Field Trip Report + This Weekend's Destination: Malcolm X Park

Last weekend's session and field trip...

In addition to a small but productive song writing workshop with Margaux Delotte-Bennett last Saturday, YWDEP members went on an excursion to Baltimore to see the all women's drumming group "BUMBADA" perform. It was a great trip - we had some interesting discussions and spontaneous singing episodes on the way up and back - and as for the performance itself...hear what one YWDEP member had to say:

"FIVE MEMBERS OF YWDEP RECENTLY HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING BAMBADA! A PROGRAM PRESENTED BY THE GREENMOUNT SCHOOL WOMEN'S DRUMMING CLASS IN BALTIMORE. ANYWAY THE EXPERIENCE WAS BEAUTIFUL. ALL FEMALE DRUMMERS AND DANCERS GROOVED TO AFRICAN RHYTHMS LIKE A NAKAN, KUKU, FUNGA AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, YANKADI. THE WOMEN AND THE ATMOSPHERE HAD A WISE TOUCH OF ENERGY THAT MOVED US ALL."


This weekend's activities...

SATURDAY - MAKE-UP SESSION
I'd like to hold a make-up YWDEP session on Saturday morning for those who have been absent. We have a performance coming sooner than you think, so it's time to get prepared!! Please contact me if you can make plans to show up at the church this Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

SUNDAY - MALCOLM X RHYTHMS
This Sunday, the YWDEP drummers will meet in Malcolm X Park at 4 p.m. to be part of the drumming magic that has infused DC with energy for decades. Drums and chairs will be provided. Please bring WATER and food if you need it - we'll be there for a couple hours.

In The Future ...
Coming up we've got at least one more session with the awesome Margaux, a dance workshop with Candace, and performance workshops with Princess of Controversy and Deb Randall of Venus Theatre. Meanwhile, we've got to keep up our drumming practice. In order to better achieve this, I'll be loaning out 2 drums each week to different YWDEP members to take home for one week of home practice. Please care for these drums as if they were your own! No rings, keep them clean and out of harm's way. My hope is that each YWDEP member will become more comfortable playing in general after having a chance to practice at home.

PERFORMANCE!
I'm trying to get us all organized around a couple of dates for our group performance. There are a range of options - all are in early September. If you're leaving for school in August, don't despair - we'll have a recital during a morning YWDEP session for family/friends to see.Below are the suggested dates for the stage performance - please look them over carefully, check them against your calendars and get back to me ASAP with 2 dates that work for you.

Preferrably we'd like to do one on a Saturday and one a Sunday, and preferrably on the same weekend:

Saturday, September 10, 3 p.m.

Saturday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 11, 3 p.m.

Sunday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 17, 3 p.m.

Saturday, September 17, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 18, 3 p.m.

Sunday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.

Thanks and see everyone soon!!

IN RHYTHM!!
Kristen202-213-7810
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org

This Weekend: Session 7 and Sunday FIELD TRIP!

YWDEP Members and Friends - updates below!

SESSION 6 REPORT BACK: Our progress on the drums has been incredible, as proven by last week's session with drum instructor Katy Gaughan. Her diligence in teaching basic djembe technique along with providing a range of new ideas with regard to volume and speed dynamics was extremely helpful - and we received an introduction to soloing as well.

After that, a couple YWDEP members read their most recent poetic journal entries - one of which described a young woman who is always looking for what this poet called the "wrong" kind of attention. From this we began a discussion about why this young woman is always looking for attention...what's the root? what's the cause? YWDEP members said it's probably a variety of reasons - some we know, and some we don't know. The only thing that appears obvious is that this person is "addicted" to attention. For this coming week, then, YWDEP members are empowered to look into their own addictions. It could be chemical, emotional, physical, pyschological - what keeps you coming back over and over? Write about it!!

And for those of you who missed this past week's session, remember that every Saturday I arrive at 10 a.m. at the church, and am available to help you get up to speed. Our group start time is 10:30 - so please come early if you need to get caught up.


SESSION 7: This coming Saturday, our plan is to go deeper into written expression and spoken word technique with Margaux Delotte-Bennett, an incredible poet, spoken word artist and youth trainer. She brings years of experience, fresh insights and empowerment-style leadership, and will facilitate a session of written and spoken expression with creative techniques. We will also review our rhythm, "ku ku," at the end of this session.

