If you’ve never been to one of our Unbeatable Energy workshops before, you may not have thought about the many ways that African Drumming and Dance can aid children’s well-being, health and their ability to succeed.
Here are four good reasons a workshop can help create the right atmosphere in your classroom:
1. African Drumming and Dance brings traditional topics to life!
An African Drumming and Dance workshop offers a fun activity for Black History Month, an Africa subject or in the celebration of a Cultural Diversity Day.
It’s a thrilling experience for both teachers and pupils alike, when they play the first rumble with the African hand-made djembe drums. When each student plays their drums that they made themselves they are able to explore a vast world of history, tradition and culture. This is not only simply by reading or listening instead of active participation and actively playing. It is a way to get to experience the culture and culture of West Africa. To quote a recent Headteacher at one of our schools ‘it is the hands-on activities like African drumming that kids retain and learn from their cultural experiences since they are active participants in the music , as opposed to merely spectators.’
2. African Drumming and Dance boosts children’s confidence!
It’s a frequent occurrence during African dance schools workshops – a student who struggles in maths and literacy or who is shy and socially disengaged in class, completely transforms in a drumming session. It’s like they’ve discovered what draws them emotionally and provides them with an emotional release.
African Dance is also a great way for kids to strengthen their self-esteem. Dancers normally perform to an audience by themselves or by two or more dancers. In our classes, kids are invited to dance to their fellow dancers within our drum circle. This aspect of the workshop is entirely optional for pupils However, we do provide gentle encouragement by saying that this experience will make feel good afterward. Once a few of the more confident kids have given the experience a shot and we begin to observe several other kids who are all eager to have the chance to try it. As a result, some of the shy and quiet children delight everyone by jumping into the circle and sharing their excitement from the sound! The joy on their faces after this session speaks the volumes of their joy at achievement!
3. African Drumming and Dance gets children active which improves the brain!
African Drumming and Dance is an amazing way allow children to exercise and release their energy. African Djembe drumming increases strength and endurance in the upper part of the body, while dance improves cardiovascular fitness and can be a complete exercise for the body. It is evident that this is beneficial to improve children’s fitness and health, but research shows that it sharpens the mind; results in happier children and improves your performance in many other fields like reading and maths.
4. African Drumming and Dance improves listening skills , not only in music!
It’s something which you hear a teacher say in class music lessons”Listen!” good reason too because good listening is essential. As with all forms of music, learning African drumming is great for building many listening skills. Like the ability to focus listening on a particular pattern within a poly-rhythmic piece of music (multiple rhythms being played simultaneously) or developing the listening skills required to comprehend the sensation of a rhythm when hearing against the regular rhythm.
Whatever type of listening needed it is the same personal characteristic that is essential for any budding musician : the ability to take time to reflect and digest the things that have been heard. Professionally trained African drummers who’re learning a new instrument give themselves time to listen before beginning playing, because they are well aware that their brains can make wrong assumptions of what they’ve heard basing it on what they have learned. Although the children often find it difficult to not play right away!
It is a great benefit that children can not only increase their understanding of music by learning African Drumming, but can also apply the same skill to social situations, such as in conversations. When you are able to pay attention to what someone else is speaking, you can prevent your internal conversation from making assumptions; truly absorb the words of someone else and then create a greater sense of rapport – this is known as ‘active listening’ which is an important life skill for a child to learn as early as possible!
If you’re a school that would like to have a full day of African drumming and dance workshops for your students, or are planning some kind of Africa Topic or Black History event coming up and think we could be of assistance, we’d love to hear from you.
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