Schools have sure changed - and then again, some haven't changed at all.
My own memory conjures large, loud cafeterias smelling like a combination of pepperoni and bleach, providing young people with "ham"burgers containing probably 60% soy protein; mac n cheese made with velveeta; canned green beans; square pizza with extra grease. Libraries containing practically no books about politics or other cultures, except for the encyclopedia, where you could learn about the continent of Africa in less than 8 pages. Hallways with identical rows of lockers; classrooms with identical desks; history and English classes without a pinch of critical thinking added. Memorization was all the class required for a good solid A. In fact, too much analysis might make the teacher suspicious. I suppose all of this is why I leaned towards music. Though being in band was like leaving behind any hope or dream for popularity and stepping into eternal geekdom, well i really didn't care. Music was a way to express myself and get away from the mundane, reptitious, colorless, cultureless enviornment that for the most part was SCHOOL for me.
Lucky for me to have landed here in DC 6 years ago and to have fallen in love with the djembe, for it seems everyone else can't help but do the same. Everywhere I go with my car brimming over with drums (10, 20, 30...), no matter how much toil and trouble i go through to get there, it's always worth it. The way children (and adults!) respond to the drums - with vigor, excitement, enthusiasm ... enough to actually FOCUS for more than 2 seconds ... makes my life a blessed one.
On Wednesday, i took a trip to the COEUS International School to provide a drumming workshop for 20 of their students, mostly 5th and 6th graders. The school requires that students work towards fluency in one other language besides their first. Taking up one floor of an otherwise very regular-looking building near UDC, the school is shaped like a donut and, as you walk around, you come across rooms that are more like little cultural centers; Cantonese, Spanish, French, Arabic, and the list goes on. The school houses roughly 80 kids at this time. The 20 I was lucky enough to have in my circle were of many different backgrounds - in these new schools, it seems to go without saying that the student body EMBODY diversity. it's quite beautiful to see all of the children working together, as if they had forgotten their own barriers without necessarily denying each culture's significance.
One of the first things I ask the kids to do is explore their drums - feel the skin, feel the wood, turn them over and look inside, smell them, make a noise inside the hollow part (this one is always hilarious). Then, i have them begin a roll with both their little hands in the center of the drum. it gets louder - and louder - and louder - their faces become red and smiley - their eyes bulge - it's a phenomenon all it's own. I could see two of the teachers look at each other and point upward, as if concerned about the upstairs tenants. this always makes me smile, because i firmly believe drumming should simply be allowed to resonate anywhere it likes...well, within some reason of course. at the end of the class, one question I get at almost every one of these workshops is - doesn't it hurt your hands? And then comes the best part of the day...when all the children jump out of their seats to come feel my callouses and ooh and ahh at their marvelousness. after this particular session, the Spanish instructor asked to interview me. Two very young women asked me a couple of excellent questions and I gave answers, which will be posted on the COEUS Podcast in the next couple days - so be sure to check that out! www.coeusis.org.
Today - Thursday - my friend and drumming student Laura Lee invited me to Wilson HS where her son's humanities class was carrying on a celebration and study of Africa in the auditorium. Much more similar to my own memories of school, but with much better technology of course, Wilson is a public school in good standing. One of the remaining few, unfortunately, but for more on that topic see www.saveourschoolsdc.org - my friend and cohort Zein El-Amine has created a wonderful coalition to help stop the privitization of education, wherever that's possible.
The student body at Wilson, some seemingly a bit stoned, still responded enthusiastically to the drums. When we arrived, a trio of young men were reading a strange script that included a little something about drugs and something else about money - I'd wished I'd been there for the intro - and then a couple of young women talked about beadwork and batik designs. There were some clouded over eyes but many of the students had really attempted to create the scene by wearing African garb of one kind or another, and bringing some interesting foods for a small buffet-style setup near the back.
I came on the scene, and Laura's son Christoph began passing drums around.