Those of you who cannot make this Saturday due to graduation - please do not despair. Margaux will be back again on July 9, and we're working to get her on the schedule for a 3rd time as well.

YWDEP Session 7 will take place from 10:30-noon at All Souls Church, 16th and Harvard Sts NW, Harvard St entrance, Dining Room.


FIELD TRIP!!!! On Sunday, we're going to Baltimore to see a performance by the all-women's drumming group, BUMBADA! We'll leave from All Souls Church at 2:30 p.m., drive up for the performance (4-5:30 p.m.) and return to the church at 7:30. Those who can make it - please bring your permission slip to the YWDEP session on Saturday, or bring it with you when you arrive at the church on Sunday. You MUST have this permission slip signed in order to go on the field trip. If you need a permission slip, call me asap: 202-213-7810. Also, please bring $10 and a CD of your choice for the ride up! And make sure to arrange a way home from the church afterwards - we'll be back by 7:30 p.m.


UPCOMING DATES!!
Please get these upcoming dates on your calendar!

July 2: Break for the holiday - HOWEVER, for those who will miss Session 7, we could make this another session with Margaux. Please give it some thought and let me know if that works for you.

July 3: Meet at Malcolm X Park to participate in Sunday drum circle there, 4-6 p.m.

July 9: YWDEP session with Margaux


PERFORMANCE!
I'm trying to get us all organized around a couple of dates for our group performance. There are a range of options - all are in early September. If you're leaving for school in August, don't despair - we'll have a recital during a morning YWDEP session for family/friends to see.

Below are the suggested dates for the stage performance - please look them over carefully, check them against your calendars and get back to me ASAP with 2 dates that work for you. Preferrably we'd like to do one on a Saturday and one a Sunday, and preferrably on the same weekend:

Saturday, September 10, 3 p.m.
Saturday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 11, 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 10, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 17, 3 p.m.
Saturday, September 17, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 18, 3 p.m.
Sunday, September 18, 7:30 p.m.

Thanks and see everyone soon!!

IN RHYTHM!!
Kristen
202-213-7810
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org

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Session 6 - Bring Me Your Poetry!!

NEW INFORMATION: We will be starting our GROUP LESSON at 10:30 a.m. from now on - however, those seeking extra instruction or wanting to get caught up from missed sessions, I will be there starting at 10 a.m. Please come early if you'd like extra help.

CALL ME!! 202-213-7810
Those who cannot attend but who are registered as project members, please call me! We miss you at the sessions and need to know when you're coming back so please stay in touch!

YWDEP Session 6:
Saturday, June 18, 10-11:30 a.m. at All Souls Church
16th and Harvards Sts NW, Harvard entrance, in the dining room.

Drum Instructor Katy Gaughan will be back to help clarify our technique and give some instruction on SOLOING on the djembe. Don't miss this week's session - and also, please BRING ME YOUR POETRY!! Those who received journals, please try writing at least 3 times throughout the week - on any subject and at any length - and bring your writings back to share with the group. The more you practice writing, the better your pieces will be and the more confident you'll be performing them. Those who haven't yet received a journal - create your own - this could be anything from a notebook to just a few pieces of paper stapled together. If you haven't done a writing exercise with us yet, try the one described in the previous blog.

Session 5 Report Back: KuKu is coming along WELL - we learned part 3, the most complicated part:
Say: "KuKu - for co-co puffs"
Play: tone-tone slap, tone-tone slap

In addition, we learned the 1st DUN-UN (big bass drum) part to this rhyth, which requires playing one part on the drum and another on the bell - challenging but rewarding! I hope more young women can make it to Session 6 and get caught up!

UPCOMING DATES!!
Please get these upcoming dates on your calendar!

June 25: 1st workshop with Margaux, transforming poetry into spoken word and/or song. BRING YOUR POETRY - we'll need raw material to work with!

June 26: BUMBADA - an all women's drumming group performs in BALTIMORE, 4-5:30 p.m. If you'd like to go, CALL ME ASAP! 202-213-7810.

July 2: Break for holiday - no YWDEP seesion

July 3: Meet at Malcolm X Park to participate in Sunday drum circle there, 4-6 p.m.

