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Volume 1
Subscription & Unsubscription Information, Posting Guidelines,
Archives, Help, etc.

This volume of the FAQ covers most of the basic questions raised by new members to the mailing list, or by those interested in subscribing.

Posting Guidelines.

Please send any and all "off the wall" Mail List questions to any or all of the Moderators including UNSUBSCRIBING problems.


Alan Tauber Alan@drumconnection.com
HappyShel happy@drums.org
Janet Planet jplanet@j2k.com
R Clark clark@acceleration.net
Amanda Pickering boumboum@talk21.com

Become a Moderator of your Djembe-L

This volume also covers some Djembe-L cultural questions regarding notation, advertising to the list, and links to sources of drum rhythms.

When sending email to the Djembe-L Mail List, NEVER send attachments: NO GIFS, JPGS, WAV, etc. NEVER send email in RTF (Rich Text Format). When posting an email to djembe-L, please turn off all HTML formatting in your email application.
Go into your Preferences/Settings/whatever and turn off the automatic HTML. Those who receive the list in Digest form can't interpret the HTML; it comes out as garbage. Thank you for your consideration.

Subscribe to djembe-l
Powered by www.yahoogroups.com

 

POSTING GUIDELINES

Please familiarize yourself with our
Posting Guidelines


Djembe-L is a moderated list [since its birth on December 26, 1998] and is here to facilitate discussion and education related to West African percussion and to the music of the African Diaspora. Djembe-L is not a Newsgroup and does not welcome the unrestrained verbal 'free-for-all' that often occurs in them. The current Moderators are committed to maintaining an atmosphere that welcomes a wide range of discussion and opposing opinion, but is also very strongly committed to making sure that atmosphere on the list is respectful and civil, even during heated exchanges. If you can communicate your opinions and ideas while remaining open to opposing views, Welcome to Djembe-L.

Djembe drumming is a very passionate art form and in the past has raised the ire of many drummers.  The previous Djembe-L, an unmoderated list serv, started by djembe drummers, in 1994, under the direction Dr. Eric Charry, then assistant professor of music at University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and later transferred to the University of Washington, went down in a very destructive, internet flame war, during the Fall and Winter of 1998.  This NEW Djembe-L was birthed, to be moderated by list volunteers, on December 26, 1998 with the assistance of Robert Freur, R Clark and HappyShel,  so as to never again, witness such a tragedy again.  The demise of the original Djembe-L is like a library burning.  Our intentions are to continue to promote and foster West African drum and dance in a truly, positive way, by moderating Djembe-L.


Remember that the 'tone' of your words is not easily discernible in email. Please take some time to re-read your post (or your reply to an existing thread) to assure yourself that it does not insult, demean or slander others. Do make your point, or offer a counter argument, but do it with civility and respect for the opinion of others. Address the topic please, not the personality or behavior of the author.

Please refrain from name calling or the cyber equivalent of SHOUTING
[typing in ALL CAPS]  or mudslinging during a heated discussion.  Demanding that people do something is not a productive way of communicating your wishes. Inflammatory posts, slurs, and verbal intimidation are not conducive to open discussion and the free flow of ideas and will not be tolerated in list discussion. Humor is appreciated but please remember that it is often difficult to convey via email and can easily be misinterpreted as an insult.

It is generally considered appropriate to send off-topic comments privately, but do not write privately to anyone who has asked you not to.  Do not publish private mail to the list without the express permission of all parties to that mail. The listowner may request that you continue discussion of what may have begun as a public topic via private mail, if it becomes apparent that the issue has dwindled to involve only a tiny group of list members.

WARNING / CONSEQUENCES

Your inclusion in this discussion group is a privilege, not a right; it can be revoked at any time by the Moderators. Your subscription to Djembe-L indicates acceptance of these Guidelines.

If you fail to follow the Posting Guidelines you will be contacted privately by the Moderators and given one (and only one) warning. Failure to heed that warning will result in your posting privileges to Djembe-L being revoked for up to 30 days.  There is no appeal to this action; it is at the sole discretion of the Moderators.  Cooperation with the Posting Guidelines will, within a few months time, expunge a previous warning or suspension.

If you persist in attempting to reach the list by posting from any other address during your suspension, including having your posts forwarded to the list by another subscriber, your actions will be considered harassment of the members of the list, and the Moderators will take immediate action to block those addresses as well and will report your actions to the Postmaster or System Administrator of your Internet connection.

