4th – 6th October 2019
Our Camp offers drum classes at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels with a variety of teachers.
Drum
Learning in this environment will do wonders for your drumming: the djembe always repays the time you invest in it. A weekend of drumming will challenge you in terms of stamina and retention, as well as the content you tackle. You’ll actually notice the difference in your playing most after the event – the flow given by training muscle memory and the tuning of your ear to an immersion in the music will show the few days after.
Testimonials
“Just wanted to say what a great weekend Crystal and I enjoyed. What a fantastic group of people. Across the board from Masters to Beginners we found everybody to be so pleasant. Also the teachers that I encountered were fantastic. Laura is so amazing at teaching and explaining clearly. We learnt so much from all including yourself. Once again thank you for all you did to make the weekend successful and amazing. Cheers.” – Cliff Strobel
It’s going to be a Choca Block schedule!
Friday night – optional ($35)
5pm: Let the music begin – chill jam
Dinner
Bonfire Jam
Saturday
9.00am……. Registration
10.00am Communal Welcome & Warm Up with Simon Fraser
10.45 – 12.30pm Drumming (Beginners & Intermediate/Advanced)
LUNCH
2.00 – 3pm All in Dun Class with Bouba (all Levels)
3.15 – 5pm Drumming (Beginners & Intermediate/Advanced)
TEA
5.30 -6.30pm Dance and Drum session
DINNER **Special African communal dinner **
Please book in for this prior to the weekend: $10 for Senegalese Mafe (Beef or Tofu)
8pm: Live show with Dun Teke (6 piece ensemble)
9pm: Bonfire Jam
Sunday
9.30 – 10.15am All in Boot Camp Warm Up with Simon Fraser – get those hands moving!
10.30 – 12.15pm Drumming (Beginners & Intermediate/Advanced)
12.20 – 1pm All in Duns with Bouba
LUNCH
2.15 – 3.45pm Drumming (Beginners & Intermediate/Advanced)
4 – 4.30pm Final Group Show
Location
Set in a peaceful valley, we’ll be completely surrounded by the pristine Great Otway National Park. At 90 minutes out of Melbourne, it’s far enough to feel like a real getaway, but still an easy journey by car.
– Comfortable bunk-style log cabins
– Camp sites or campervan parking available if preferred (same rate as normal accommodation)
– Big communal kitchen with utensils and cutlery
– Large performance hall with a fireplace
– Bonfire area
Sokil – 90 minutes from Melbourne
425 Breakfast Creek Road
Wensleydale
Melways Ref: 611 C10
Sokil
425 Breakfast Creek Road
Wensleydale
Melways Ref: 611 C10
http://www.sokil.com.au/location_map.html
From Melbourne (aprox 90 mins)
Take the M1 heading West
Bypassing Geelong, this becomes the A1 (Princes Hwy)
Turn Left onto Cape Otway Rd
Continue through Moriac and Modewarre
Turn left at Wensleydale Station Rd. Wurdiboluc Reservoir will be on your right
Continue approximately 7kms, until the road turns to gravel
At the intersection, follow the road straight into the Great Otway National Park (do not turn left here into Gum flats road)
Continue on the gravel road, past Alsop Track
Turn left onto Breakfast Creek Rd (do not turn right onto Hammonds Track)
Continue 3.5km into the valley
Sokil’s gate is on the left – just over the small bridge!
Rates
Payable in cash on the weekend
We can easily put together a discount for families or large groups – please call or email us for details. Non-drumming friends and family are very welcome
Tuition & Saturday Accommodation……$200/$180 (concession)
Friday Night Accommodation……………….. $35
Standard Day Rate……………………………….. $100/$90 (concession)
Non – Drummers weekend (includes Sat night).. $100/$90 (concession)
Non – Drummers day……………………………. $35
Drum Hire (booking required)……………….. $10
What should I bring?
A drum if you have one – if not you can hire one for $10
BYO food/drinks (Sokil has a large commercial kitchen with cutlery etc)
Shoes to dance in
Sleeping bag and pillow
Warm clothes
I’m an absolute beginner, can I come along?
Sure! We welcome beginners and our sessions will suit you. It’s a great chance to mingle with those who have been drumming longer and pick up tips and tricks from peers
What’s the address?
Sokil
425 Breakfast Creek Road
Wensleydale
Melways Ref: 611 C10
Meet the teachers…
Laura has been studying percussion for over 12 years, touring and recording with various bands ranging from jazz to ska. Following the beat of her own drum, she attended African Drumming’s 2013 tour to West Africa, studying with Master drummers in Ghana and Burkina Faso. She became fascinated in how music is central to the flow of life, igniting an interest to study different cultures music. After completing African Drumming’s Teacher Training Course, Laura had the opportunity to teach workshops across Australia, and began teaching her own music therapy classes in Brisbane. Having studied Latin music at the University of Florida, she has since been accepted into postgraduate studies in ethnomusicology at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music in 2017. Laura believes that music can transcend language barriers and is sometimes a language of its own.
Simon has been drumming his heart out all his life. Starting with plastic drum-kits and pots n pans as a kid and then graduating to a drum kit, he’s played many styles of music and found his passion in West African rhythms. Annual trips to West Africa since the mid 1990’s have seen him collaborate with some of the regions’ great percussionists. Simon returns to the region every year in search of new music, running a Tour to Africa. His love and knowledge of rhythm translates to his teaching where he focuses on tapping into your creativity, dexterity, honoring tradition and having fun.
Mohamed Camara has been performing and teaching traditional Guinean percussion for over a decade. Former djembe soloist for internationally-renowned Guinean ensembles Ballet Destin, Ballet Bolonta and Les Sorciers de Guinée, Mohamed has studied and performed with master drummers Aliou Sylla, Fadouba Oularé, and Miriam Makeba’s percussionist Papa Kouyaté.
Bouba first laid his hands on a drum in Senegal at the budding age of 14. Inspired by the musical mentors around him he became a member of the infamous Mama Afrika. Under the guidance of ballet professor Joseph-Raphael Bouschanzl, Bouba’s skills and passion grew quickly and soon he was also a member of the renowned Foret Sacre Ballet. In 1997 Bouba ventured to Europe and then onto Japan where he established himself as a leading African percussionists. With an energy and peace of mind that resonates from deep within – Bouba speaks a thousand words with his drum.
Bookings
Please book in early to ensure your spot!
Family and group rates are available – please ask us for more info
[email protected]
(03) 9525 3073
