African Drumming & Drum Circles
If you are looking to find your rhythm, unwind, meet new people, get
away or just feel completely liberated then check out what's on with
InRhythm in your community. As well as a broad range of regular DRUMMING WORKSHOPS & COURSES , we also host DRUM CIRCLES , organise special RETREATS and also organise regular DRUM MAKING WORKSHOPS where you get to learn the craft of making and repairing DJEMBE DRUMS & AFRICAN DRUMS . You can even get to PERFORM at a COMMUNITY GATHERING or EVENT. InRhythm is for everyone.
Below you'll find information on the following:
- As seen on Channel 7
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About Our Courses
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Types of Courses
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Drumming Levels
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About African Drumming
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What to Expect
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Beast Magazine Editorial
InRhythm Drumming: As seen on Channel 7
InRhythm drumming workshops allow you to know and 'feel' the rhythms through a variety of powerful techniques that support the many varied ways we all learn. You'll build confidence whilst exploring the fundamentals of: good groove, technique, etiquette, phrasing, listening & dynamics. There's also facilitated open jams for free expression so you can explore your unique sense of rhythm and enjoy the good vibes of jamming with a big crew of people! At the end of longer courses students can perform at Riddim Fest and other great events! Africa is blessed with 100's of rhythms. We are always introducing new traditional rhythms to keep it fresh! African rhythms feel great to play! It's about groups of people playing a number of rhythmic patterns simultaneously to create beautiful interlocking rhythms! It's community based music making in that you need more than one person to create the whole rhythm...drumming is a great way to meet new friends!
 About InRhythm Drumming Workshops & Courses:
• professionally trained facilitators
• beginners to advanced
• all learning styles catered for
• for all adults 15 to 80 years old!
• learn entire African rhythms & perform at Riddim’ Fest & more!
• faciltated open jams
• free parking & public transport
• free drum hire
• very social
• a great workout!
• free tablature & CD tuition available $10
• always new rhythms
• authentic African drums for sale
• gift vouchers available
More details
• You'll be guided by professionally trained facilitators allowing you to really find your groove and be completely inspired and uplifted by the power of rhythm!
• Our drumming workshops allow you to know and 'feel' the rhythms through a variety of powerful techniques that support the many varied ways we all learn.
• You'll build confidence whilst exploring the fundamentals of: good groove, technique, etiquette, phrasing, listening & dynamics.
• There's also professionally facilitated open jams for free expression so you can explore your unique sense of rhythm and enjoy the good vibes of jamming with a big crew of people!
• Every student is invited to perform at many special events such as Riddim Fest!
• Free drum hire or BYO
• Easy parking & public transport
• It's a huge stress release!...Drumming is great for you, lots of fun and an amazing present moment awareness meditation.
• Receive free tablature. A cd of the entire rhythm is available for purchase.
• Drumming is very social!...Connect to a huge community of drummers in your local area and all around Australia!
• Africa is blessed with 100's of rhythms. We are always introducing new traditional rhythms to keep it fresh!
• Genuine quality African drums for sale including our special " Make your own drum " courses.
• Gift Vouchers!
 Types of Courses
We offer the following community drumming courses, workshops and classes. Some are held on week nights others on the weekend. Courses can focus on African drumming , drum circles through to other style of drumming and combinations of drumming and dance...we hope you'll find something for you.
You'll learn an entire African Rhythm/s in all its parts (always playing a new rhythm each term) and experience the joy of a professionally facilitated drum circle. You'll also get to perform at the end of the course at the famous RiddimFest. Learn techniques and meet a great & varied community of drummers. Half way through these course we run drum making courses so that if you are inclined you can experience making your drum and have it to play before the end of the course!
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Weekend Drumming Workshops
You'll learn all about African rhythms and experience how they feel to play. We'll focus on one rhythm (always offering new rhythms) with all its interlocking patterns that will give you an excellent undetstanding of how group drumming works. You'll also enjoy an exciting facilitated drum circle where you get to find your own sense of rhythm...yes you have it!. Depending on the weekend workshops the focus may be on speical techniques, drumming basics or soloing. So pick the right workshop for you!
Here we offer a broad range of special workshops that may focus on a particular special guest teacher, a style of drumming, a style of playing or on phrasing/soloing and more etc... These are great workshops as they offer you variety, perspective and a taste of the beautiful and varied world of rhythm. So pick the right workshop for you.
