The benefits of drumming aren’t just a hunch. The body of research and quantifiable data has boomed in the last 10 years, spurred on by the djembe’s growing popularity across the world. Drumming has a distinctly therapeutic aspect – it’s good for our state of mind. It exercises the brain through stimulating cognitive functions like perception, attention and memory and group drumming especially reduces the experience of anxiety, depression and loneliness. Drumming is good for the body too, and not just for psycho-motor coordination.

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Accessibility

Drumming is accessible regardless of age, gender, ethnicity and ability. This inclusivity is part of the magic of this music, especially in the contexts of community engagement and the classroom where a sense of belonging and contribution is essential. As an opportunity for people to express themselves beyond words, non verbal communication offers a new voice. Whether working in schools, early learning, with at risk youth or a diverse group, drumming is a positive outlet for creative expression that can be nurtured into a skill set. Drumming transcends barriers to participation like language, gender and truly empowers.

Cultural Focus

It surprises us that drumming and culture are often separated out when they’re taught, especially for djembe classes. An important dimension to our Course is culture. We have a deep respect for the context of West African music; if you separate the music from the culture you lose something intrinsic – not just a chance for cultural enrichment and preservation but the real heart of this music.

We aim to pass on the cultural ethos underpinning the music and unpack the ways in which drumming becomes a pathway to cultural awareness.

Course Benefits

Value is at the forefront whether you’re applying for funding or paying your own way, and we do our best to go the extra mile to ensure the benefits of attending the Course don’t stop at the content. As well as your training, you’ll receive:

  • Course Manual
  • Certificate of Completion
  • Take Home Pack including USB & free goodies
  • Access to school rates
  • Ongoing support and advice
  • Materials and resources
  • Rhythmic Flow Chart, Workshop Template, technique guide & more

What our facilitators get from attending the course

Skills & Experience

  • Workshop facilitation
  • Programme facilitation
  • Basic drum technique
  • Confidence with ensemble instruments
  • Introducing musicality
  • Introducing leadership
  • Applying the Rhythmic Flow Chart
  • Understanding the Workshop Template

Applications

  • Kindergartens
  • Primary Schools
  • Secondary Schools
  • Community development
  • Drum circles
  • Rehabilitation facilities
  • Rehabilitation and self help groups
  • The arts

School Rates

As an African Drumming Facilitator, you’ll gain access to our Schools and Educator rates with big savings on instruments. We pride ourselves on the quality of our percussion and very competitive rates, and the ongoing support needed for you to get the most out of your gear. We can tailor instrument packages to suit your application and bottom line.

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I just wanted to send you this email to let you know how inspired and motivated you have made me feel about my Primary music classes after doing the training on the weekend.

Tracy
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Thanks again for a great day yesterday. It’s not often I get to drum just for the pure pleasure, and learn new rhythms, so we were definitely on a high heading home last night!

Megan
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Just wanted to say that I have just had the best time this weekend. The African drumming Levels 1 and 2 were fantastic and very worthwhile. I learned so much.

Annamaria
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Since first discovering African Drumming at a teacher seminar I have grown to love the simplicity and subtlety of the Djembe. I have my own beautiful 14” Ghana Djembe and have gradually built up my own set of 10” djembes for use with my Grade Five class. I have found that by including a few of the higher quality Ghana djembes with the more economical Indonesian drums, we achieve a much better ensemble sound. I have now added a pair of Stumpy Duns, some bells and Kiss Kass. In the two years that I have been using my drums, I have yet to suffer a breakage, and I look forward to may years of introducing young people to the joys of ensemble. My drumming group (which is generally made up of those students who missed out on the more prestigious ensembles) gave its first public performance at our school’s Annual Music Concert. It proved to be the most popular item on the programme and has lead to a series of invitations from the school, community groups and the council to perform

AlanHeathdale Christian College
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The facilitator training was valuable to me, offering formula for teaching that accommodated both experienced and inexperienced teachers and musicians. We learnt many games and warm-ups (which I am still using today)- including body percussion and correct technique. Simon obviously has a vast knowledge of African rhythms, but his ability to break them down and notate them in a form easily understood, is what makes them accessible to everybody. Using his formulas as a basic structure, gave me the confidence to plan and facilitate my own drum circles with my students. With these newly acquired skills, I was able to formulate traditional African pieces by seeking out new rhythms and teaching some of the pieces from the vast Instructional Pack. It’s a lot of fun because we get to experiment with sound, to catch a glimpse of what it feels like to be part of something ancient, something bigger than us. There’s no way to describe the feeling, when we are all connected, in a matrix of woven individual rhythms that serve the unified purpose of a superior sound. I call it “being in the groove”. All the kids can do, is smile when that happens, and “Wow” gets said a lot ?

Leah Independent Music Teacher
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I had a fantastic time over the weekend and can’t speak highly enough of Brianna’s teaching and enthusiasm over the two days. I have learned so much from her and I can’t wait to get started teaching the kids back at school.

ElizabethMadang Avenue Public School