Schools

The value of learning music has been proved time and again as an effective educational tool. Learning to drum involves training skills that are based on developing a feeling for rhythm, and train the ability to listen and work in groups and has particularly beneficial effects on coordination and communication skills.

Rhythm is part of our everyday life, from how we start and plan our day, catch a train, play sport to interacting with our environment. A sentence, for example, cannot be expressed correctly and effectively without timing and the use of pauses. Rhythm in the musical sense influences us from a very early age as well. The simple joy of clapping or singing is familiar to all of us. It is possible to train this sense of rhythm with percussion lessons and to develop a musical skill that is a direct form of self expression.

The format of my percussion lessons is adaptable to all abilities and all ages. Special needs children and physically or mentally challenged students are particularly well catered for. With over seven years experience in teaching dance and percussion to all abilities I have developed a method of instruction that concentrates on the pupils personal development directed by their own "hands on" experience and the use of their learned skills within a group situation. Games, activities and rhythmical compositions are used to develop the pupils sense of rhythm. Call/response, vocalization, jamming, body percussion, etc are just some of the key activities. The instruments used are durable African Djembés, Bass Drums, Claves, Cymbals, and other small percussion. These are very accessible and the initial technique and timing skills can be put to use very quickly allowing the pupils to achieve results in a relatively short space of time that are not only a pleasure to listen to but above all to play. Pupils learn how to master an instrument within their means and play together in a group and can even go on to creating their own pieces.

Confidence, Concentration, Coordination The satisfaction of playing together and applying what has been learned to the drum develops the pupils self expression and gives them more confidence. The group dynamic as a result grows stronger and develops an appetite for more material, thereby heightening levels of concentration. Learning to play drums and to move the body improves the individuals left/right coordination and spatial awareness. The brain's working capacity is increased and learning and memorizing processes become easier.

A typical lesson begins with a warm up using body percussion and is built up step by step. It is not unusual to experience the group grooving together before they even touch an instrument. I always introduce new instruments with some background information and a small demonstration. Then once the pupils have handled and tried the instrument out I immediately develop their technique by getting them to watch and listen and then try repeat the sounds. Playing in time with each other is encouraged from the beginning and taught with specific activities. Particular attention is paid to technique which entails proper use of the hands to achieve different sounds and the effective use of the body whether sitting or standing (see Alexander Technique and Skin Dynamics). Exercises are presented in the form of games that are enjoyable and achieve a pedagogic function (ie. "Chain reaction": Each pupil plays in turn and if possible to a ground beat. - this encourages listening and develops a group feeling)

Set rhythms can be taught step by step and once mastered can be played to a set tempo with added dynamics (ie. softer/louder, slower/faster) and even with various voices and solos in the same group.

Depending on the groups progress it is not uncommon for them to reach a level that allows them to perform for example at school fetes or together with the school theatre group.