African hand drumming is an engaging and fun hobby for anyone - it helps you to develop your sense of rhythm, and your hand & body co-ordination. Over the years our class has helped many hundreds of members from absolute beginner up to performance level. Unlike many instruments, drumming is quick and easy to learn, with only a few hand positions to learn, so new players find themsleves joining in with the group quickly and easily.

Now in its 25th year !! Beginners are welcome (at new terms - see below)

Classes are every Tuesday evening from 7.45 to 9.45pm

Pricing. There is a term price (currently £50 for 7 x 2hr lessons) and a drop-in price of £10 per evening. If you are a beginner drummer you will need to start at the beginning of a term. Drop-in is not available for beginner drummers after the first 2 weeks of each term - please ask if you’re unsure. If you don’t wish to commit to the full term you can pay the drop-in price for the first and second weeks, then ‘upgrade’ to the term price for the remainder if you choose. Please speak to me if you’re uncertain about anything

Term start dates in 2017 are : 18 April, 6 June, 5 September, 31 October

Teaching includes - basic support, how to hold and strike the drum, drum-fluency excercises, leading into basic part playing, then multiple parts in genuine West African rhythms on djembe and dunduns leading into optional ‘advanced phrases’ in the later classes each term

Venue - Inkwell, 31 Potternewton Lane, Chapeltown, Leeds LS7 3LW (www.inkwellarts.org.uk)

Please call 07765 943107 if you have any questions

Taught by Ianto Thornber, author of The Djembe Guide books - Ianto is a well known teacher with 23 years teaching, and 27 years drumming experience. For seven years he trained, arranged and led the performance group “Carabali”, and now plays in Leeds band “African Passport”. He has trained to a high level with master players such as Mamady Keita, Seckou Keita, Nansady Keita, Iya Sako, Libon Traore, and Mockolo Sawane.