Djembe Drumming at New Regents College

Posted on 26th Jun

Djembe Drumming at New Regents College

We have been fortunate enough to offer our KS3 learners the opportunity to learn the art of Djembe Drumming this term. Cyroy ‘Zedekiah’ Morgan is a professional musician and workshop leader in African Caribbean drumming. Students were taught the traditional African rhythms through a drumming circle. The drumming circle is used widely throughout Africa as an expression of communal creativity and dialogue.

The Djembe Drumming workshops used the drumming circle to develop a safe place to channel powerful and often challenging emotions. It developed and enhanced listening, learning and concentration.

After the six week programme pupils performed a 15 minute session at New Regents College Award Ceremony. It was highly praised by the audience.

Djembe Drumming: A Pupils’ Perspective

"From when we started drumming it was a way of relieving anger by putting those negative feelings into music. When we all got into it there was a really positive energy – you were showing your skills and making your energy bounce off others in the group. We all made each other feel better about how we played and we all got a chance to shine.

The Performance

When we were all sitting down and practicing I was excited and nervous at the same time. The feeling was phenomenal. All I was hoping during the performance was that everybody would be in sync and that nobody would mess up. I was hoping that I wouldn’t mess up because I didn’t want to ruin it for everyone. When you hear the clapping at the end of the performance it makes you feel so proud. I mean we come to a PRU but we get new experiences that we wouldn’t get in mainstream. 

Coming to NRC was tough at first because I wasn’t use to how is was but everyone messes up and it’s good to be around people that make similar mistakes. The teachers here are really understanding and they try to make you do better. It’s harder on them than it is on us. They have so much to deal with. They come in not knowing what to expect from each pupil but they still try even if the behaviour is not what they hoped for. It’s because they don’t give up on us that we are still able to be like normal kids that happen to be in a PRU, that’s why we’re able to still try to succeed."

Oshan Burrell 

 

Djembe Drumming: A Pupils’ Perspective

"It was magical because the feeling of the upbeat music was just energising the school. Throughout my drumming experience it was hard graft but we made it in the end. Being good about my drumming skill made me feel proud and made me want to try."

Solomon Adewunmi