African Drumming Classes and Lessons on Salt Spring Island, BC
Please contact me if you are interested in private lessons on Salt Spring Island. As of 2023 and 2024 I also offer group classes on Salt Spring.
Learn to play djembe (dununs optional) and understand basic hand drum rhythms from West Africa where these drums originated. You will find these skills and rhythms useful in general drum circles, or if you play other kinds of music, as well as for your own practice and enjoyment.
Contact: email
All skill levels are welcome in the drumming classes and lessons.
Instruction will cover:
- hand technique
- basic djembe parts
- dundun technique
- basic dundun parts
- simple rhythm notation to help remember parts
- listening, timing and playing in a group
…and as you are ready…
- traditional djembe solo variations
- traditional dundun variations
- rolls and other improvisation techniques
With my classes you have access to a Western perspective of African music which I can offer through my three decades of study and practice in a variety of musical and dance contexts.
I will provide written notation at no charge. In addition students can purchase my Roots Jam rhythm books at a substantial discount.
Private lessons are available at $30 per hour. I can supply a
drum if you need one.
Free online course: Djembe Lessons for Beginners
Visit my YouTube channel and access free video lessons to get you started with basic rhythms and pointers, for both djembe and dununs.
About the instructor:
Nowick Gray has studied djembe and dunun rhythms in West Africa and elsewhere with master teachers who are at the top of the field, including Famoudou Konate and Mamady Keita. He has arranged the music and played dununs and lead djembe for West African dance classes and performed both with dance troupes and Afro-fusion percussion bands. He has also taught regular drum classes in Victoria, BC and Maui, Hawaii as well as workshops in such diverse locations as Tasmania and Thailand.