Leaning on my more recent conversations with Baile, my teacher, (www.bailesadw.com), and also a conversation I recently had with Liberian storyteller and healer Vera Oya Yaa Anna (http://www.storynet.org/Programs/Directory/view.php?id=1000815), I asked them not to touch the drums just yet - then launched into a calm (because it was morning) description of the power of the instrument. It can invoke the ancestors, fire up a room of people, even just one drum can affect the energy of an enormous crowd. They must come to the drum with that knowledge.
The kids learned kuku, but then forgot it as the dancers made their way into the center, singing a song I know, "Siya Humba," so Laura stepped in at the last minute to hold down KuKu part 1...afterwards I was able to briefly describe YWDEP, to which a professor promised a donation, and the day was complete.
Drumming catches on like a movement or a revolution, and in itself is NOT just drumming, NOT just music, but its own form of consciousness-raising, spirit-infused community building.
Thursday, January 18
Wednesday, January 3
Drumlady Classes/Workshops in 2007!!
WHO: Drumlady
WHAT: Workshops/Classes
WHERE: DC
WHEN: 2007!!
Directions/Other
What: Hand Drumming For Women
When: Every Sunday, 12-1:15 p.m.
Session Dates: January 8 - April 1, 2007 (12 weeks)
Where: Circle Yoga Studio, 3838 Northampton St NW, DC 20015
Register at www.circleyoga.com or call 202-686-1104
$180 for the semester or drop-ins welcome at $18 per
class.
In this class students will explore West African drums
and rhythms with djembe artist Kristen Arant, learning
basic notes of the djembe, along with parts to
traditional West African polyrythms and accompanying
songs. A guaranteed boost in strength, confidence, joy
and fulfillment!
PRIVATE DJEMBE LESSONS!
Now offering private lessons at your home or mine for
beginner-level students both male and female at
$30-$55 per class. Contact Kristen at 202-213-7810 or
kristen@drumlady.com to set up a time and date!
GROUP CLASSES - Drumming For the Soul
Offering classes for groups of 5-15 adults and/or
youth, both male and female - please see our price
lists for more information. Classes include drums,
drumming instruction including basics, cultural
context, songs, and rhythms, along with
improvisational drumming. Enhances joy, contentment,
relaxation and confidence! Contact Kristen to set up a
group class today! 202-213-7810 or
kristen@drumlady.com.
WHAT: Workshops/Classes
WHERE: DC
WHEN: 2007!!
Directions/Other
What: Hand Drumming For Women
When: Every Sunday, 12-1:15 p.m.
Session Dates: January 8 - April 1, 2007 (12 weeks)
Where: Circle Yoga Studio, 3838 Northampton St NW, DC 20015
Register at www.circleyoga.com or call 202-686-1104
$180 for the semester or drop-ins welcome at $18 per
class.
In this class students will explore West African drums
and rhythms with djembe artist Kristen Arant, learning
basic notes of the djembe, along with parts to
traditional West African polyrythms and accompanying
songs. A guaranteed boost in strength, confidence, joy
and fulfillment!
PRIVATE DJEMBE LESSONS!
Now offering private lessons at your home or mine for
beginner-level students both male and female at
$30-$55 per class. Contact Kristen at 202-213-7810 or
kristen@drumlady.com to set up a time and date!
GROUP CLASSES - Drumming For the Soul
Offering classes for groups of 5-15 adults and/or
youth, both male and female - please see our price
lists for more information. Classes include drums,
drumming instruction including basics, cultural
context, songs, and rhythms, along with
improvisational drumming. Enhances joy, contentment,
relaxation and confidence! Contact Kristen to set up a
group class today! 202-213-7810 or
kristen@drumlady.com.
Drummin' in '07
WHO: Kristen!
WHAT: Holiday NEWS
WHERE: EVERYWHERE!
WHEN: NOW!
