Hand Drumming and Percussion Skills (beginners part 2)

About this course

Participants work with hand drums including djembe and conga, alongside other percussion instruments. Practical sessions cover core techniques, drumming vocabulary, rhythm, timing, coordination, different tempos and time signatures, and playing in an ensemble. The course also introduces polyrhythms, improvisation, drum languages and vocalisation as learning tools. Sessions place these musical activities within the folkloric, cultural and historical contexts of African and African-Caribbean drumming, with attention to safe playing techniques.

What you'll learn

• Consolidate fundamental hand-drumming techniques on instruments such as the djembe and conga.
• Apply rhythmic patterns using different tempos, time signatures and polyrhythmic structures.
• Use drum languages and vocalisation to support rhythm learning.
• Practise improvisation within ensemble drumming.
• Apply safe playing techniques and reflect on personal wellbeing outcomes.

Is this course right for you?

The course is labelled Beginner and explicitly welcomes complete beginners, while also being described as a second part of a beginners course. Participation involves practical group ensemble playing, exploration of different musical styles and improvisation.

• Includes playing with a group ensemble.
• Involves improvisation as part of the musical practice.