Give pupils an exciting, hands-on introduction to West African music through djembe and dundun drumming.
Hartbeats provides lively and carefully structured African drumming workshops for primary schools, secondary schools and other educational settings. Sessions are adapted to the age, experience and needs of each group, from infant and primary-aged children to teenagers.
Workshops can be arranged as a single session, a full activity day or a progressive course of lessons. All drums are provided.
What happens in a school workshop?
A session usually begins with a short live performance on djembe and dundun drums. Pupils are introduced to the instruments, their different sounds and their roles within West African music.
After a warm-up and introduction to playing technique, the class learns complementary drum parts which fit together to create a traditional West African rhythm. Call-and-response breaks, songs, cultural information, movement and dancing can also be included where appropriate.
School activity days can work towards an end-of-day performance in which pupils share what they have learned.
Djembe and dundun drums
The djembe is a goblet-shaped West African hand drum, played with the hands. Hartbeats uses traditionally made, rope-tuned, goatskin djembes in a range of sizes suited to different age groups.
The dunduns are West African bass drums played with sticks. They are not simply accompaniment: their pitched, interlocking patterns provide the pulse, melody and driving energy of the ensemble. Learning both djembe and dundun parts helps pupils understand how individual musical roles combine to form a complete rhythm.
Learning through music
Group drumming develops listening, concentration, coordination, memory, confidence and teamwork. Every pupil contributes to the finished piece of music, making the workshop both educational and an enjoyable shared achievement.
No previous musical experience is needed. Activities can be adapted for mixed experience levels, and teachers and school staff are welcome to join in.
Ongoing tuition and advanced pupils
Hartbeats also provides progressive weekly school tuition. Justine teaches at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Chalfont St Peter throughout the school day, including a separate advanced session, and leads an after-school group open to pupils in Years 5 and 6.
Pupils learn a substantial repertoire of djembe and dundun parts, traditional songs, West African dance and dundun dance, which combines choreographed movement with playing the bass drums. More experienced pupils perform at school celebrations and public events, sometimes alongside HARTBEATS Drummers.
Experience and locations
Justine Hart founded Hartbeats in 1998 and has more than 28 years of experience teaching West African drumming. She has worked extensively with schools, complete beginners and experienced young musicians.
Based near High Wycombe, Hartbeats provides school workshops throughout Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, London and further afield.
Ask Justine about a West African drumming workshop for your school