Should you continue to be unable to follow these Posting Guidelines after your suspension of posting has been lifted, you will be allowed one last warning to amend your posting manner. Failure to change your approach after this last warning will result in your immediate and permanent removal from list membership.

You can find our early messages, announcing our birth, in our archives,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/djembe-l/message/

There is a free translation service on the web at:
http://babelfish.altavista.digital.com/cgi-bin/translate
it only translates so much at a time so you'll have to feed in the message in parts if you really want to know what it's about.

New experimental search engine called Google, which uses  weighted-link ranking techniques, thereby producing not the huge result lists with 75385 matches to your question.

    Google - http://google.com

Google seems to work pretty well, but it is still a research project at Stanford University and its index covers only about 3/4 of the Web right now.

IBM is working on a similar search engine "Clever", not released yet. Info about "Clever" is to be found at:

    CLEVER - http://www.almaden.ibm.com/cs/k53/clever.html

This FAQ is maintained by HappyShel with a lot of help and input from many other members of your DJEMBE-L List.
Errors, suggestions & additions to
happy@drums.org.
PC software used: MS Publisher 2000, MS Word 2000,,  Adobe PhotoShop 7.0.
US Mail address for scanned photos on 3 1/2" disk or CD-ROM:
DJEMBE-L FAQ, PO BOX 141354, Dallas, TX USA 75214.
Tel: 214.823.3786
FAX: 214.887.0386

Revised 12-28-02

 


The Questions:

  1. What is the DJEMBE-L?
  2. What is a djembe?
  3. Is this FAQ, and the mailing list itself, ONLY about Djembes?
  4. Can anyone subscribe?
  5. How can I subscribe to the DJEMBE-L?
  6. Do I have to always capitalize the word DJEMBE-L?
  7. What can I expect when I subscribe?
  8. What is the difference between the two addresses, http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/djembe-l and djembe-l@egroups.com
  9. How do I unsubscribe?
  10. How do I read the header on my DJEMBE-L email?
  11. How do I send mail to the list?
    What is the mail etiquette?
  12. How do I send "private" mail to an individual or a small group on the list?
  13. Must I identify myself when sending mail to the list?
  14. Can I get the DJEMBE-L mail condensed?
  15. Is there an archive of old posts from the DJEMBE-L that I can access?
  16. What commands will the ListProcessor recognize?
  17. I forgot my password and/or mail settings. How do I find them?
  18. Can I advertise percussion related products or services on the list or the FAQ?
  19. What type of notation system is used on the list?
  20. Is there a collection of rhythms available?

 


The Answers:


1. What is the DJEMBE-L?

This FAQ is in support of the mailing list DJEMBE-L.  It is a moderated mailing list. Please note that this is NOT a Usenet newsgroup but rather a group of people sending and receiving email focused on a particular subject. An understanding of this concept is essential for proper participation on the mailing list.

You might SERIOUSLY want to consider browsing the archives (see directions in Question #15 below) BEFORE subscribing to the List.

Read the answer to question #5 How can I subscribe to the DJEMBE-L? for information.

[Return to Questions]



2. What is a djembe?

A djembe (pronounced " gem-bey ") is a unique goblet or chalice shaped drum, usually carved from a single piece of wood. It originated in West Africa and is generally considered to have roots in the Manding people of the early Mali Empire. It stands approximately 20-30" high and is covered with goat or antelope skin, usually held on and tuned a by lacing of cord in a pattern called the Mali weave. .

[Return to Questions]



3. Is this FAQ, and the mailing list itself, ONLY about Djembes?

The information in this FAQ and the correspondence on the DJEMBE-L is not only about djembes or the music related primarily to that particular drum, though that is the central focus and intent. Congas, Batas, and other drums related to West African, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music are also discussed. Various other topics with an ethnic hand drum focus are also considered. .

[Return to Questions]



4. Can anyone subscribe?

Yes, anyone can subscribe to the list. Please, though, before you do, carefully read the sections on this FAQ regarding how the mailing list works. Keep in mind that 'subscription' means sending a command to http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe/djembe-l.   You must understand the command to 'unsubscribe' to successfully stop mail from coming to you should you decide not to continue to participate. Once you subscribe you will immediately begin receiving email directly to your mailbox, either as individual messages or in a single digest of the mail for each day. You will continue to receive mail until you unsubscribe to the list. .

