West African Drumming
Start your year off right with a compelling community practice that seeds joy and uplifts the value of diverse rhythms working together. Enter into the exciting polyrhythmic music of West Africa!
Participants will learn the history, technique and tradition of West African percussion instruments such as the djembe, sangban, kenkeni, dununba and shekere. No previous experience needed. Repeat visits are encouraged to learn all the parts of a traditional West African rhythm.
Want to give the the pleasure of polyrhythms to a friend as a holiday gift? Fill out the form below and we’ll immediately send a snazzy class card that can be printed and tucked in a card, or forwarded along to the recipient.
Instruments provided for up to 10 participants. Or, you can bring your own. This is an adult class, that is open to youth who can pay attention like adults.
Drop in class – $18
5 class card – $75
Date
- Jan 09 2025
Time
Thursdays- 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Instructor
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Jay Beck
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Email
bookpsalters@gmail.com -
Jay Beck is a percussionist, vocalist, drum-maker, storyteller, actor and educator who has been performing, teaching, touring and recording professionally for many years visiting 15 countries through four continents. He has performed with numerous groups including Madison Greene, Woodspeak, Unidos da Filadelfia, Phillybloco, Netos de Kansala West African Drum and Dance ensemble, Psalters and BEAST. He is a founder of Holy Fool Arts, a core organizer for the Carnival de Resistance and collaborates with his partner Tevyn East. He has studied West African traditional drumming under Mamady Keita, Babatunde Olatunji and Anssumane Silla. He has studied Afro-Cuban drumming, samba drumming, traditional Sicilian frame drumming from masters in the field. He has taught cross cultural percussion workshops as well as using the arts for rites of passage work and cross cultural understanding from age levels of elementary school students to university students as well as at music festivals and after school programs for youth through Artwell in Philadelphia.
