WELCOME TO:

MIKE COLETTA DOT COM

Freestyle from Colorado Springs, CO.

Here's a few links to some of my other stuff.

• UFOGeek.com (Information about paranormal spirit communication, EVP, ITC)

• A few pics I took of the Springs Moose when he visited here  - I've got about a thousand pics of him.

• My pics of the Colorado Springs Koalas women's football team - I was the team photographer during their one an only season here.

• My YouTube page with over 100 videos

• A scanning hobbyist website I did a few years back

• Here's when I ran for Mayor of Colorado Springs in 2007 - I didn't win but I got 8432 votes.

• My employment resume highlights

Inside my drumming tent.  I put this tent structure together in a small room in my basement.  It makes it very nice for drumming inside this pleasant atmosphere.

I acquired a used riq for $3 at a thrift store. The riq is a type of tambourine used as a traditional instrument in Arabic music.

I acquired an old wooden barrel drum from a local antique emporium. I'll bet there is a lot of history and stories associated with this drum.  Who made it? Who played it? I'm playing it now...

I acquired a used doumbek on 26 Dec 08. (Thanks Cindy!) Now I'm learning to play the doumbek, too! It's the instrument that accompanies belly dancers...

My new (used) doumbek, made of copper.

Audio of My doumbek

Djembe in the park, 25 June 2008

Monument Valley Park, Colorado Springs

My Djembe's

12" x 24" from Ghana

11" x 22" from ?

I very much enjoy playing the djembe, doumbek, and riq.

I began playing djembe in April 2008.

Instead of traditional beats, I enjoy freestyle.

I play what comes from my heart...

My Djembe's

See more photos below...

I recently watched the movie, 'The Visitor' and really wished I was there in the park with everybody playing my djembe. Well I guess the next best thing is playing along with the sound track from the drum circle in the park scene. So, here I am playing my djembe with "The Visitor' sound track.

Another one of a djembe videos. More at My YouTube page

Audio

It's djembe time!

Miscellaneous freestyle rhythms

A recent freestyle : Change and Hope

Others

Garage Djembe part 1 (4:30)

Garage Djembe part 2 (6:30)

More

12 inch - 1    12 inch - 2    12 inch - 3    12 inch - 4

12 inch - 5    12 inch - 6    10 inch - 1    8 inch - 1

djembe1 - djembe2 - djembe3 - djembe4 - djembe5

djembe6 - djembe7 - djembe8 - djembe9

djembe10 - djembe11 - djembe12 - djembe13

djembe14 - djembe15 - djembe16 - djembe17

Djembe on the peak, 26 June 2008

The summit of Pikes Peak 14,110 feet

Djembe in Manitou, 27 June 2008

Manitou Springs, Colorado

Djembe in GOG, 27 June 2008

Garden of the Gods, Colorado

My Djembe's (continued)

10" x 16" from Ghana

Small travel djembe

This was my first djembe.  I no longer have it.

The 'Raccoon' & 'Raccoon II'

(Metal melodic percussion instruments)

The 'Raccoon' (Left)

The 'Raccoon II' (Right)

I built myself a 'Raccoon' (Metal melodic percussion instrument).  That's my name for it anyway. Why? First, a litter of baby raccoons recently made their appearance in my backyard, and hearing their cute little sounds, a mixture of barely audible frequencies, was awesome.
Second, on the evening I was finishing up on the filing and tuning of my 'Raccoon', mama raccoon and a couple of her babies once again paid me a visit, after a week of not seeing them.
Ahh... inspiration!
The 'Raccoon' is a melodic percussion instrument inspired by the Hang (PANArt), and tongue drum type instruments (HAPI, Oscar, Milltone, etc.). It only weighs about a pound, and sits in your lap as you play it.
Now on to making some happy sounds, 'Raccoon' tunes, as my wife says.

After finishing the 'Raccoon' I made the 'Raccoon II', which is totally different looking and sounding.  It makes happy sounds too!

Listen to 'The Raccoon' & 'The Raccoon II'