Subscribe to Djembe-L
Powered by www.yahoogroups.com
[Return to Questions]



5. How can I subscribe to the DJEMBE-L?

Send a blank e-mail to this address: Djembe-L-subscribe@yahoogroups.com


[Return to Questions]

6. Do I have to always capitalize the word DJEMBE-L?

No. The word DJEMBE-L is only capitalized in this FAQ to make a clear distinction from the number "1", which is virtually indistinguishable from a lower case "L" when viewed on the screen. 

[Return to Questions]

7. What can I expect when I subscribe?

When you follow the instructions in this FAQ and subscribe to the DJEMBE-L, you will be placed on the DJEMBE-L mailing list and receive copies of all mail sent by other members to the listprocessor. You will first receive an automated response from the ListProcessor welcoming you to the list. Then you can expect mail about rhythms (new and old), tips on how to repair your drum, comments and reviews on various books, videos, and announcements about performances in the hand drumming world. There are no fixed topics, questions are fielded from any member and a great deal of support for many drumming styles is available. .
[Return to Questions]

 


8. What's the difference between the two address, http://www.egroups.com/subscribe/djembe-l  and djembe-l@egroups.com  ?

Once you have subscribed, mail intended for ALL members of the list will be addressed to djembe-l@yahoogroups.com. Mail requests for information from the server or commands to unsubscribe or be set to digest mode need be sent to http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/djembe-l.

[Return to Questions]

 

9. How can I unsubscribe to the DJEMBE-L?

From the email address you subscribed to Djembe-L, send a blank email to djembe-l-unsubscribe@egroups.com
Co - List Administrators are HappyShel <
happy@drums.org>  and R Clark <clark@acceleration.net>.  
Please send any and all "off the wall" questions to them. If you are having difficulty in UNSUBSCRIBING, address the Moderators ONLY, not the entire list.

[Return to Questions]



10. How do I read the header on my DJEMBE-L email?

Depending on your mail software and what options for the display of Headings you'll be confronted with a long list of data or basic To: & From: information.
Essential information begins with the line titled "Date".

Date: Thu, 4 Jan 1996 09:54:51 -0500
Reply-To: djembe-l@egroups.com
Sender: djembe-l@egroups.com
From: bigbill@whatsit.com
To: "Djembe-L drumming / hand percussion"
Subject: [djembe-l] Recording djembes for video

Line by line, the IMPORTANT headings are the following:

Date: This is the date and time the message was sent by the person on the "From" line

Reply-To: This is the address to use when replying to a message carried in the body of the mail. Note: If you select the common "Reply" or "Reply to All" function of many email programs, your reply will be mailed to ALL members of the list, NOT to the one person who wrote the mail who is listed on the "From" line. See Question #12 to reply privately.

Sender: This indicates that the message was sent from the  directly from the individual on the "From" line.

From: This is the email address (and account name) of the person who sent the message to the listprocessor.

To: Person to whom the mail was sent. In this case it was sent to all recipients of the list

Subject: [djembe-l] distinction which list the mail is from & the topic that follows in the body of the email.

[Return to Questions]



11. How do I send mail to the list?

To send mail to the list simply address your mail to DJEMBE-L@egroups.com. The ListProcessor will receive it and send a copy of it to ALL of the other members on the list. .

[Return to Questions]



12. How do I send "private'" mail to an individual or a small group on the list?

If you wish to send mail privately to an individual on the list in response to a post or simply to make private contact you must take care to use the "From" address on the mail header. Most mail packages (Eudora, Outlook, Netscape, etc) have a "Reply To" function. If you use this function your reply will be automatically directed back to the ListProcessor, which will send it to ALL the members on the list.

To reply privately, delete the DJEMBE-L address and insert the address in the "From" line. Note: You can develop a 'group' of people who all receive copies of mail send to one another (like a mini-list) by using the "Cc" line to add addresses of those you wish to receive copies of the mail you send to the address on the "To" line.

[Return to Questions]



13. Must I identify myself when sending mail to the list?

The members of the DJEMBE-L are part of the greater community of world drummers, and as such, share a common desire to promote trust and closer connections with others. How you identify yourself is a personal matter, some members indicate address, phone and fax numbers, others only a nickname. It is helpful if you add some clue as to your physical location such as city, county, state or country. This saves time and bandwidth when members send mail asking for help or references to resources. .

[Return to Questions]



14. Can I get the DJEMBE-L mail condensed?

Yes, the ListProcessor will recognize a command to organize each day's mail into a "digest" and send it out once a day. To activate digest mode you must send a request to the ListProcessor (not to the DJEMBE-L) in the following format.

