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About my classes...
"Jennifer thank you for giving me a purpose in my life. Having Lupus has been a drag. Drumming is medicine to my soul. Every beat is a smile from my heart, I have so much fun drumming. LIfe is so much happier, days can be so painful but drumming gives me an energy that gives me life. I am so greatful for an awesome teacher and dear friend. I couldn't survive without drumming-- it is my heart beat. I love your Cd. Keep the drumming spirit alive. I can't wait until we are in our drum circle of life. It is life to my body. You have no Idea how much happier I am. Thank-you drumming diva."...Val
"Thank you, Jennifer! I loved your class. It is way much more than just a drumming class. It is a class on self-esteem, finding one's voice, becoming a contributing part of the whole., etc., etc. loved it. Thank you. Namaste......" Kathleena
"Just wanted to say thanks for your great teaching and support of wherever we are on our drumming paths. I'm excited about getting in touch with that primal energy and seeing how it can express through my hands. You are a gifted drummer in my opinion and an even more gifted teacher."...Liz
"Really enjoying your classes. The first night I had that wonderful experience, of feeling extremely energized in my torso. It was at least two happy chakras! LOL!! That feeling of being one with the beat, of wanting to dance it... in fact, IT was dancing inside me."....Vickie
"We enjoyed your class so much, and are eager to sign up for another...thanks again for your beautiful music and charisma!"......Yvonne
"I like the drumming very much. I'm looking forward to the next class. I'm looking forward to the teachers, too. They are very kind. I'm not perfect yet, but maybe..." Victoria, 93 yrs. old
"I loved your class yesterday, and went right out and bought a drum!"....L.
"It's just sort of a natural thing for people to drum. Drumming has been around for a very long time. It feels good." Carolyn, 86 yrs old.
"I've never felt like I belonged anywhere, but I do with your class. My soul and my spirit NEED drumming. And like I told you Friday, YOU make it wonderful. You are so safe and I never feel judged."...Laura
"I think it is fun and you don't have to cut your finger nails! It is a good social time activity"... Marilyn, 79 yrs. old
"Thank you for what you do and the great job you are doing, doing it."...B.
"I think it is really exciting, especially at the end when it is really loud and we all stop. Jennifer has taught us to stop together and we were able to do it!"...Jean, 91 yrs. old.
"My daughter and I have enjoyed your class at the college immensly...needless to say, we have been bitten by the drum bug!"...L.
"Thank you for your recent performance...you received rave reviews!"...D.
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The following article appeared in the August 13, 2003, edition of the Ventura County Star....
Beat Goes On: College Drumming Class a Hit By Erinn Hutkin
Eight-month-old Nike sat on mom Remi's lap. Her brown hair was wound in tufts atop her head. And her tiny brown wrists were held lightly by mom as her palms were bounced and she patted a wooden drum with her hands. "I can honestly say," announced drum circle instructor Jennifer Merlich, "this is my youngest student ever".
For 6 weeks, Nike's mom Remi, of Camarillo, has spent Wednesday evenings at Ventura College's first African Drumming class. When the class was offered through the college's community education division, Merlich and the school adopted a wait-and-see attitude on whether students would register. Instead, so many people signed up that Merlich split the group and began teaching not one class, but two. Students meet tonight for the final time, but when Merlich starts a new drumming session Oct.1, she expects to see familiar faces in the circle. "It really gets under your skin," she said. "Playing the drum has a way of relieving your stress. It's very primal, very therapeutic, very cleansing...I think people are really looking for that."
Each session draws about 20 people--a mix of men and women, young and old, moms and kids. Some came with playing experience, some never before picked up a drum. Now, their skill levels blend in the circle, creating thumping beats whose vibrations can be felt in lower backs and in the feet. Merlich uses the method of Babatunde Olatunji, the man who brought African drumming to the United States. The drums, or djembes, make six sounds. A word and spot on the drum is assigned to each sound. Under Olatunji's philosophy, "if you can say it, you can play it". Merlich's students know a shout of "gun" or "dun" is a signal to hit right and left hand basses. "Go" and "do" are right and left hand tones, while "pa" and "ta" are right and left slaps. In the circle, everyone sat with knee-high, hourglass-shaped drums between their feet. Some wood bases were decorated with red and black faces, multicolor patterns and southwest-style zig-zags. Some kicked off sandals as drumming began. And as the group waded into the multirhythmed Fanga, palm bottoms and finger tips patted drum centers, then shifted to the top and middle within seconds. As they played, faces showed students were caught in the galloping beat. One woman closed her eyes and moved her head side to side as fingers beat so fast they blurred. A mother and daughter faced each other, mouthing "one, two-three, four" and swayed their bodies to the beat. "Owwww", one woman shouted, after getting so swept in the rhythm that she flailed her arms before each strike, raised her eyebrows and let a giant smile slide across her face. "It's just kinda magical, " said student Arnie, of Ventura. "You can get lost in it".
Drummers said they liked creating rhythms, patterns, and organized noise during class. Merlich, meanwhile, feels drumming is fundamental. The human core--a heartbeat--follows a rhythm. Much like a drum, much like life.
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September 30, 2005--Jenn's Post...
As some of you know, the last few months have kept me very, very busy with "drum stuff", as I've affectionately started referring to it! This summer presented many wonderful opportunities for my ensemble to appear at different events around the community. Thanks to all who came out to support us! There's plenty more to come, including our first CD which will hopefully be completed by the end of the year. I've been truly fortunate to work with some amazing groups recently. Troupe Se Rang bellydancers have been a HUGE addition to the One World Drummers shows and should not be missed! Besides being wonderful entertainers, these beautiful women are also great dance teachers. If you're interested in discovering your inner goddess, I cannot recommend their classes enough. For more information, visit their website at: http://www.fusionstudiodance.com/ I've also been asked to join the faculty of the Ojai Performing Arts Theater Academy. OPATA has some amazing classes available for kids and adults, with a wonderful array of teachers. I'm truly honored to be among them! For more information about this great program, please visit: http://www.opata.org/ A few weeks ago, the One World Drummers and Troupe Se Rang performed at a hurricane relief benefit with proceeds going to the American Red Cross. Several thousand dollars were raised, and we were thrilled to be a part of it! That's about it for now! The classes I teach are still going strong, as are the community drum circles here in Ventura. I try to list everything on my Classes and Schedule pages, so be sure to check them out if you're ever wondering about locations, times, details, etc.
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May 13, 2005---Jenn's Post
The One World Drummers performed for the students at an elementary school in Camarillo today. We had 3 assemblies, with several hundred kids present at any given time. What an amazing bunch! These were very interactive sessions, with the kids being given the opportunity to ask questions and even accompany us on one number. The questions were well thought out and intelligent. The kids had a genuine interest in the drums, their origins and the history of the music we played. One young lady asked me, "Do you make the drums yourself?" I explained to her that no, unfortunately I don't, as these drums are made from African materials, like trees and goats, and that it would be too difficult for me to go to Africa and get everything I'd need. Hearing this, one wonderful little boy who couldn't have been more than 6 years old or so chimed in, "yeah, and those goats are REALLY hard to catch!". From the mouths of babes... In all three assemblies, the kids entered a little timidly, as we were blasting away with a lively Iube, and ended up dancing carelessly around the room, clapping and singing along with the songs we taught them. There was no concern for how they looked or who might be watching. The drums just worked their magic on those kids, and they were free of the inhibitions that will unfortunately probably settle into them as they get older. For a while, though, they were just free to be kids, dancing and singing with reckless abandon--drummers, every one of them--and we were so incredibly fortunate to have been a part of it. |
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