African Drumming Classes

Community Classes | Drumming Levels Explained
Performance Skills Classes | Private Tuition

Learn to drum!
Learn to play a range of traditional West African rhythms on the djembe and other African instruments.

Community Classes

Classes run in 6 Week cycles. It's is best to start at the beginning of a cycle. See individual venue pages for course start dates. Choose from classes in: St Kilda Camberwell East Bentleigh Fitzroy Flemington Frankston Mornington Peninsula Download printable class timetable (pdf, 251kb)

Rates
6 Week Cycle*.......... $140/$125 (concession)
Casual........................ $25/22 casual

Register Online for Drumming Classes

Drumming Levels Explained

Beginners

Suitable for: those with no or limited experience

Expected Outcomes

The emphasis at Beginner Level is on:

• having fun
• developing groove, control & listening skills
• learning to work together to create simple (and great sounding) rhythms
• developing an understanding of rhythm through musical concepts and the all-important pulse
• learning the basic technique for djembe strokes (bass, tone and slap) as well as bells and shakers
• developing an appreciation for the structure of traditional West African music and percussion
• learning simple group solos and developing individual freestyle solos

Intermediate

Suitable for: those who have completed at least one Beginner Course or those with some previous hand drumming experience. Also in 6 week cycles.

Expected outcomes

The emphasis at Intermediate level is on:

• maintaining a solid tempo and holding accompaniment parts within polyrhythmic structures.
• developing clearly differentiated tones, slaps and basses and the ability to play at faster tempos.
• understanding the relationships between bell, dundun and djembe parts through better listening skills.
• developing comfort playing rhythms in different time signatures like 4/4 & 12/8
• preparing full arrangements for performance under the direction of a lead drummer
• building on more difficult group solos and personal freestyle soloing

Advanced

Suitable only for: experienced and on-going students. This level is not for the faint hearted!

Expected outcomes

The emphasis at Advanced level is on:

• working towards becoming adept with complex traditional African rhythms
• learning complex group & individual solos
• learning to lead an ensemble by taking the lead djembe role
• preparing for gigs at local venues / festivals etc.

Performance Skills Class

Want to take your playing to the next level? Our Performance Skills Class is focused on polishing a core set of rhythms to a performance standard. Classes don't follow the standard blueprint - during our 2 hour sessions, we refresh, refine and reinvigorate the known content, work on new material and use other music techniques to grow your playing. You will need to know your way around the djembe (i.e. Intermediate + level), and admission is via invitation and expression of interest.

The experience isn't restricted to the studio - you'll be given the chance to perform at community gigs and events, as part of our performance troupe Sessi Sessi!

Class Focus

1. Tightening arrangements
2. Learning rhythms inside and out (complete with 3 Accompaniments, Duns, Intro, Break, Outro & Song)
3. Working on music dynamics and interactive movement sequences to add to the visual spectacle
4. Opportunities to practice leading the music through calls, echauffs etc.

Benefits from PSC

1. Improved Live Performing Skills
2. More endurance / stamina
3. Broader knowledge of accompaniments / dun parts =  Rhythms
4. Improving musicianship and leading the music
   
   

Format: 6.30pm - 8pm at 252 St Kilda Rd, St Kilda.

Cost: $25 session, or $15 if it's your 2nd class with our school at any location

Location: African Drumming HQ: 252 St Kilda Road, St Kilda

Contact: Jeremy on: jeremy@africandrumming.com.au ... or... 0423 521 682

 

Private Tuition: 1-on-1 Four Pack

Our new 1-on-1 private lessons 4 pack is designed to maximize your time spent learning.
Aimed at ironing out those ongoing technique and musical understandings, and personally tailored to your needs and style, these four consecutive sessions will really accelerate your playing – great if you need to play catch up with a 6 week cycle that you’ve missed or to take your playing to the next level.
In the first session we will have a robust discussion around where your playing is currently at, what you’d like to achieve in the lessons, and the different methods we can employ to get you there - from there on we’ll get on with the business of developing your playing! Expect to be pushed, challenged and rewarded.
These lessons are suitable for all levels, and while primarily aimed at djembe and dundun training, there are many other aspects to your musicality which we can focus on including:

We recommend that the sessions be taken close together to facilitate fast development – ideally once a week or fortnight.
Cost: $195
For more information, contact
Simon: simon@africandrumming.com.au 
Jeremy: jeremy@africandrumming.com.au

*Please note: No refunds on 6 week courses