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African Drumming - Team Building Events and Interactive Workshops - Increased productivity
African Drumming Classes
Learn to drum!
Learn to play a range of traditional West African rhythms on the djembe and other African instruments.
Choose from classes in:
- St Kilda
- Fitzroy - on hold till Aug 18th
- Newport
- Mornington Peninsula
- East Bentleigh
- Camberwell
- Ascot Vale
Costs: $140/125 upfront or $25/22 casual
Please note: NO refunds on 6 week courses
New: Register Online for Drumming Classes.
Note: Classes, run in 6 week blocks. It is best to start at the beginning of a block. See individual venue pages for course start dates.
New - Performance Skills Class (PSC)
A new class by invitation & expression of interest only to advanced & experienced players. The class will not follow the standard class format, rather it is designed to get players Performance Ready for the community gigs that we have going on during the course of the year.
Class Focus
- Learning 4 - 5 rhythms inside and out.
- For each rhythm learning 3 accompaniments , duns, Intro, Break, Outro, Song
- Working on music dynamics and interactive movement sequences to add to the visual spectacle
- Individuals ( that want to and are ready) will get to practice leading the music playing calls, chauffs etc
Benefits from PSC
- Improved Live Performing Skills
- More endurance / stamina
- Broader knowledge of accompaniments / dun parts = Rhythms
- Improving musicianship and leading the music
Format
- We will start with a 6 week term Thurs 15th April
@ 6.30 - 8pm at Grey St, St Kilda
- We plan to run ongoing 6 week cycles
- Simon F to direct initial sessions with support from Jeremy P........ Jeremy to gradually take over running the session over time
- Cost $15 a session
- Please bring a strap – we will aim to strap on for most of the session
Unsure what standard drummer you are? See below for Drumming Levels Explained.
Drumming Levels Explained
Beginner 1 and 2
Suitable for: those with no or limited experience. These classes operates in 6 week cycles. It is best to join at the start of a new cycle.
Expected outcomes
The emphasis at Beginner level is on:
- having fun
- learning to work together to create simple (and great sounding) rhythms
- developing an understanding of rhythm 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
Intermediate
Suitable for: those who have completed at least one Beginner Course or those with some previous hand drumming experience. Also 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
- developing comfort playing rhythms in different time signatures
- preparing full arrangements for performance under the direction of a lead drummer
- learning simple solos
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 solos
- preparing for gigs at local venues / festivals etc.