If you're a beginner who lives near Minneapolis, Minnesota, you might be interested in one of the drumming classes I'll be teaching this fall through community ed in Hopkins and St. Louis Park. The details are below.

I also plan to offer special workshops from time to time in the Minneapolis area. If you want me to send you an email about upcoming classes and workshops, you can get on my mailing list here.

African Drumming for Beginners On Up
Hopkins Community Ed
Instructor: Al Dworsky
Eisenhower Elementary Vocal Music Room
info: 952-988-4070
6 sessions, $54
Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm,
Section A: September 24—November 5 (No class October 15)
Section B: November 12—December 17

Class description:
This class is designed for students who are complete beginners as well as for those who have taken a drumming class before. Because African rhythms are made up of many different parts, you can always find a part that fits your level. And all the parts fit together like a jigsaw puzzle to create irresistible grooves. In this class, we'll be focusing on the djembe, a powerful hand drum from West Africa. You'll learn proper playing technique while learning to play Kuku, Kassa, and other hypnotic rhythms from Guinea. You don't need hands of steel because you'll have the option to play in a way that's gentle on your hands. And you'll also learn rhythmic theory so you'll understand how the rhythms work. Alan Dworsky is a drummer and the author of How to Play Djembe and other award-winning books on drumming and rhythm. Bring your drum if you have one – if not, drums are provided for you to play during the class.


African Drumming for Beginners (using Buckets, Bottles, and Boomwhackers)
St. Louis Park Community Ed
Instructor: Al Dworsky
Lennox Community Center
info: 952-928-6442, slpcommunityed.com
6 sessions, $59
Thursdays, 7-8:30 pm
October 16—November 20

Class description:
In this class, you'll learn basic hand drumming technique as well as the parts to several West African rhythms. Your instructor is Alan Dworsky, author of How to Play Djembe and other award-winning books on drumming and rhythm. He uses a variety of techniques to teach these funky and hypnotic rhythms, including vocal call-and-response, stepping and clapping or slapping with a partner, and playing with Boomwhackers, a set of colorful tuned percussion tubes. You can bring a drum if you have one, but if you don't Al has plenty of large plastic buckets and 5-gallon water bottles for you to play that sound and feel like real hand drums. And you don't need hands of steel, because you'll have the option of drumming in a way that's easy on your hands. The goal is to get a current of rhythmic energy flowing within your own body and to connect your individual sound with the group's to form a powerful groove.


Comments from participants in Al's previous community ed drumming classes:

"This was the best African drum class I have ever taken. Every class we learned something new and went away feeling excited and exhilerated. I would highly recommend this class to anyone who wants to learn how to drum, meet new people, work with an amazing teacher, and have an overall great time!"

"The instructor took everyone's levels and embraced them to create a comfortable and exciting drumming experience."

"The class was amazing. I had a wonderful time and learned so much about drumming."

"Stimulating and fun!"

"I loved this class. It was something I looked forward to every week."

"Mr. Dworsky used many different approaches to reach students of many different levels."