Directions/Other
This blog post exists to describe how awesome it was to literally "drum in" 2007. It was my third night in a row waitressing at Coppi's Restaurant, first off. I was feeling a little tired you could perhaps say. And there was one fewer server than usual on the floor. Shouts of "Come On, Ladies!" came frequently from the management who obviously did not understand that being one server down with a whole floor was the reason. As my fellow server compadre stated so clearly, "I honestly couldn't work any harder." We did it though and I was finally starting to wrap things up around 11:30, feeling the nagging necessity that I had to be somewhere positive to ring in the new year. I really wanted to toast to prosperity - which is a huge ny's resolution if you believe in such things. There are just some things I want - more education and experience, mainly, but in order to get them, the great goddess of Prosperity must shineth upon me. Jeez. So -- my partner in crime Jaime and I rushed out in our ny's outfits, dresses over pants in both cases, and flew out into the rainy, balmy night that couldn't have been less than 55 degress out (see my friend james' global warming piece for solutions to this problem: http://heartspring.net/global_warming_greenhouse.html.)
At any rate, we arrove just minutes before the big event. enough time for me to find a bottle of champagne, which became my allegorical symbol of prosperity, and try to open it with no success. i wanted to pop it right on cue, but to no avail. i still got several swigs on it though before venturing at about 12:02 to my car, where i unearthed a drum from the hatchback (which i then used as my umbrella) and began my midnight drum-in. My good friend Mark, the street musician from Takoma Park, soon joined me until enough whooping drew us onto the deck in the back of Laurie and Chris' house on Sherman Ave, firebowl (large metallic bowl where scrap wood is burnt in lieu of a bonfire) going strong even in the rain. We marched up proudly and serenaded friends and beautiful people for what seemed like an eternity (but which in fact flew by like the wind) until our hands hurt and our drums were too wet to play.
Soon after, with the exception of a couple of too-drunk friends, we began reciting old pop-hop songs from the early nineties (you know the ones...sir mix-a-lot, young mc, etc), until jaime pulled me out to farragut, where she frequents ESL - the Eighteenth Street Lounge - a clubby place where an awesome reggae band plays. They're made up mainly of members of Theivery Corporation. They've let me sit in twice -- now that the smoking ban is in effect, i'm going to attempt more sit-ins as they give me an opportunity to practice my chops as well as get in on the action. On NY's eve, however, Farragut was simply flooded with corruption. Our 4-5-block walk noted such occurences as: couples fighting, women pissed off trying to walk in spike heels drunk, men tipping girlfriends over trashcans to puke, people yelling obscenties from across the street, and other such debauchery. Then -when we finally arrove- it was 40 bucks to get in. Seriously. I said no way - luckily jaime walked me back to the car until i drove her brave soul back to the scene and let her off, making it home by 3 or 4-ish, falling alseep to the percussive sound of a heavy rain on my roof and window paines. Perfect.
Other highlights from the holidays nclude two beautiful visits to my first home in St. Louis, MO where I spent quality time with my family in an especially (and dare i say suprisingly) positive vibe; seeing TWO theatre movies (which is usually all i see in a year); a lively drumming circle on NY's eve day that I facilitated at a home in Severna Park, MD on the Severn River to a group of family and friends who were celebrating there; a delicious potluck hosted by Rhythm Worker Bill Jenkins that also gave way to a lively drum jam plus an after-party where i was able to drag quite a crew down to adam's morgan where we danced at both tryst and madam's organ; AND watching Karate Kid with Alexandra in preparation for another drumming lesson with Baile -- which is TOMORROW!!!!
PEACE and PROSPERITY to all in the New Year. Think of the joy of experience - both good and bad - the lessons I am learning are so consistently rich and profound.
p.s. RECOMMENDED BOOK: "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" by Alexandra Fuller
p.s.s. RECOMMENDED FILM: "Live and Become" and aw, heck, watch the Karate Kid for the 14th time. You'll be glad you did.
WHAT: Holiday NEWS
WHERE: EVERYWHERE!
WHEN: NOW!
