Category Archives: News

COVID19 Update

COVID19 Update

 

 

COVID19 Update

Moffat Gala Festival of Running
Louise, Fif and Shae on the Moffat hillside. Photo caption: Emma

 

On behalf of the Glasgow Drum Circle team, we hope you and your loved ones are safe at this time.

 

We wanted to write a post to let you know what’s happening at GDC over the coming weeks and to reassure you that our first priority is that all our drummers are safe and well.

 

Classes have been temporarily suspended in line with the government guidelines which ends public gatherings of more than two people.

 

However, we recognise that drumming is an important activity for physical, mental and spiritual well being and (for us at least!) a necessary part of every day living.  To that end, we will continue to inspire your drumming by sharing online videos via our Facebook page and WhatsApp group.   Keeping active and engaged has never been more important for our community and we’ll keep working to ensure you have access to great drumming tuition throughout the social isolation.

 

Find us on Facebook at The Glasgow Drum Circle

 

Stay safe and keep drumming!

 

Much love

Emma, Shae, Fif, Louise and Davie

Kid’s Drumming Workshop Testimonial

 

 

Drumming Workshop Glasgow
Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Group – Drumming Workshop Glasgow

The lovely Emma and Louise came along to our Youth Group last Friday and I can thoroughly recommend them.

They took 2 groups of children, about 12 to 15 each time, and had the children enthralled with the drumming.  The children are P5 to P7, so 8 – 11 years old.

I was so impressed with the way they interacted with the children, the behaviour was excellent because they were so engaged.

It was so popular, I am already looking at dates for next year for a return visit!  Highly recommend

Eileen McCallum – Our Lady of Lourdes Youth Group (Cardonald)

 

SMA Shot Paisley Parade

 

 

GDC were proud to march in the Sma Shots Parade which took place in Paisley on 7 July 2017.

 

The parade, which celebrates the political debate between the weavers of Paisley and the manufacturers celebrates its 32 year this year.  GDC marched with Unison who used the parade to raise awareness of Grenfell and of the 100 year anniversary of the suffragette movement.

 

Drummers, Allan, Emma, Fiona, Kerry, Louise, Nadja and Sylvan treated crowds to a rendition of KUKU played on African djembes.

 

To find out more about how to hire GDC for your parade of festival get in touch

Christmas Voucher Winter Special Offer 7 GDC Djembe Workshops

 

 

 

 

Yes I want to give the gift of Riddim this Christmas. Take me to the form!

GIVE THE GIFT OF RIDDEM THIS CHRISTMAS
with a Glasgow Drum Circle Winter Voucher!

You can now book a seven workshop package of tuition on African Djembe at the Glasgow Drum Circle. Hone your djembe skills learning to play lots of exciting traditional rhythms in a group session.

Suitable for beginner to intermediate level.

7 workshops – £50

Package includes:

  • seven, three hour sessions in group play
  • make your djembe sound – bass, tone & slap
  • learn traditional patterns for djembe
  • lets groove baby
  • call and response
  • learn simple solo rudiments and a solo in group play
  • Playing in an arrangement
  • sing songOffer only last through Winter  must be used up by Spring.
    [Wednesday  21st March 2018]CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED SO BOOK NOW

 

To acquire your 7 session voucher eMail  info@glasgowdrumcircle.org   

or use our form <<HERE>>
Payment is made by bank transfer – our account details will be mailed out to you.
MORE DETAILS AT OUR WEBSITE GLASGOWDRUMCIRCLE.ORG

Venue: Wellington Church [ G12 8LE]  Every Wednesday Time: 7pm-10pm Fist workshop starts January 17th 2018

wear comfortable clothing and bring juice and snack.
see website for updates
glasgowdrumcircle.org

Djole Rodger – learning a new groove

 

 

 

We have been working hard learning a new groove “Djole” which is a very popular rhythm in Sierra Leone and was originally played for a masked dance at coming of age ceremonies.

Here is the GDC version of the rhythm called “Djole Rodger” we hope you enjoy it.

W.A.M. Project Up-date March 2016

 

 

The West African Music Project is in full swing with new members learning both djembe and dun duns. We have four rhythm sets to learn and each with it’s own arrangement, where students get a chance to show what they have learned and play together as  group.

It has been  very exciting time learning about the origins of these rhythms and the people who first played them and the context that they were played in. In Africa, it appears that no rhythm is ever played for no reason as there is a long tradition of ritual and ceremony associated with each one such as a “coming of age” ceremony or harvest ritual.

We went though quite a few versions of arrangements and drum patterns  before we were sure we had the “authentic”  one. Thanks to all our friends and fellow teachers who helped with the research.
The video and booklet tuition aids are almost ready with only 3 live performances of our arrangements to film.  Student have been working hard learning the notation system and working with the material,  which has been specially adapted for beginners.

We will soon be able to offer this complete system for learning to all our new members, for them to use in their study and practice it home.

This will certainly help make more confident drummers and allow us to expand our teaching of new material in the future.

West African Music Program W.A.M.

 

 

HO ROLLIO! We are very pleased to announce that The Glasgow Drum Circle have been been given lottery funding from “Awards For All”  .
This award will be used to develop our West African Music Program of 2015, providing us with new instruments for our classes and enabling  us to produce new tuition media for our members.

With our growing number of beginners, keen to learn,  they will soon
be able to continue, not only at our Wednesday workshops, but have tuition support for study and practice at home.Awards-for-All-logo-360x151

You can follow their progress in their preparation to learn a set of arrangements for performance later on in the year in our news updates on this web site .