Drumming Levels
Emphasis:
- having fun
- experience feeling rhythm at the same time as understanding rhythm
- learning to drum in a group of people
- learning the basic techniques
- meeting a really varied and warm community of drummers
Intermediate / Advanced
For those who have completed at least one of the general 6-8 week courses.
Emphasis:
- experiencing and understanding polyrhythmic structures and rhythms in different time signatures
- learning to create simple and complex phrases and solos while playing to rhythmic patterns
- playing at different tempos
- working on creating your unique sound of bass, tone and slap
- preparing for special gigs and festivals and creating your own performance groups with other students
 About African Drumming
African drumming is an evocative and provocative way to experience the power of rhythm. African drumming makes people dance! African rhythms feel great to play. Rhythms are played with a number of drummers, each drummer playing a different part to create a complete rhythm. The parts interlock with each other and the tension created between these parts is what gives the music its quality. African drums are the most popular tribal drums worldwide. They are very accessible to everyone, whether you have played music before or not. African Drumming is a great way to bring any group together to create a sense of community. African drumming is very popular in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. There are strong drumming communities in regional areas as well. Our mission is to create a centre where you can find and connect to your community. We send out a monthly newsletter that includes information on upcoming African drumming events and courses as well as free community events. So, if you're looking for drum lessons we have drumming workshops and courses Sydney wide and Central Coast. We aim to expand our drumming workshops and courses Australia wide. Drum workshops run from as little as one hour to full 6 week course
What to expect
You can expect to be completely welcomed and catered for. We offer workshops for all ages and all levels from absolute beginners, intermediates through to advanced. Our drumming workshops allow you to know and 'feel' the rhythms through a variety of powerful techniques that support the many varied ways we all learn. You'll be introduced to a warm and healthy community of like minded people that will make you feel great! You'll build confidence whilst exploring the fundamentals of: good groove, technique, etiquette, phrasing, listening & dynamics. There's also facilitated open jams for free expression in our workshops so you can explore your unique sense of rhythm and enjoy the good vibes of jamming with a big crew of people! At the end of longer courses students can perform at Riddim' Fest and other great events! Africa is blessed with 100's of rhythms. We are always introducing new traditional rhythms to keep it fresh!
From the book "Handbook for the soul",
passage by Lynn Andrews
Unfortunately, society does not generally allow us to
express the wilder,instinctual side of our natures-our
soulful and spiritual selves. Neither does society encourage us to explore the possibilites of body-spirit unity. As a result, frustrated and negative forms of our spiritual forces may begin to build up within us."
An activity like drumming can bridge the gap between the inspiration that comes from higher consciousness and the reality of daily life.
Drumming helps us manifest that inspiration as something real and tangible, something that can be felt and shared with other people.
It doesn't make any difference if you're a Catholic, or a Shaman, or a Buddhist; you can sit down with a circle of people and just start to drum. And if you do this, not worrying about how you sound, not worrying about the fact that you have never played a drum in your entire life, you will realize that the first music any of us ever heard
was the heartbeat of our mother when we were in her womb.
Drumming reminds us of our original nature.
Through drumming, we begin to remember who we really are.
 Beast Magazine Story
Editorial by Kate Hamilton
It's a howling winter night with no moon and the beachfront streets of Bondi are empty but for the odd intrepid traveller pushing head down into the wind. I am dreaming of home, hot bath, bed. Instead I am crouched on a pint-sized plastic chair, in a circle with 10 other well-swaddled punters warming my cold hands on a cowhide and connecting with my inherent groove. No heal-your-inner-child hooha however - this is seriously funky stuff.
We are midway through a six-week community drumming workshop, held by Bondi-based rhythm maestros, In Rhythm. Some of us have never laid hand to a drum. Many haven't picked up an instrument since we retired our school recorders decades ago. But when we start to play, a strange thing happens.
Somewhere in the midst of those first nervous boom diddy kakas, we hit our stride and the big rockin' groove of a roomful of taut African djembes shakes us to the bone. 'Rhythm is innate,' says Beau of In Rhythm. 'We all have a heartbeat and our breath. Once we relax our conscious mind, it's like opening a doorway,' he says. After more than 10 years hitting the skins, Beau has been running drumming workshops for the past six years.
The community workshops focus on learning one African rhythm in all its parts, followed by a group performance. In Rhythm also facilitates corporate workshops and performs at events, as well as making, selling and repairing drums. Beau says the energy created by a group of drummers can have a profound effect on people. 'Not only do people get really energised but banging on a drum can also be a great release of tension. And a great way to meet like-minded people.' Before I know it, my inner child is up and shaking her thang. Who needs a hot bath?
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