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Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy - Chicago

Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy - Chicago

5.0Exceptional(25 reviews)

About

Michael J. Taylor, more commonly known simply as 'Taylor', has been teaching, performing, and recording with the West African djembe drum since 1994.

The Director of the TAM TAM MANDINGUE DJEMBE ACADEMY - CHICAGO school of percussion, a TAM TAM MANDINGUE DJEMBE ACADEMY, INTL SENIOR INSTRUCTOR of djembe and the founder and driving force behind HOLY GOAT PERCUSSION, he teaches, performs, imports, sells and repairs West African djembes and dununs; check 'djembist' on YouTube for video examples. Check out www.holygoat.com.

Taylor has traveled to Guinea, West Africa 6 times with Mamady Keita and M'Bemba Bangoura. He has also taught in the United States, Mexico and China, studied and/or performed in Africa, Japan, China, Mexico and the United States with a number of djembe/dunun luminaries, among them: Grand Master Mamady Keita, Grand Master Famoudou Konaté, Grand Master Bolokada Conde, Michael Markus, M’Bemba Bangoura, Yaya Kabo, Madou Dembele, Gbanworo Keita, Laurent Camara, Minto Camara, Arthur Hull, Yaya Diallo, and Jahamen Mobley.

He has recorded three cds of original West African djembe-based music: A TOUCH OF CHAOS IN THE RHYTHMIC SOUP has been in stores since 1996; SILENCE has been out since late 2001;and SILENCE IN THE RHYTHMIC SOUP (rhythmic environments for yoga and meditation) was released Spring 2003. He created 2 ground-breaking instructional dvds; one focused on traditional djembe technique entitled REMEMBERING HOW TO DRUM (2003) and the other focused on the essential repetition that comes with mastery of the djembe entitled AKARAN IKO IKO (2006), which are selling worldwide.

Djembe, sometimes called the 'healing drum', is an amazing instrument and calls to different people in different ways. All benefit from playing and studying this amazing instrument!

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Highlights

1 employee
30 years in business
Serves Oak Park , IL

Social media

Photos and videos

    • Reviews

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    LM

    Liz M.

    I have taken djembe classes from Taylor for the past two years, and hes one of the best teachers that Ive ever had in any discipline. If a student doesnt understand something, he finds creative ways of explaining and demonstrating the technique. He is endlessly optimistic about what students are capable of, which helps us all do things that we didnt know we could do. He is patient when we struggle, and he celebrates with us when breakthroughs occur. Above all, he is passionate about Djembe, which sweeps us all along with him.
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    September 01, 2019
    GF

    Greg F.

    Taylor has a depth of knowledge & experience as well as being an amazing musician second to none when it comes to all things Djembe! It’s always a fun and enlightening experience working with him in any capacity. Always greets guests, students, friends & colleagues with a welcoming demeanor and you always go away feeling like you’ve learned valuable information and experienced something special.
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    August 31, 2019
    P

    PhyllisSyarto

    I loved learning all about drumming from Michael Taylor
    It truely has been a delight.
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    August 30, 2019
    DC

    Dawn C.

    I first met Taylor at a drumming workshop in the late 90s. The facilitator Arthur Hull said if you dont have a teacher find one! Taylor had let me use his doun doun set at the class. I asked him about lessons and my whole life changed. We started have a class in my home with about 6 women for 2 years then moved to Taylors home in Oak Park. I learned technique and pattern and many rhythms fro west Africa. Then class moved to a church in Oak Park for years. Taylor went to Africa for many years studying with Mamady Keita. I remember him going over the rhythms he was going to be tested for. Always improving his technique and knowledge of the culture especially the history behind the taught rhythms. He hosted many workshops with various teachers for me and my fellow students to learn from. Thus enriching my knowledge and my life. When he got certification from the Tam Tam Mandingue how excited he was! All the hard work paid off. I had the privilege of helping host many djembe teachers and attending workshop and weekly lessons for about 15 years. Feel Taylor is a great instructor and valued in the drum community. I still am drumming but live away from Chicago. I attribute my drum skills and level to to foundation of teaching from Michael Taylor, my friend and teacher!
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    August 30, 2019
    MP

    Mark P.

    Taylors holistic teaching methodology gives me and my family everything djembe: rhythms, history, stories, origins, care for the drums, tuning, techniques, laughter, fun yet serious atmosphere, experience, and challenges for all our experience and ability levels. No matter what our days have been like we all leave fulfilled and feeling good!
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    August 30, 2019
    JS

    John S.

    Writing about Taylors teaching style does very little to describe what its like to study with him in a LIVE setting. You can talk about how awesome or thorough someone is, but until you experience it in person, you cannot get the full effect.
    That is what its like studying with Taylor. Hes the whole package. Confidence, knowledge, depth of character, uniqueness. If you are a friend or student of Taylor, then you know what I am talking about. If you have even a spark of curiosity about djembe music, and you are able to access the talents of this most amazing teacher, then what the hell are you waiting for? As my mentors have told me....Do it! Do it! Do it NOW!
    ... Show more
    August 30, 2019

    Frequently asked questions

    Taylor brings a unique perspective to his teachings. As a Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy Senior Instructor, he teaches traditional West African rhythms as well as traditional djembe technique, rhythm exercises and listening skills. Students are encouraged to explore the far-reaching implications of learning rhythm on how they think, their level of personal confidence, how they feel and how they reason. The learning of rhythm can be a conduit to understanding the importance of independence/interdependence. Learning your part achieves independence; putting that part in the context of others’ achieves interdependence. 

    A dynamic and enthusiastic bi-racial teacher, entrepreneur, video/recording artist, performer, founder of Holy Goat Percussion, a Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy Senior Instructor and Director of the Tam Tam Mandingue Djembe Academy-Chicago School of Percussion, he has studied, performed and/or recorded with a wide range of artists and organizations from West Africa, North America, Japan, Australia, China and Europe, including Grand Master Drummers Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Bolokada Conde, members of Les Ballets Africains, Ballets Djoliba

    For video examples, check 'djembist' on YouTube 

    Professional Experience

    •   Taught with Grand Master Drummer Mamady Keita at TTMDA 2014 International Workshops, Tulum, Mexico (March 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)

    •   Lead corporate team building sessions using djembe with Sewa Beats, Intl, 2017 to current

    •   Djembe teaching tour Aug-Sept, 2010 and 2011, multiple cities in China, co-sponsored by Toning (Beijing) Culture and Development Co Ltd., and The Shanghai Percussion Association

    •   Performance tour of various cities in Japan, with Master Drummer Mamady Keita and TTMDA, Intl., Aug. 2009

    •   Performance tour, Upper Guinea, West Africa with Master Drummer Mamady Keita and Tam Tam Mandingue, Intl, Dec. 2007

    •   Received Tam Tam Mandingue Instructor Certificate 2005.

    • Received Tam Tam Mandingue Senior Instructor Certificate 2006.

    • Youth Program Quality training modules: Active Learning, Scaffolding for Success, Structure and Clear Limits, Reframing Conflict (1/11/11), Cooperative Learning (1/13/10), Ask-Listen-Encourage (1/13/10)

    •   Advanced Youth Development (AYD) training levels 1-4, sponsored by After School Matters

    •   Arthur Hull’s “Facilitator’s Playshop”, facilitators intensive study program 

    $75/hour at my place in Oak Park, IL.  May be open to travel within 10 miles; beyond 10 miles, additional travel charges may apply.  

    Services offered

    Djembe