Percussion is an umbrella term for all the material on which rhythmic music is played. Think of various hand drums, such as the djembé, the darbuka and the conga. But percussion also includes rattles, bells, gongs, rasps, shakers and cymbals.
What will you be doing?
We play percussion instruments from all over the world: the cajon (Spain), the darbuka (Turkey, the Middle East and North Africa), the djembé and doundoun (West Africa) and all kinds of hand and stick instruments from Brazil. You will learn various (traditional) rhythms while playing. Attention is paid to hand and stick technique, coordination, timing, playing intention, and very useful: how to write down a rhythm.
In the final lessons, we apply the rhythms. What would it be like to accompany a mask dance or a harvest ritual on djembé? And what does a melodramatic gypsy orchestra with darbuka accompaniment sound like? Or will it still be a sound journey from the North to the South Pole? One thing is for sure, it will be varied and festive!
Be mindful that you will need to practice a bit in your own time!
“This course is an opportunity to learn to play instruments I never learned before. It was easy to follow as a beginner.”
– Course participant (season 2023-2024/block 1)
“Martin is so energetic and inspiring, a really warm and nice person to learn from. That was also the most valuable thing: not only learning percussion skills, but also being taught by someone who teaches with full passion and love.”
– Jumana (course participant season 2023-2024/block 2)
