Adult Classes

African drumming? Hand drumming? Drum Circles? Private Lessons with MMIAMS teachers?

What's it all about?

If you've never studied hand drums and you think you can play a djembe well, we ask you to reconsider. Often drummers and percussionists have heard the distinctive sounds of a djembe, but haven't learned how to get them. Or they've witnessed some impressive dance performances featuring traditional African drumming but never really learned how it's done. It takes practice and the guidance & teaching that only an experienced pro can give you. Really!

Well, right here at the MMIAMS you can learn with a master drummer for a very reasonable price of $20 for a 90-min. class. Bring your djembe (12" or larger suggested) or rent one from MM for only $5.

We're confident in the classes we offer. We've never seen a student take a whole 90-min. class from one of our resident masters and then refuse to pay for it.

Whether you're brand-new to drumming, or an old pro, we've got a class that can give you something special, from the general tonic of relaxation and escape from the rat race to acquiring new/advanced playing techniques and mastering challenging poly-rhythms in an up-tempo situation.

The MMIAMS exists to serve the ever-growing southern California drumming community. We also draw talent from MMIAMS to host our monthly Community Drum Circle/Jam Night.

Check the Classes page to find a class that interests you.

Kids Classes

Youth Classes are here—in Inglewood!

World Percussionist Eric Robnett holds two or three sections to give young people a broad introduction to percussion's many styles and techniques.

Check Sunday a.m. on the Classes Page for details.

Parents welcome!

Check out this page with images from Eric's Youth Class in Motherland's former location.

What's ON SALE?

That's a loaded question.

Our new store has a much more robust stock of djembes, doundouns, and a wide variety of other drums from which to choose, all at such good prices that mean our "regular" prices that are generally substantially lower than those of our so-called competitors, because we buy drums in larger quantities.

And our quality is second to none!

Call or come in and see for yourself how you can own hand-carved quality imported directly from the west African artisans who carved them.

Discounts on service?

We don't discount the quality and we pay the technicians fairly, so we don't discount service work—ever!

Our repair and custom services are among the most highly-regarded in the industry. People send us drums for repair from far and wide because they want it done right and at a fair price. Done... daily!

MM: Daily Progress

by Frank Elliott

Dan asked me to write a brief article outlining what's going on at Motherland Music these days... quite a lot, actually. And since our move-in Feb. 1, too much has changed to detail here... so here's an executive summary (and a 2nd Page of 14 Images HERE):

ACOUSTICS

The big room's acoustics proved problematic for classes, so we've installed insulation boards all around the perimeter interior walls except for the largest wall, which was built at an angle purposely for acoustics. You can get a glimpse of the insulation in the top left of Image #1 (it's already covered with African mud cloth for even better acoustical properties).

We inherited a space that was formerly used as a cabinet-making shop. No, we didn't inherit any of their tools... they moved to a larger space outside of the area. Woodworking and building skills are old traditions in the Rice family, and Dan's brothers Greg and Chris dropped into town for a few weeks to pitch in with the store remodeling process. Their expertise was soon put to use by Dan and they've already helped a lot. While brother Greg was finishing trim work in the main room today as I started this article with a few snap shots (he's a carpenter/builder by trade as Dan was formerly), brother Chris had climbed up into a tight attic crawl space putting the finishing touches on our new water heater. Yay! Hot water! Thanks, guys. The store woodwork & doors (and other things you worked on) look great, too!

RESTROOM

Refurbishing restrooms isn't a glorious activity, but Dan decided it's important because he wants his customers and students of the MMIAMS to be comfortable and to have clean facilities. So substantial improvements are being made, like a tile floor (expertly hand set by our new neighbor Christian of Jutiapan Guatemalan Bakery at Hyde Park and La Brea; they bake some really good stuff, too!) and new faucet and porcelain plus a general touch-up and paint job to bring the main restroom (as seen in Image 6) into the 21st century. We're still working out all the doorways and traffic flows, and Motherland customers will probably remember the "shared restroom" routine (unisex/ employee/ visitor) here. We're rollin' with hot and cold runing agua now.

MMIAMS: Weekly Progress

Along with this store comes this school... MMIAMS, also known as the Motherland Music Institute of African Music Studies. Who could've predicted we'd move next door to a Baptist gospel church (International Anointed Ministries) with a sign reading I.A.M.? Whether your preference is gospel or roots African, the music comes out long and strong at 601 N. Eucalyptus Ave. on both sides of the driveway! While cleaning and finishing work on the walls and ceilings is in progress (see Image 7), we often hear the sweet sounds of a gospel group and/or choir, and our classes will soon fill the air regularly in the main store room, too (see Image 12).

We should have the store open to the public in just a few short weeks. Thanks for your patience, but please drop in anyway. Customers are always welcome!

Until the main room is finished and properly set up, we ARE holding classes in the smaller former waiting area in the front part of the store—during remodeling our entrance is temporarily in the rear of the building.

Dean of the MMIAMS Malik Sow has already taught a few of his classes in this location, once in the main room and once in the smaller front room. The main room has very live acoustics, the smaller one sounds very dry. Neither room may ever be absolutely acoustically perfect, but should be good enough for class purposes pretty soon. We're doing our best to improve the sound.

Come on, you other instructors, it's your turn: Ayo will be teaching for the first time here tomorrow Saturday Mar. 12. Students: don't miss it! We're still waiting to hear from Maestro Fred Jones, Maestro Luca Brandoli and Mestre Amen Santo about resuming MMIAMS Weekly Classes. If you want to study with these great teachers here, please let them and us know ASAP!