Ive seen you do amazing things with a Shekere! What are the fundamentals of playing Shekere?
Relax, breathe, stand with your feel about shoulder width apart to have a good foundation and balance. Place the bottom of the Shekere on the palm of the dominant hand. Place the non-dominant hand around the neck of the Shekere with the thumb on your side and the four fingers on the opposite side. Push up with the dominant hand with a firm hand and flexible wrist. Drop as if dropping to ground, and catch the Shekere with the bottom hand. You will naturally exert a slight amount of push with the top hand, but don’t push too hard. Maintain a slight pressure between the two hands to maintain control. Play a slow, simple half note or quarter pulse first before attempting any variations. Get comfortable before moving on. Don’t be concerned with how many beads there are- you’ll feel outnumbered and overwhelmed! It’s still just one instrument and one player. See my short video lesson on the LP website.
