Classes

M'Bemba Bangoura

M’Bemba Bangoura is a true master drummer from Guinea, West Africa. He is a veteran of “Ballet Djoliba”, the national drum and dance company of Guinea, and travels around the world teaching and performing djembe music. He is exceptional at working with all level students at the same time and also manages to challenge everyone.

M’Bemba will teach djembe and dundun parts for rhythms from West Africa, including solo phrases for the djembe. Students in M’Bemba’s class will get the history and context of the traditional and modern West African rhythms, many of which M’Bemba helped develop while in Guinea.

M’Bemba has a unique style that gets students up and running, learning to improvise and be creative while also learning the traditional rhythms!

Michael Markus

Michael conducts a lively, fun, and supportive class atmosphere. He has a talent for recognizing and strengthening varying student abilities within the class while giving individual attention in such a manner that the group benefits. Michael has many years of experience as an instructor of the extensive rhythms of Guinea. He provides a learning experience that is structured, knowledgeable, and entertaining! Classes cover the rhythms of Guinea along with the history, cultural significance, and traditions of the music and its people.

Michael’s classes, great for the absolute beginner, cover one West African rhythm per month. Class content includes development of correct sounds and technique, learning accompaniment patterns, and understanding subdivisions of simple West African rhythms.