African Drumming

• Aurally - Passed on verbally

• Master Drummer - Leader of the ensemble

• African Drumming Circle - Drum ensemble

• Visual Cue - Communication to the ensemble without speaking - could be lifting the hand or moving the hand

• Dynamics - Volume

• Groove - Rhythms together that create another rhythm that moves the music

• Polyrhythm - Lots of rhythms together

• Cyclic rhythm - repeated rhythms

• Syncopation - off the beat

• Solo - One person plays on their own

• Call and Echo - The call is played by the master drummer, the rest of the ensemble then respond with a different rhythm

• Call and Response - The call is played by the master drummer, the rest of the ensemble respond with the same rhythm

• Djembe - African drum

• Dun Dun - Bass drum that is double headed

• Bass - a low pitched sound made by striking the middle of the drum

• Tone - a medium pitched sound made by striking the drum halfway between the edge and the centre

• Slap - a short, high pitched sound made by striking the edge of the drum

• Monophonic Texture - thin texture - one sound at a time

• Polyphonic Texture - thick texture - lots of sounds at the same time

• Improvisation - Making something up on the spot

African Drumming To Do