The Djembe drum (depicted above) is synonymous with African music and culture, and is now making significant gains into the American drum paradigm.  The beauty of this instrument lies in the wide variety of sounds which can be “pulled” out of the drum, using various parts of the drum skin, hands and fingers.  The deep bass sound emulates a kick drum, while the snappy slap sound can be likened to a snare drum. 

There are many benefits to teaching Djembe to students prior to using sticks.  Most obvious, is the fact that we initially gravitate towards hitting a percussion instrument with our hands, rather than picking up an object such as a stick.  This is the most natural way to learn how to play a percussion instrument, especially for children with special needs.

As a parent of a child with Down Syndrome, David is uniquely qualified to understand the challenges facing this very special population.  His dedication to teaching his daughter Shelly has led him on this gratifying journey of teaching people who “march to their own drummer.”