By Elder Kwabena Mitchell (John Mitchell)

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DISCOVERING AFRICAN DRUM RHYTHMS

By Elder Kwabena Mitchell (John Mitchell)

The rhythms and dances of Guinea, West Africa spring to life in this ground-breaking multimedia collection from award-winning author Kalani and noted world percussionist Ryan M. Camara! More than just a drumming book, this easy-to-use method immerses teachers and students in traditional West African music, dance and culture through a step-by-step curriculum that maintains cultural authenticity. The World Rhythms! Arts Program (WRAP) is a multiple-discipline curriculum that incorporates drumming, singing, dance, and culture. Rooted in traditional West African music and dance, WRAP helps develop essential arts and life skills through a holistic approach to music and movement education. A must for your classroom!

Additional Features

Meets National Music Standards

Standard Music Notations

14 Ensemble Arrangements

40 Individual Instrument Rhythms

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Elder Mitchell is a native of Cleveland Ohio, and proud product of the Cleveland Public School System. This includes being a student, a teacher, a counselor and an administrator. He has been teaching African music and performing arts to people of all ages for over twenty-five years. The inspiration for this book comes from his studies and performances with many great African Drum Masters, including Papa Assane M’Baye and Alassane Sarr of Senegal, West Africa. Elder Mitchell along with Paul Assegal (BabaOni Lu) are cofounders of the Passages African Drum Youth Ensemble. This Ensemble is based out of Cleveland Ohio and has performed at many local and regional events, as well as toured nationally. In addition to his ongoing teaching and performing schedule, he served as the African Drum consultant for the historic African American Karamu Theatre’s recent productions of the Colored Museum, God’s Trombones and Ruined.

He was also music director for the Karamu special presentation during Cleveland’s first annual Ingenuity Festival in 2005. The purpose of the book is to introduce a systematic and easy approach for learning basic African rhythm patterns to beginners. The end goal being to help the individual student learn the rudiments of African drumming within the context of a larger drum ensemble.