Here’s a step-by-step guide to help students focus and relax using simple hand drumming patterns.

These exercises are suitable for beginners and adaptable to any drum, such as a djembe, frame drum, or even a desk drum for classrooms without instruments.

1. The "Heartbeat Rhythm"
Purpose: Grounding and calming.
Pattern: Play a slow, steady beat like a heartbeat: Base - Base, Rest - Rest.
Steps:
Use the centre of the drum for a deep resonance (Bass sound).
Count: 1, 2, rest, rest. Repeat for 1-2 minutes.
Encourage students to breathe in time with the rhythm.
Visual:
[B] - [B] - [ ] - [ ]

2. The "Breath Sync"
Purpose: Synchronizes drumming with mindful breathing.
Pattern: Tap lightly on the drum while inhaling and make a louder strike while exhaling.
Steps:
Start with light fingertip taps around the drum edge as students inhale.
Make a firm palm strike at the centre as they exhale.
Continue for 5-10 breaths, focusing on the sound and the feeling of air moving.
Visual:
[Tone-Tone-Tone-Tone] → [Base]

3. The "Circle Wave"
Purpose: Promotes focus and group connection.
Pattern: Each student plays a single beat in a clockwise or counterclockwise circle.
Steps:
Begin with a facilitator or teacher starting the rhythm.
Each student adds their beat in sequence to create a wave effect.
Once all students are in sync, increase the speed or volume slightly to engage focus.
Visual: Represent students in a circle with beats flowing like a ripple.

4. The "Rainfall Rhythm"
Purpose: Encourages light and dynamic control.
Pattern: Random fingertip taps across the drum surface, mimicking gentle rain.
Steps:
Start with soft, scattered taps (like the first raindrops).
Gradually increase intensity and speed, then slow down to simulate a calming drizzle.
Optional: Combine this with soft breathing sounds or whispers.
Visual:
[t-t-t-t-t-t-t-t] [t..t..t..] [t.........]

5. The "Echo Game"
Purpose: Improves listening and mimicry skills.
Pattern: Teacher plays a short, calming pattern (e.g., Base-Tone-Tone) and students echo it.

Steps:
Begin with simple rhythms.
Gradually increase complexity while keeping the pace slow.
Allow students to take turns leading the rhythm.
Visual:
Teacher: [B] - [T] - [T]
Students: [B] - [T] - [T]

6. The "Pulse and Pause"
Purpose: Balances energy and quiet reflection.
Pattern: Four beats followed by two counts of silence.
Steps:
Play: 1, 2, 3, 4, rest, rest.
Use the silence to feel the vibrations of the drum and relax.
Encourage students to focus on the rhythm internally during the pause.
Visual:
[B] - [B] - [B] - [B] - [ ] - [ ]

These exercises are simple yet effective for grounding, calming, and transitioning students into a focused mindset.

Imagine spending ten days in beautiful Bali, surrounded by lush greenery and the rhythmic sounds of African drums.

That's exactly what participants of our annual Bali Drum Camp experience.
This immersive retreat welcomes drummers of all levels, from complete beginners to advanced players, and brings them together to deepen their understanding of West African drumming.
Below is a personal reflection written by Dianne Motton, one of our recent camp participants, capturing her experience at the Bali Drum Camp:

”Most of us remember having a recorder in our early years of primary school.
Sadly, my class was bypassed on this musical instrument, and I still have memories of hearing other classes attempting to play "Three Blind Mice" over and over again.

So, my musical career never really took off, and now I find myself in Bali, listening to the most sublime drumming and wishing I had a modicum of the talent to match what I hear.

The African Drumming camp here in Candidasa, Bali, organized by Simon Fraser, brings together a disparate group of adults from a wide range of backgrounds, all intent on immersing themselves in the world of drumming and complex musical rhythms.

”There are social workers, students studying gardening, research scientists, and retired lawyers—all drawn here to the challenge and joy of learning how to drum and improve their skills.

They come from all over Australia, from America, New Zealand, and beyond to hone their skills developed at home with the aid of ten days of drumming.
The days are broken up into morning and afternoon sessions, all building upon the work of the previous day.

I hear rhythms that sound both primitive and sophisticated at the same time. I hear a primal beat—a beat that has been handed down for thousands of years across Africa, conveying messages from tribe to tribe—yet at the same time, I hear the sophistication of the arrangements and the layer upon layer of intertwining rhythms that form the entirety.

”It is mesmerizing to watch the swift hand movements, to catch the beat over and over again, and to recognize the skill and mastery involved.

Day after day, the groups practice for four hours, coming away at the end of the day both exhilarated and tired.

The new musical challenges each day push the drummers to new heights, to a new awareness of skills and deficiencies. It pushes the drummers to create new neural pathways, to ward off stagnation and decline. It is cognitive therapy with a twist—you become proficient in a musical field that few Australians are familiar with.

The camp also engenders camaraderie amongst the drummers, with time in the evening to chat over a meal, to share their passion for the music, and to compare their learning styles.

There have been amazing spontaneous jamming sessions and organized dancing to African drum beats, with the groups leaping, clapping, and laughing at their sometimes poor dancing skills.
It is great fun and adds to the sense of being alive in this tropical paradise.

Once a year, this coming together of like minds creates something special and unique.
The drummers come away with memories to store away for years to come, a new sense of community, and an increased passion for the rhythms of African drumming.