A3996 - Hand Drumming and Percussion Skills (beginners part 1)

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Start Date: 21/09/2026      End Date: 23/11/2026        Start Time: 18:00      End Time: 19:00        Hours per Week: 1.00      No of Weeks: 9
Fees:      £60.00 (tuition)     £115.00 (overseas)     £18.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Donald Gamble        No of Places: 4
Shadwell Centre

Course Overview

Course Overview
Start the rhythm. Build your confidence. Play your first beats.
This beginner-friendly course introduces you to the foundations of African and African-Caribbean drumming in a supportive and engaging environment. You will start by exploring basic rhythm patterns, timing, and coordination, using accessible hand percussion instruments such as djembes and congas.
You will develop an understanding of pulse, simple rhythmic structures, and how to play in time with others. Through guided practice, you will learn essential hand techniques, posture, and how to produce clear, controlled sounds on the drum.
Working as part of a group, you will begin to build confidence in listening, responding, and maintaining rhythm within an ensemble. You will also be introduced to simple musical vocabulary and gain an awareness of the cultural background of the drumming traditions.
By the end of the course, you will be able to play basic rhythms, understand key musical concepts, and feel more confident progressing to more complex techniques and group performance in Part 2.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Learn basic hand drumming techniques;
* Use drum languages and vocalisation as an aid to learning;
* Understand Polyrhythmic concept and improvisation;
* Learn about the health aspects related to drumming;
* Learn a variety of folkloric drumming and percussion themes for musical practice and self-development.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
None. A good level of commitment and a passion for music.
Prosp User 8

Equipment required

Equipment required
A notebook and a pen. A bottle of water – no other drinks are allowed in the space.
Prosp User 9

How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
You will have an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ where the course learning outcomes are shown and where you can set individual learning goals and monitor your own progress against these.

You will need to evaluate your own progress and manage your time.

Your tutor will give ongoing feedback and will keep you informed of your progress.
Prosp User 12
At the beginning of the course an initial assessment takes place to identify your level of experience knowledge or current skills.

The tutor will carry out informal assessments to check your understanding, there is no exam.

You will complete a self-assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the course and you will participate in regular self assessment.

Your tutor will let you know how you are getting on throughout the course, to help you work to your full potential.

At the end of the course you will receive written feedback.
Prosp User 11

Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
Your tutor can be approached for additional information and advice during the course.
You can progress to: Develop Hand Drumming and Percussion repertoire course (beginners part 2) and or other music beginners’ courses.
Prosp User 10

Other info

Other info
In general, we will not allow late entry to any course after the first two weeks. To maximise your chances of benefiting from the course fully we expect you to attend all scheduled sessions and that you do so punctually and are ready to start learning at the start of the class.
Prosp User 13

Extra Support

Extra Support
If you have declared a learning difficulty, disability or support need whilst enrolling and you require support/assistance in class or to complete your course, please discuss your needs with your tutor at the first lesson.

If you intend to take an examination and feel you have an additional learning need or special requirements, you must declare them to your tutor within the first 2 weeks of your course.

If you are studying in an online group, then you can arrange a one-to-one online discussion with your tutor, after the session, or by email.

Where we aim to make reasonable adjustments to support our learners, please note we are unable to provide any type of in class or in person support if your course takes place online.
Prosp User 14