Clave Consciousness is a multi-volume set of audio Cd lessons and groove sessions focusing on the key rhythmic patterns in African Diaspora music called clave patterns. As a musician or dancer, these are some of the most important, satisfying and useful patterns to master if you want to be fluent in drum language and contemporary world dance culture.

Volume One is a lesson in Son clave and twelve bell. Volume Two is a lesson in Rumba clave and AbaCua Clave. These basic patterns form the foundation of an immense body of music from around the world.

In the lessons, we learn the patterns from the inside out. I lead you through counting and clapping the patterns in different ways, as well as two hand coordination and other exercises to get the feeling into your body. Each CD ends with clave grooves at different tempos for you to play along with.

In each lesson I start by breaking down clave and counting it with a simple system that anyone can follow. Then we progresses to a common method used in "Latin" music, and finally we learn the clave pattern in a manner that integrates it with American music. Each of these ways of counting shows you different perspective on clave , which naturally deepens your intuitive understanding and feeling for the pattern.

I repeat this sequence to show you how the clave patterns feels in a six beat cycle and how it relates to the all important African twelve bell pattern. The twelve bell lesson in volume 1 is very thorough and includes all my basic exercises for understanding this tricky pattern. The Aba Cua clave lesson in volume two is similarly thorough.

I've included free online lesson notes (Vol 1) to expand and give background on some of the material in the lesson. For Volume 2 lesson notes click here.

The grooves that form the second part of the lesson start with clave (or twelve bell) and shaker with counting and pulse to help orient you. As the groove progresses, I drop out the counting, the shaker and the pulse so you can learn to play only with clave. Then I bring back parts of the pulse and counting for you to check how well you have stayed in clave. I feel this is an innovation in play along drum tracks. If you don't want to hear the counting, you can turn the balance on your stereo to one side and just hear clave and pulse.

I offer these Clave Consciousness lessons to you to expand your own music, and if you are interested, to help you understand African Diaspora music and dance. In addition, knowledge and embodiment of these patterns is integral to my Speaking of Rhythm Series.


Written and produced by Kim Atkinson

© copyright PulseWave Percussion 2002

Content developer, Co- Producer, Recording and Mixing Engineer Extrordinaire: Peter van Gorder www.PetervanGorder.com