YWDEP Brings the SHE DRUMMIN spirit to Malcolm X Park

Friends,

This weekend, the young women of YWDEP continued to grow and impress not only me, but themselves.

First, at our Saturday workshop, three of our girls bravely embraced the dun-uns (large African bass drums played with sticks). Playing these drums is especially difficult because one must play one rhythm on the drum head while beating out another, congruent rhythm on a bell with the other hand ... simultaneously. To my amazement, the young women picked this up faster than any adult I've ever seen try it! They got down the three bass parts to our new rhythm, YANKADI, and played a beautiful back-up to the two djembe parts, which are also quite difficult, yet quickly learned by our crew. In addition we firmed up our song, adding in a solid bridge and envisioning harmonies for the chorus. We ended our session with a variety of activities; YWDEPers chose to eat, write, make up rhythms using sticks and dowels (!), and make cards for two of our She Poets - Stephanie and Treasure - who have been ill lately and unable to attend the sessions.

Then came Sunday at the Park...

It was a beautiful day - perfect for the MX Park drum circle, and 5 of our crew showed up to take on the challenge of drumming with a mostly male contingency. We had a blast. We set up at "our" tree (same place we set up for last year's excursion), and warmed up there with pieces of rhythms we knew to go along with the beats radiating from the circle. Then, all together, we grabbed drums and chairs and entered the ring. We made a space for ourselves and played our hearts out for at least an hour, not just keeping up but also lending soul and rhythm to the space. We played for many dancers (some of whom thoroughly entertained us!) until our hands hurt! Next week is more of the same so don't miss the opportunity to see these girls in action! We'll be at the park starting at 4 p.m. this coming Sunday.

In peace and rhythm,
Kristen Arant
YWDEP founding director
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org

Snapshots from Song Writing

Together, under the guidance of Margaux, the girls collectively write a song.


Margaux and Kristen smile for the camera.

Young Women Drummers Lay it Down in B-more!

Last weekend, YWDEP young women had the opportunity to attend the BUMBADA All-Women's Drum Recital at the Greenmount School in Baltimore, MD.

BUMBADA is led by Tammi Hessen, a wonderful woman who is one of my teachers, and whose knowledge of West African drumming and rhythms has become essential to YWDEP's repertoire.

Last Saturday, YWDEP young women first met at St Stephens Church for our weekly workshop, and in just 3 short hours were able to work out our own version of KuKu (Guinea fish harvesting rhythm) as well as the DC Go-Go Beat, which included a Go-Go history lesson from one of YWDEP's few good men, and long-time DC native, Henry Moses.

The girls took Go-Go by the reigns. Not only did they pick up the baseline with little effort, but also took turns soloing during the breaks. In addition, we added chants inside the breaks including "Young Women Drummers Got the Go-Go Beat!" and "Me and my girls play the drums till the break of dawn!" The young women were ready to take the stage.

We traveled to Baltimore in 3 groups and first stopped through the Papermoon Cafe, which served to entertain us with its random art sculptures (including a mannequin who apparently had moving eyes and scared the life out of a few of us...)We got them back on the entertainment front by drumming and playing games on the table (sorry Paper Moon serving staff!!!)

We then proceeded on full stomachs to the Greenmount School and walked right in on a BUMBADA dress rehearsal. We heard the drumbeats from the parking lot and got immediately pumped! Luckily, we got to rehearse our pieces with Bumbada women, who joined us on KuKu, giving us an even stronger presence.

The young women then watched BUMBADA bring it on several African pieces, and got ready to take the stage at the beginning of the 2nd act. When their time came, the girls rose to the occasion and inspired the entire audience with their courage and pure funkiness! Our performance ended with a beautiful standing ovation -- thanks BUMBADA for giving us this opportunity!

The field trip was a beautiful bonding experience as well - our core group is norming and becoming a tight unit. I'm thrilled at the possibilities!!

Looking forward to moving into the new office too!

Peace and Rhythm
Kristen Arant
YWDEP Founding Director
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org
202-213-7810

We Have A Home!

I'm happy to announce that as of last Friday, YWDEP now has a home-base. We will be sharing an office space in St. Stephen's church. This is particularly exciting, as we already meet at the church once a week for our weekly workshops. Stay tuned for an office-warming party!

YWDEP takes Baltimore - THIS WEEKEND!

Friends -

This week, YWDEP is taking BALTIMORE to attend and PERFORM at the 2nd Annual All-Women's Drumming Recital - BUMBADA!

Our new group of girls plus a few of our mentors (who are last year's She Poets) will be travelling to Baltimore on Saturday to witness the magic of the all-women's drumming group, BUMBADA, led by one of my teachers, Tammi Hessen.

Please see below for a full announcement.

In addition, this week we begin our first in a series of 3 workshops dedicated to DRUMMING. From 12-3 this weekend, young women are invited to attend a drumming intensive to sharpen their skills and learn rhythms.

I'd also like to share the chorus of our new song, which totally stuns me. The young women wrote this together as a group in Margaux Delotte-Bennett's recent song-writing class:

You sing like a bird
And you fly like a bird
Even when
You don't have wings

Your voice will be heard
Every single word
So open up
Your heart [mouth] and sing

In peace and rhythm,

Kristen Arant
YWDEP Founding Director
202-213-7810
kristen@youngwomendrum.org
www.youngwomendrum.org



--------------------------------------------------------------BUMBADA ANNOUNCEMENT BELOW

Hi all,
Please...
SAVE THE DATE

For the 3rd Annual

BUMBADA
Women Drumming
Recital/Performance and Fundraiser for the Greenmount
School!

Saturday night, July 15, 2006
7:15pm
At The Greenmount School
501 W. 30th Street in Baltmore, MD 21211
Admission $10-$15 donation, sliding scale.

For those women who play drums, we will be playing at
least one piece where we would love to have women
drummers come up and sit in with us with your drum. If
you are interested in this (don't worry the drum
rhythm is simple), please let me know!

Be prepared for a great drumming performance by
Bumbada Women Drumming! and friends, and a dance
performance by Lancaster's own N'bonye dancers. THere
will also be a marketplace and a silent auction, so
bring some extra mula.

If you have a silent auction item or service to
donate, we would greatly appreciate it. If you cannot
attend the recital, but would like to donate to the
cause, please mail me back and let me know. Donations
are tax deductible.

For information about attending or donating to the
fundraiser, contact tammi_waffle@yahoo.com or
443.956.1409.

If you would like more information about Bumbada,
please see www.bumbadawomenweekend.myevent.com and
check out the page about Bumbada.

A song for our souls

This past weekend, Margaux Delotte Bennett graced us with her solid, peaceful presence and gave us an opportunity to explore the world of song-writing.

After an hour of drumming, which involved learning our second rhythm (SHIKO), we dove into a brainstorm on what makes a song, and types of music. After deciding on our top 5 favorites (which were a crazy milieu including hip hop, acid rock, soul and go-go), we began constructing lyrics. We finished with a beautiful chorus that instructs the listener to release fear, grow wings and be herself.

Next weekend, Margaux is back to further facilitate our process. We hope to come out with an entire song - or at least a few more lines. (:

In rhythm,
Kristen