Hand Drums

The hand drum curriculum focuses solely on hand drumming, teaching the student techniques and styles for various forms of hand drums from around the world including congas, bongos, djembe and doumbek, to name a few.

Beginner:

• Gain knowledge of the origins and history of various types of hand drums
• Learn the proper way to hold and position drums
• Learn proper hand position
• Study basic hand strokes specific to the student’s type of drum
• Play and read rhythms specific to the student’s type of drum
• Develop time-keeping skills by playing with a metronome, click track or recorded music

Intermediate:

• Play and read more complex rhythms
• Continue development of time-keeping skills by playing with a metronome, click track, or recorded music
• Learn introductory ensemble playing (with drum set and/or other hand drums) specific to the student’s type of drum
• Learn rhythms that are appropriate for a variety of music styles including jazz, R&B, Rock Brazilian, Afro-Cuban, African, Hip Hop, and Middle Eastern
• Practice transcribing rhythms
• Begin to incorporate polyrhythms into playing

Advanced:

• Deepen knowledge of rhythms by listening, reading and transcribing
• Enhance time-keeping skills by playing with a metronome, click track or recorded music
• Continue ensemble playing with the introduction of more complex rhythms
• Learn to incorporate more complex polyrhythms into playing
• Develop creative solo ideas
• Learn four-way independence and foot techniques to strengthen the student’s overall development as a drummer