Directions/Other
This blog post exists to describe how awesome it was to literally "drum in" 2007. It was my third night in a row waitressing at Coppi's Restaurant, first off. I was feeling a little tired you could perhaps say. And there was one fewer server than usual on the floor. Shouts of "Come On, Ladies!" came frequently from the management who obviously did not understand that being one server down with a whole floor was the reason. As my fellow server compadre stated so clearly, "I honestly couldn't work any harder." We did it though and I was finally starting to wrap things up around 11:30, feeling the nagging necessity that I had to be somewhere positive to ring in the new year. I really wanted to toast to prosperity - which is a huge ny's resolution if you believe in such things. There are just some things I want - more education and experience, mainly, but in order to get them, the great goddess of Prosperity must shineth upon me. Jeez. So -- my partner in crime Jaime and I rushed out in our ny's outfits, dresses over pants in both cases, and flew out into the rainy, balmy night that couldn't have been less than 55 degress out (see my friend james' global warming piece for solutions to this problem: http://heartspring.net/global_warming_greenhouse.html.)
At any rate, we arrove just minutes before the big event. enough time for me to find a bottle of champagne, which became my allegorical symbol of prosperity, and try to open it with no success. i wanted to pop it right on cue, but to no avail. i still got several swigs on it though before venturing at about 12:02 to my car, where i unearthed a drum from the hatchback (which i then used as my umbrella) and began my midnight drum-in. My good friend Mark, the street musician from Takoma Park, soon joined me until enough whooping drew us onto the deck in the back of Laurie and Chris' house on Sherman Ave, firebowl (large metallic bowl where scrap wood is burnt in lieu of a bonfire) going strong even in the rain. We marched up proudly and serenaded friends and beautiful people for what seemed like an eternity (but which in fact flew by like the wind) until our hands hurt and our drums were too wet to play.
Soon after, with the exception of a couple of too-drunk friends, we began reciting old pop-hop songs from the early nineties (you know the ones...sir mix-a-lot, young mc, etc), until jaime pulled me out to farragut, where she frequents ESL - the Eighteenth Street Lounge - a clubby place where an awesome reggae band plays. They're made up mainly of members of Theivery Corporation. They've let me sit in twice -- now that the smoking ban is in effect, i'm going to attempt more sit-ins as they give me an opportunity to practice my chops as well as get in on the action. On NY's eve, however, Farragut was simply flooded with corruption. Our 4-5-block walk noted such occurences as: couples fighting, women pissed off trying to walk in spike heels drunk, men tipping girlfriends over trashcans to puke, people yelling obscenties from across the street, and other such debauchery. Then -when we finally arrove- it was 40 bucks to get in. Seriously. I said no way - luckily jaime walked me back to the car until i drove her brave soul back to the scene and let her off, making it home by 3 or 4-ish, falling alseep to the percussive sound of a heavy rain on my roof and window paines. Perfect.
Other highlights from the holidays nclude two beautiful visits to my first home in St. Louis, MO where I spent quality time with my family in an especially (and dare i say suprisingly) positive vibe; seeing TWO theatre movies (which is usually all i see in a year); a lively drumming circle on NY's eve day that I facilitated at a home in Severna Park, MD on the Severn River to a group of family and friends who were celebrating there; a delicious potluck hosted by Rhythm Worker Bill Jenkins that also gave way to a lively drum jam plus an after-party where i was able to drag quite a crew down to adam's morgan where we danced at both tryst and madam's organ; AND watching Karate Kid with Alexandra in preparation for another drumming lesson with Baile -- which is TOMORROW!!!!
PEACE and PROSPERITY to all in the New Year. Think of the joy of experience - both good and bad - the lessons I am learning are so consistently rich and profound.
p.s. RECOMMENDED BOOK: "Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight" by Alexandra Fuller
p.s.s. RECOMMENDED FILM: "Live and Become" and aw, heck, watch the Karate Kid for the 14th time. You'll be glad you did.
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