School workshops

I work alone or with HartBeats (dependent on your needs) to give drumming workshops for businesses, schools and community projects throughout Herts, Beds and Bucks, also Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire.

[ Kids love drumming, photo by Ness ] A typical day would begin with a performance in assembly to the whole school followed by workshops for individual classes throughout the day (or half-day). We find children's attention spans tend to wane after 45-60 minutes, no matter how much fun they're having, so prefer to limit sessions to an hour, or at least have a break and alternate activities; perhaps some discussion about the cultural history of the music.

For more intensive learning, regular weekly sessions allow children's innate rhythmic abilities to develop further, not to mention the many other added benefits of increased confidence and team spirit. An after-school drumming club will encourage budding musicians, and as mentors we inspire them to practise. Playing together over a series of weeks and building up to a performance to parents/assembly is always very exciting, giving children chance to experience what it's like to work together as a band.

Class sizes can be up to 40 children, although smaller groups allow more focused teaching. Larger classes benefit from two facilitators, so I usually work alongside Justine from HartBeats. We have both been CRB checked (Enhanced Disclosure) for working with children. We can provide a large number of drums if the school doesn't have its own, plus an almost infinite amount of diverse and curious percussion instruments: shakers, bells, thunder drums, claves, and even gongs, which are a massive favourite with the kids.

We can also offer a fascinating presentation about Africa, complete with photographs from our trips out there and vital background on the origins of the drums, the songs and the people's way of life.

Notable recent assignments include:

St. Michael's Woolmer Green School, Welwyn
University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield
Lincroft Middle School, Oakley
Tring School, Hertfordshire
Etonbury School, Stotfold
High Worth Combined School, High Wycombe
Margaret Beaufort Middle School, Riseley
John Gibbard Lower School, Sharnbrook
Burnham Upper School, Slough
Prestwood Infant School, Buckinghamshire
St. Mary's Primary School, Beaconsfield
Woodland Middle School, Flitwick
Queens' School, Bushey
Cambridge Centre for Sixth-form Studies
Helmdon Primary School, Brackley
City & Islington College, London
Redborne Upper School, Ampthill
Christ The Sower Ecumenical School, Milton Keynes
Kingshott School, Hitchin
Belhus Chase Specialist Humanities College, Essex
Arnold Middle School, Barton
Templefield Lower School, Flitwick
Pinchmill Lower School, Felmersham
Lordship Farm JMI School, Letchworth
The Grange Junior School, Letchworth
Queenswell Primary School, Barnet
Sir William Ramsay School, Hazlemere
Biddenham Upper School
Sacred Heart Primary School, Luton
Alfriston School, Beaconsfield

I have also taught Wider Opportunities classes at many Bedfordshire schools:

Beauchamp Middle School, Bedford
Bromham VC Lower School
Cauldwell Lower School, Bedford
Church End Lower School, Marston Moretaine
Cotton End Lower School, Bedford
Cranfield Lower School
Edith Cavell Lower School, Bedford
Elstow Lower School, Bedford
Flitwick Lower School
Fulbrook Middle School, Woburn Sands
Goldington Green Lower School, Bedford
Gravenhurst Lower School
Great Barford Lower School
Greenfield Lower VC School
Greenleas Lower School, Leighton Buzzard
Hadrian Lower School, Dunstable
Harrowden Middle School, Bedford
Houghton Regis Lower School
John Donne VA Lower School, Blunham
Kempston Rural Lower School, Bedford
Kingsmoor Lower School, Flitwick
Kymbrook Lower School, Keysoe
Langford Lower School
Leighton Middle School, Leighton Buzzard
Linslade Middle School
Livingstone Lower School, Bedford
Oakley Lower School
Pilgrims Pre-Prep School, Bedford
Priory Lower School, Bedford
Putnoe Lower School, Bedford
Riseley Lower School
St. James Lower School, Biddenham
St. Mary's Lower School, Stotfold
Shefford Lower School, Bedford
Shelton Lower School
Southcott Lower School, Linslade
Southlands Lower School, Biggleswade
Sundon Lower School
The Firs Lower School, Ampthill
The Hills Lower School, Bedford
Thurleigh Lower School
Wilden Lower School
Willington Lower School
+ various Holiday Clubs and After-School Clubs