Learn The Djembe

Hand drums have been gradually increasing in popularity over the past twenty years. Many contemporary artists are using them in both the studio and in live shows. Even rock bands are using the djembe, artists that use the drum includes; Ben Harper, red hot chili peppers and The Smashing Pumpkins. The djembe is a very versatile instruMent and can be a great addition to any drummers arsenal.

Learn The Djembe

Learn The Djembe

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Learn The Djembe

Learn The Djembe

Why Should I Use A Djembe?

The djembe is perfect for people who are looking for a single drum that is able to cover a variety of different sounds. There are many different styles of djembe around, each with their own unique appeal as no djembe is the same. This means that you will be able to search for a drum that is right for you in both image and sound.

ChoosingDrum Heads

There are two different types of djembe drum head available; synthetic and natural. Synthetic heads aren't as good as natural heads because they need to be tuned very tight to give a good sound. This can cause a problem as it will cause the drum to "ring" when it is hit. Natural skins are better quality, last longer and sound much better. Synthetic heads are fine if you're a beginner, however if you have some experience then natural is certainly the way to go.

Playing The Djembe

There are many hand techniques that you can use if you want to play the djembe. The most common method is to use your palm to slap the skins. By doing this in the center of the drum you will create a deep tone. For a more high-pitched tone you should move to the outer edgesof the skin.

One mistake many people make when they are playing the djembe is that they will gradually speed up when they hit the drums loud. This can cause a problem if you're playing in a drum circle as you are all supposed to be in sync with each other. If you find yourself having this issue then you need to listen to others. If you can hear yourself over all of the other drummers then you need to lower your volume.

Where To Learn

The problem with learning the djembe is that there aren't a lot of tutors around. If you really want to learn then you'll have to teach yourself. There are plenty of resources available on the internet that will take you through the necessary steps, such as; Video tutorials, play along tracks and ebooks.

Learn The Djembe

Great Carne Asada Dishes for A Smashing Cinco De Mayo

There's no better way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than with chilly drinks and great carne asada. This traditional Mexican dish, whose name literally means "roasted meat, can be made on the grill or under the broiler. Inexpensive steaks, such as skirt steak and hanger steak, are traditionally used to prepare this great dish. However, you can step it by using a nicer cut of steak. The basic carne asada recipe below is used as the main dish and in several fun and bocadillos, entrees or appetizers.

Great Carne Asada Dishes for A Smashing Cinco De Mayo

Great Carne Asada Dishes for A Smashing Cinco De Mayo

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Great Carne Asada Dishes for A Smashing Cinco De Mayo

Great Carne Asada Dishes for A Smashing Cinco De Mayo

Basic Marinade

Juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 to 1/2 cup minced cilantro
2 diced serrano or jalapeno chiles, depending on personal preference
2 cloves minced garlic
1 1/2 teaspoons honey
Dash of ground coriander
Dash of cumin
Salt totaste
Pepper to taste
1/4 cup mango puree, optional

Whisk all ingredients together. Place with steak in a sealable plastic bag or bowl in the refrigerator overnight, or for at least five hours. Grill or broil until cooked to your personal preference. Let the steaks rest for approximately 10 minutes before cutting.

Traditionally, sliced strips of steak are served with fresh tortillas, cilantro and diced onions. Rice and beans generally accompany such dinners. You may wish to serve a fresh mango salsa sauce or a alongside the traditional rendition of the dish.

Double-Takes on Carne Asada

Using the meat prepared with the first recipe, you can make many tasty entrees and appetizers. Use the below ideas to give this traditional Mexican dish to makeover. These recipeswork particularly well "to cure a Cinco de Mayo hangover.

Festive Flautas

Roll chopped meat and cojita cheese crumbled or cheddar into flour tortillas. Be sure to roll with the sides of the tortilla chips tucked in. Fry in a cast iron skillet in an inch of oil until golden brown on all sides, or use a deep fryer to cook until golden brown. Allow flautas to cool for a few minutes before cutting in half. Flautas are best served with sour cream, pico de gallo and fresh avocado.

Tostones with Meat

Tostones, fried green plantains, are popular in Southern Mexico and throughout Central America. Purchase two or three green plantains for this easy recipe. Note that ripe plantains are usually yellow and, while providing a sweet touch to any meal, do not have the correctconsistency for tostones.

Peel plantains and cut into circles approximately one inch thick. Flatten rounds slightly with a hammer, heavy bottle or tortilla press. Fry rounds in an inch of canola oil in a deep fryer or until they just turn golden. Remove from the oil, drain and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Tostones topped with serves individual chunk of the roasted meat. Secure meat to tostones with a toothpick if desired.

Carne de Salada

Great Carne Asada Dishes for A Smashing Cinco De Mayo

Look To The 90 's For A Great Party Theme

It was Prince who said "Tonight we're gonna Party like it's 1999!" He was right. Although the 90s seem like they were really just about yesterday (in the big universal time-line of things), 90s theme parties are still a hot and funky theme to consider when throwing parties. For one thing, all theme parties need to have plenty of good music and the 90s marked the beginning of new and different types of popular music. It is important to have lots of big name groups like Nirvana, Salt & Peppa, Snoop Dogg, Hootie and the BlowFish, Pearl Jam, and oh-so-many boy bands (i.e. 98 Degrees, Backstreet Boys, Boyz 2 Men, etc.), Smashing Pumpkins, Shania Twain, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Tom Petty on hand to mix it up a little.

Look To The 90 's For A Great Party Theme

Look To The 90 's For A Great Party Theme

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Look To The 90 's For A Great Party Theme

Look To The 90 's For A Great Party Theme

Use your 90s theme Party as a way toencourage people to Dress the way they remember the fashions of the 90s. You will be amazed at what some people remember the fashions being. Have a fashion show and a Miss 90s for the night award based upon audience participation.

If you have any access to musical instruMents, you may want to set up a garage band audition-grunge style! Divide your 90s theme party guests into bands and give them time to come up with a name and write some lyrics to a song. Then, give them the option of trying to create the background music with real instruMents or fit their words to a famous song, nursery rhyme campfire song or Christmas Carol. The results are guaranteed to be hilarious. Try to have the video recorder going for this.

Look To The 90 's For A Great Party Theme