Author Archives: David Sammel

Last night was by far the best session we’ve ever had.  We’ve pared down our focus to concentrate on two rhythms; the Yanvalou and the Abakuah.  It’s really paying off in that we are starting to see these things come … Continue reading →

Our St. Paddy’s Day party took a bit of an Afro-Cuban turn last Saturday.  Noland brought his great rhythms on the Congas and I just thought how cool it was to be jamming on these beats.  Made the whole party.

I couldn’t make class this week but I’ve been working very hard on our new rhythms, the Mozambique and the Orissa.  Wow, these are butt-kickers, very complicated and intricate!  But I’m getting them down and having a lot of fun … Continue reading →

Tonight was our best lesson by far.  The parts are all starting to come together.  We’re not experts yet but I know it’s sounding pretty good.  By the way, Dave N. is working on a Garageband sort of thing where … Continue reading →

This is starting to sound pretty good!  Dave, DJ and I really had a good lesson with Dave Noland, our teacher.  Ok, we’re still beginners but we cranked up our Abakuah tonight and it was really cooking.  I think we … Continue reading →

Had another lesson last night.  It’s getting really good.  I’m starting to feel a naturalness in what my hands are doing.  What I’m really starting to work on is getting my tones even.  I notice that my “opens” and “slaps” … Continue reading →

We just got out of another amazing session of lessons.  I wish a few more people would pick up on this.  We are working on the Yanvalou still.  It is a sinuous, ever-shifting rhythm from Haiti.   When I first started … Continue reading →

Hey, it was another great lesson, another great night!  Dave Nolan is really an exceptional teacher.  Tonight we were joined by a new student Douglass.  He picked it up much faster than I originally did and  honestly, when the four … Continue reading →