera in the bag for tomorrow. Not sure about the uploadin technology required so help maybe required

cheers

[bops]

Not sure about the uploadin technology required so help maybe required

When you post your reply, click on the "Upload attachment" tab just below your reply. You can choose a file from your hard drive to attach.

[johnc]

bops

I have created an album and now I will attempt to attach the pics to this reply. The duns with the kente cloth are the recycled ones and the the squat is from Ghana. These are great kid intro instruments. I've got to say that the pva dounou gives a really quite warm sound considering.


cant get file small enough to post here. I have not done this for awhile (make a file smaller) and forget the process.

any help appreciated, otherwise see album

cheers

[rachelnguyen]

Hey John,

Those drums are great! And wow, what a djembe collection you guys have. Good for you!

R

[johnc]

Hi R

the collection is the result of fund raising mostly. There a 5 indos and 9 Ghana. I am going to attend a drum building session with Mady Keita next month and build a hard wood djembe to have a spare teachers drum. Also good for the kids to have a go on a hard occasionaly.

Next thing is to apply for a artist in school grant. A 20 day funding project to have a drummer help form the school ensemble into something special. Maybe some dancing and singing!


cheers

john

[Rhythm House Drums]

Sounds like a neat project. The more people that drum the better off this world is. I build staved drums (djuns included) which really does help with the deforestation. A staved wood shell is going to give about the same sound as a solid shell, with a heck of a lot less wood wasted. I've heard a 55gal metal oil drum headed with cow hide... I wasn't too impressed.. it sounded metallic and pingy. A drum that size should have a nice low end, not a low end followed by a ring... depending on what you paid for them though, it's a good school project. As far as PVC.... that's expensive! I think I saw an 8" diameter PVC for 52 dollars a foot. I've built some blue man group type instruments out of pvc that sound good, but cant say for drums.
Hope this helps!
-Kevin

[bops]

A staved wood shell is going to give about the same sound as a solid shell...

No disrespect meant, but I solidly and wholeheartedly disagree with you. This is simply not true. There is a huge, huge difference between a staved drum and a solid drum.

[Dugafola]

I agree with Bops.