IN RHYTHM!!
Kristen Arant
202-213-7810
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org

Session 4 Report + Session 5 this Saturday!

SESSION 5:
Saturday, June 11, 10-11:30 a.m. at All Souls Church
16th and Harvards Sts NW, Harvard entrance, in the dining room.

NEW INFORMATION: We will be starting our GROUP LESSON at 10:30 a.m. from now on - however, those seeking extra instruction or wanting to get caught up from missed sessions, I will be there starting at 10 a.m. Please come early if you'd like extra help.


Report on Session 4:

Ku Ku, We're NOT kuku!

Last week, we started off with some drumming - continuing to learn the African rhythm, "Ku Ku," whose first two parts can be memorized by saying these 2 phrases:
1. Ku - Ku, I'm not kuku!
2. Oh yes you are!

The hand positions for both are as follows:
1. Bass -- Bass, tone tone tone-tone
2. Slap-Bass tone tone

Poetic Voices

Last week our members received a journal, and laid down their first words inside it with the Relay Writing Project. In this project, there were 5 writing prompts written on 5 cards, and each card was placed at a different location in the room.

The prompts were as follows:
1. Describe a member of your immediate or extended family using lots of detail
2. Describe your worst enemy using only POSITIVE words and images (note: if you don't have any enemies, think carefully - your enemy might not be a person)
3. Describe what gives you the most JOY, and try to make it rhyme and bounce to a rhythm in your head
4. Explain what happened the last time you got angry, using at least 3 colors
5. Talk about how you feel when engaged in a creative activity, in 5 lines (a line could be anywhere from one word to one sentence)

Each YWDEP member was given a number and sent to that post to write for 5 minutes using the prompt. After 5 minutes, the girls switched to the next prompt, and so on until each member had written about each prompt. The results were fantastic! I would like to ask those who participated to please PUBLISH your work here on the blog - by using the COMMENT section below! I was truly thrilled and amazed at the words of our young women. Those who couldn't make the session, please complete the project on your own using the prompts above - and share with us at the next session!

Session 5: WE DRUM!!

We're getting the rhythms down WELL, but need to spend a little more time practicing - the more we improve the basics, the better our rhythms will sound. So in the coming Session 5, please prepare to DRUM - i'll bring ice packs for our hands - young women should wear pants or WIDE skirts, remove all rings and bracelets, and (DARE I SAY IT!) try trimming back those nails just a bit! ANYthing extra on your hands or wrists can get in the way of technique, so keep that in mind, and I'll see you at.....
SESSION 5:
Saturday, June 11, 10-11:30 a.m. at All Souls Church - 16th and Harvards Sts NW, Harvard entrance, in the dining room.

NEW INFORMATION: We will be starting our GROUP LESSON at 10:30 a.m. from now on - however, those seeking extra instruction or wanting to get caught up from missed sessions, I will be there starting at 10 a.m. Please come early if you'd like extra help.

IN RHYTHM!!
Kristen Arant
202-213-7810
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org

Session 3 Praise + Session 4 Preparation

Session 4 - Saturday, June 4, 10-11:30 a.m. at All Souls Church - 16th and Harvards Sts NW, Harvard entrance, in the dining room.

Greetings!

Last week, during the 3rd session of YWDEP, young women had the opportunity to express themselves through the written word.

With the guidance of local poet Leah Harris, we brainstormed imagery that filled up an entire page of the flipchart (and could've flowed longer...), and used it to build our first poems. The result was powerful, beautiful and inspiring - and this just on the first try. YESSSS!!

So I'm happy to report that for session 4, each YWDEP member will receive a writing journal, to have with her whenever the inspiration hits. My hope is that each young woman will write at least 3 times during the week, and bring her writings back to the group to share at every session, if she so chooses. This is how we can hone and practice writing - along with reading aloud - so when the time comes to perform, our writing and reading muscles will be polished (with the help of our incredible instructors, of course).

Also during session 3 we learned the first part to the African rhythm called KuKu - say: "Ku - Ku - I'm not kuku!" - this is a great way to remember part 1!

THIS WEEKEND we'll be reviewing part 1, and learning the 2nd and 3rd parts - GET READY!

see you there!!

peace
Kristen
202-213-7810
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org

YWDEP Members: Use the "comment" section below to post your thoughts about the project, or to share a piece of your poetry!