Year 1 took part in an exciting African drumming workshop on Tuesday 23rd May, which was run by Aaron Meli from Slapping Skins. The girls were introduced to the Djembe drum, the most popular drum of the West coast of Africa, which is played in Ghana, Gambia, Ivory Coast and Guinea. The head of the drum is traditionally made from a taut goat skin and this is tightened to make a higher pitched sound.
Each girl had her own Djembe and was taught to keep and hold rhythms and beats. The girls played on the Djembes either in response to a 'call' or through improvising their own rhythms and they played these either as a solo rhythm or as part of a duet. As well as drumming, Aaron taught the girls a lovely 'Call and Response' song called 'Wandasana' and Elizabeth, Isabella and Yume all volunteered to sing the call to the group. The Year 1 girls then taught Aaron a call and response chant that we had learnt in class called 'Kye, Kye, Kule', and Illeana led this chant brilliantly.
The girls took it in turns to be the conductor and they enjoyed 'counting in' the drumming patterns through a host of languages: Eloise counted in Mandarin, Yume in Japanese, Mina in German, Isabella in Spanish, Ava in Welsh, Elizabeth in Italian and Pihu in Hindi.
The girls in Year 1 became amazing drummers throughout the morning and all thoroughly enjoyed the session. Many thanks to Aaron for a super time.
http://www.slappingskins.co.uk/
