Product Review

Let's face it: playing djembe as it's traditionally played can be really hard on your hands. This is the only DVD for beginning hand drummers-especially adult beginners-who want to experience the joys of playing djembe while going easy on their hands. It was created by Alan Dworsky, the best-selling author of "How to Play Djembe" and two-time winner of DRUM Magazine's readers' poll for "Best Percussion Method Book." Each of the seven step-by-step lessons on the video starts like a private lesson and ends with Alan's entire class playing the rhythm, so you also get a sense of what it's like to play in a group. Proper playing technique is covered in depth and African rhythms are adapted to a Gentle Djembe style, so that you can play safely and comfortably no matter what your age. And each lesson has a matching play-along track, making the DVD a complete learning tool. Shot in gorgeous wide-screen format and endorsed by Arthur Hull as "the most non-intimidating way for beginning beginners to get started." NTSC all region. 60 minutes.