Home > World Music > West African Drumming – An Extended Introduction (full)
Product Code: AD-ART

West African Drumming – An Extended Introduction (full)

Age 5 - 18+

Click for Free Download
  • Basics and further reading for both teachers and non-music specialists
  • History and cultural background
  • The instruments and playing techniques
  • Warm-up exercises
  • Call and response

Here are links to other selections you may find useful:

Some teachers may wish to dig a little deeper in order to feel fully confident or may wish to read around the subject and choose key areas to develop further in their lessons, but not be entirely sure what information should be classed as relevant. This Extended Introduction is for them!

Richard McKerron has written a series of introductory articles (downloads available below) which utilise information from Andy Gleadhill’s books as well as information from further afield. These provide enough information to answer the trickier questions that may be put to you in a lesson and a strong starting point for further reading.

These can be taken in isolation, but are presented here in their collected form as originally intended if you are after a full overview.

  • What Is Special About West African Drumming And Why Should You Do It?
  • How Could You Introduce West African Drumming To Your School?
  • Benefits of African Drumming
  • History and Cultural Background
  • The Instruments
  • How the Instruments are Made
  • General Technique
  • Master Drummer
  • Grid Notation
  • Warm-up Exercises
  • Call and Response
  • Soloing

A series of videos has also been uploaded in support of the article, designed to help you develop the basics with confidence, and these are shown below also embedded in the PDF documents.

You may also be interested in our Downloadable Schemes of Work and one-page lesson plans which benefit from these supporting documents, and are also based upon the information and techniques found within Andy Gleadhill’s Teaching Guides.

These products work well with "West African Drumming - An Extended Introduction (full)"

Thank you.
We are happy with the order. We would like to order 2 sets of additional beaters

Marianne van Brandenburg
Angel Place Nursery

The order arrived very promptly and is wonderful.

Vicci Johnson
European Wellcare Homes Ltd.

This is the best pack for full Whole-Class Instrumental Lessons with Gamelan. Every player is engaged throughout every lesson employing the Percussion Buddies approach. Using a wide range of authentic Gamelan instruments pupils will be able to master a range of Gamelan tunes ready for performance.

Andy Gleadhill

The Ceng Ceng have larger wool pom-pom style handles with allow for a study grip, as well as flexibility of movement for the instrument itself.

Richard McKerron

Order arrived some time ago and I am delighted with the instrumentts, particularly the Jumbie Jams! All arrived well packed and in perfect condition. Many thanks!

Joe Loughlin
The Gathering Drum