Drumming Facilitator
I run drum circles on a freelance basis for community groups, in educational settings and in health/ care spaces. I also organise and run my own drum circles.
I adapt the focus of drumming sessions to the needs of the group I'm working with and the outcomes they seek.
I can tailor sessions towards a more educational focus that places an emphasis on rhythms and techniques from specific drumming cultures - mainly Afro-Cuban and West African traditions. In these sessions I focus on teaching specific rhythms and techniques on drums such as congas and djembe.
I also run sessions that place a greater emphasis on rhythmic exploration, creativity, listening and the experience of playing drums responsively in a group setting.
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I'm motivated by building confidence, enthusiasm and creativity in participants as well as developing their drumming skills, their understanding of rhythm and conveying a sense of the role, function and importance of drumming in so many cultures around the world. ​
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Educational workshops
I've been running workshops and teaching drumming and music more broadly in education settings since 1999. It's a great pleasure to see people of all ages developing their skill on a musical instrument. Hand drumming lends itself well to a group music making experience as compared to many instruments hand drums are relatively accessible and very satisfying to play even with no or very little experience given appropriate facilitation. That said, they are also instruments with enormous potential and musical power and to play them properly requires years of training and study, just like any other instrument. I'm very much in favour of people having the opportunity to play hand drums as I believe it brings huge benefit but I also do everything I can to instil in people a sense of respect for the drum and an understanding of it's musical potential.