To SET DIGEST MODE, Click this URL: http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/djembe-l.   Click on "User Center," enter your e-dress and password and click on "Digest."
Your mail will continue in this format until you notify the ListProcessor to set you out of digest mode by sending another command to the ListProcessor (not the list itself).

[Return to Questions]



15. Is there an archive of old posts from the DJEMBE-L that I can access?

Yes. There are actually several archives available. The most recently available is located at FINDMAIL
.

As of December 16, 1998, Djembe-l@yahoogroups.com is archiving

As of September 27, 1999, a new archive is added, LISTCOM.

From there, rather than doing a search, you click on "Browse Archives" and are taken to this page. Alternately, you can go there directly by Clicking HERE

You are then presented with a list of the most recent messages sent to the List, numbered from 1 to 25, in reverse order of when they arrived. (Further pages give you more messages, continuing in reverse order.) From there, you can click on and read individual messages. Messages sent to the List seem to arrive at Reference.com very quickly--usually within the hour of when they were sent. (Reloading the page re-orders the listing with any new messages that have come in.)

Obviously, this gives Djembe-L the functionality of a newsgroup, on the Web, and allows you to access Djembe-L without having an overstuffed mailbox (although you could also use Digest Mode). Those who don't want to subscribe or receive these posts as e-mail (or who have unsubscribed) could still participate by reading on the web and mailing to the List, even if you leave Djembe-L and join the new newsgroup. I get my messages in Digest Mode at home, but since discovering Reference.com, I use it to preview the postings when I have a few spare minutes at work.

So try it, and see if you like it!

--Jim Banks, Chicago "

Another archive can be reached at The Drum and Percussion Page. It is organized by month beginning with July 1995. The archived mail is arranged by thread within each month.

[Return to Questions]


16. What commands will the Mail List recognize?

Remember that the Moderators read each piece of mail.  You can receive details from the server itself by:

Clicking this URL http://www.onelist.com.  Once there, click on User Center and follow the instructions.

 

[Return to Questions]



17. I forgot my password and/or mail settings. How do I find them?

If you forget your password that you were given when you first subscribed, the one you changed it to, or wonder what mail setting mode the djembe-l Mail List 'thinks' you're in, you can find out by contacting http://www.onelist.com and clicking on User Center. This is helpful to confirm successful switches in or out of digest mode.


 

[Return to Questions]



18. Can I advertise percussion related products or services on the list?

There is the FAQ STORE to Advertise products on the FAQ to members of Djembe-L and visitors.  ADS can be sent thru the Mail List ONLY when the subject line clearly sattes "ADS" and the Ad is limited to 75 words or less PLUS have a link to a URL where more info is posted. Members of the list recognize that many small business have products and services of value to the drumming community and want to stay informed. On the other hand, we are all sensitive to the impact of advertising.

 

 

[Return to Questions]



19. What type of notation system is used on the list?

There are several well known systems for notations of rhythms. Please refer to the section below for more details. The system most clearly preferred by members of the list is that used by Larry Morris in his Rhythm Catalog. The key to that system (and part of one rhythm )is reproduced below.

LEGEND:
| first beat in the bar
* other whole beats
. half beats
, quarter beats
: repeat
>> at end of bar = continue phrase next line
B,b bass
O,o tone
M,m muffle tone
S,s slap
Sf, Of slap/tone flam
h heel
f finger
. touch or spacer (rest)
_ appears above notes that should be played with your strong hand.

KPANLOGO, Larry Morris lam@eng.tridom.com  '94 from informal sources



4/4     |:    .    *    .    *    .    *    .    |    .    *    .    *    .    *    .    :|
        -          -         -         -         -         -         -         -
Tumba   O     O    O    O    B    .    s    s    O    .    s    s    B    .    s    s
        -          -         -         -         -         -         -         -
Conga   B     .    s    s    O    .    s    s    B    O    O    .    O    O    .    O
[Return to Questions]



20. Is there a collection of rhythms available?

Yes. Larry Morris maintains a page with both ftp and http links to his Rhythm Catalog . See Volume 17, Web Links for Larry Morris' new FTP site. It is also posted periodically to the list. (Note: Be sure that, once downloaded, you view and print the notation in an equal space (non-proportional) font such as Courier. Failure to do so will prevent proper alignment.

Return to Questions


Return to TOC