Working with a professional drummer and teaching artist, classes will learn about and practice the polyrhythmic percussive techniques that make West African, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, and New Orleans Jazz so powerful and mesmerizing. All residencies culminate with an exciting performance of the rhythms that the class has learned. Join the fun. No previous experience necessary!

Afro-diasporic drumming and rhythm is introduced to students in the third grade. Using student-size djembes, buckets, sticks, and hand percussion, students learn the basics of West African-derived rhythm and percussion. These include:

The culture and history of the West African musical diaspora
Drum or Djembe technique—bass, tone, slap
The concept of polyrhythm
A variety of specific traditional rhythms
Language and song
Rhythmic notation
Full body coordination

As in all excellent music programs, self-discipline and teamwork is prioritized through incremental learning in a fun environment.

Percussion Ensemble work is the basis of fourth grade drumming. Students will enhance their hand and stick technique and will begin to develop an understanding of the structure and key components of musical ensembles. These include:

The culture and history of the West African musical diaspora (Brazil, Caribbean, USA)
Hand and stick technique—improved sound quality of bass, tone, and slap
Strong focus on polyrhythm in ensemble playing
A variety of specific traditional rhythms and melodies
Language and songs of culture being studied
Rhythmic notation and reading basic notated melodies
Self-discipline and teamwork

The development of the Percussion Ensemble continues and is enhanced with further emphasis on:

Advanced repertoire, incorporating more complex rhythmic arrangements, breaks and orchestrations
Improvisation
Sound quality, dynamics, and tempo maintenance, throughout the ensemble
Group performance