African Drumming Workshops For Schools
Bring African culture to life with our vibrant, hands-on drumming workshops led by expert African musicians. Perfect for Primary, Secondary, Nurseries, and Colleges—experience the magic of music!
African drumming for everyone
A fully Engaging and Inclusive Drumming Experience.
Picture this: every student, and even the teachers, with their hands on a djembe – a fully immersive, hands-on experience! Our workshops provide adaptable instruments, ensuring everyone can participate, regardless of physical challenges or noise preferences. The standard booking includes 30 djembes, but we can accommodate more upon request, allowing for larger classes.
In addition to the 30 djembe each practitioner often has with them; the cow bell which forms the frame for the tune, the shaker, xylophone and the Dun Dun base drum.
Authenticity meets Expertise
Our team comprises highly experienced African musicians who regularly perform worldwide. Masters of their craft, our practitioners bring the authentic, dynamic, and energetic spirit of African drumming directly to your school. Each workshop is designed to be pupil-led, fostering a fully immersive learning experience with opportunities for questions and answers.
The workshop will be authentic, dynamic and energetic. Your practitioner can offer question and answer sessions resulting in a pupil led, entirely authentic learning experience.
Proven Excellence as standard Since 2000
Trusted by thousands of schools since 2000, we’ve conducted drumming workshops for over two decades, impacting thousands and thousands of students positively. Our team boasts 10 million pounds in public liability insurance, ensuring a secure environment. All practitioners are fully DBS checked, and their training is updated termly.
We really believe we are the best at what we do, but rather than take our word for it please explore our school testimonials to witness the transformative impact on students.
A few of Our Clients
Our services
Drumming is often just the start of the story…
Our most popular workshops can be adapted to meet your needs, with 30 drums as standard we have taken classes of over 100! Let us know what you would like and we will work hard to achieve it.
All our school workshops aim to introduce positive views of Africa and challenge stereotypes. Activities are unifying, adapting to the differing abilities of those within the group.
Drum and dance
Drumming traditionally works as a one part conversation to the dance. See and learn the art form in its purest form with a dance and drumming practitioner for the day – able to work with groups of 60 and more if you have space available.
GCSE workshops
Master drummers and griot available to take your students on a GCSE materclass. Able to teach both the rhythms and the contexts to the music itself. Combining instruments with poly rhythms of cow bell, dun dun, djembe, shaker and mbira. Students will learn a set piece and explore creating their own compositions.
Mixed activity day
Drumming can be combined with assemblies, adinkra art, textiles, recycling, song, dance, storytelling and more. Why not let us know your learning objectives and we will help design a day to reach them?
Story drum
Using the drum to help narrate the story following in your storytellers footsteps as he moves through the jungle. The drum will be used to recreate animal sounds from the pitter patter of tiny feet to the slither of snakes and the booming base of natures giants!
Djembe drumming
Djembé are fantastic for getting fast results! Originating from west Africa these drums are familiar to all our practitioners. They have sonorous tonal qualities and are relatively simple to play, meaning your class can quickly work on a hypnotising beat! Every participant will have a djembé for the entire session, they will learn a piece aurally (as your practitioner learnt it). Children will respond to aural and visual queues and will have the opportunity to perform a solo. Younger children may use the drum to imitate animals as part of a story.
Kpanlogo drumming
Kpanlogo are Ghanaian drums, originally played by the Ga and now played all across Ghana. They are highly versatile and can be played both with sticks and hands. Traditionally they are played in groups of six drums, with great tonal and pitch variety between the drum sizes. Complex polyrhythms make up the beat. This workshop is much more suited to Key stage two students and beyond.
How does a drumming workshop work in your school?
How do we timetable drumming workshops?
Our team will work with you to get the best outcome to reach your objectives.
A session can be from 7 seperate classes a day or we can work intensively with one class.
How many students can drum at one time?
As standard we work with a class at a time, if you have space we are happy to work with 2 classes at a time (or up to 60 students) in your hall or larger room. Please note there is a transport charge of £2 for every drum over 30
Maximum – 7 workshops or up to 420 students in a day with one art activity.
How long is a drumming workshop?
We recommend classes of 60 minutes, though 30 is possible. We are very happy to work on longer more in depth drumming projects, including working towards a performance.
But please note we will place natural breaks as drumming can be hard on the students hands!
Can we mix activities?
Depending on the practitioner available you may mix in as many activities as you have time for. There is no additional charge for this so why not follow an arty morning with a musical afternoon?
What do you need?
We will need a horseshoe of chairs or benches for students to sit on while drumming.
We generally bring a drum for every child as well as a number of additional instruments.
How much is it?
Options run from £2 – £16 per student. Please fill out our quick quote form and we will get right back to you with a proposal.
What our African drumming workshop customers say
We are proud of our results
“Thank you so much for a fantastic day. The children loved the art and the drumming and learnt so much from you. It was a long and busy day and you were tireless. Thank you for your enthusiasm and for making it such fun for the children.”
“I was so impressed by the amount of drums Kwame had brought with him. It was wonderful that each child had their own drum to play and that they could play together as a whole group; the sound was fantastic. They absolutely loved it and are still singing the song Kwame taught them to this day!”