Hand Drumming for Beginners

During this class you will learn the basics of playing hand drums, with a focus on djembe style drums. You will learn the different sounds that you can make with your drum, and how to use those different sounds to develop basic rhythms.

We will talk about the different kinds of hand drums and what to look for if you are interested in buying a drum. We will discuss “drum circle etiquette”, and play some basic rhythms with the instructor’s direction.

We will also discuss common hand drum notation, and touch on time signatures, but we won’t go too deep in the weeds on those things.

Registration Includes

In additional to time drumming in a group, you will go home with numerous handouts explaining everything we discuss in class.

What goes into our class pricing? As a local nonprofit, Duluth Folk School is committed to supporting both our instructors and community. We want to compensate our instructors fairly, keep class sizes small, and keep our doors open—while also keeping prices as low as we can.

Thank you for participating in our local handcraft and education economy! Together, we help keep Duluth a fun and vibrant place.

Student Requirements

• Skill Level/Prerequisite Skills: If you have a drum, or would like to try drumming, but ‘don’t know what you are doing,’ then this class is for you! The goal is to build your confidence, knowledge and ability so that you can seek out drum circles wherever you are in the world and be comfortable joining right in!
• Best for Ages: 13 and older
• You should bring: Please bring a drum or some other percussive instrument to class to play. All styles of drums are welcome, but we will focus on djembe or goblet style drums. If you don’t have a drum, the instructor will have a few extra drums and instruments to try, but he does not have an extra drum for everyone. If there are multiple participants without drums we’ll have to share, so some participants may play shakers, bells, claves, or other instruments.

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