Reviews
Here's a selection of reviews and testimonials from education publishers and customers.
Teach Secondary Review – African Drumming Set
Reviewed by: John Dabell
The impressive 'African Drumming – Secondary – 15 Player Class Set' from Drums for Schools consists of five high quality wooden Djembe drums and 10 items of hand percussion for creating a range of authentic African drumming sounds, allowing any secondary teacher to lead a group or class to performance level in just one term.
Download review
Teach Primary Review – World Percussion 30 Player Budget Set
Reviewed by: Mike Davies
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that, if you struggle with teaching music in primary school, your discomfort will fall into one of two categories. One is that you worry you are not particularly musical. The other is that you actually love music, which is why you finish each lesson with a sigh of relief and either a massive headache or a funny twitch.
Download review
Teach Primary Review – Gamelan Standard 10 Player Pack
Reviewed by: Emily Cotter
This resource offers the experience and expertise of a professional musician, Andy Gleadhill, and is able to support even those teachers who profess to minimal musical abilities. The package includes three gongs; Ageng (large), Kempul (medium) and Kenong (small). There are nine metallophones – three demung (large), three saron (medium) and three peking (small) – and one drum; the medium sized ciblon.
Download review
Teach Primary Review – Junior 8 Djembe African Drumming Package
Reviewed by: Marc Bowen
Does the prospect of teaching music fill you with dread? Is your inability to squeeze a tune out of a recorder a closely guarded secret? Fear not, the Junior 8 Djembe African Drumming Package – which includes Andy Gleadhill's very useful African drumming guide – is here to lead you by the hand on a musical odyssey.
Download review
Havelock Academy – Review – 30 Player Premium Gamelan Pack
Reviewed by: Music Department – Havelock Academy Faculty of Arts
We purchased our Gamelan from Drums for Schools in October 2010, with money very generously donated from some of our Academy Trustees. The project has had a significant impact from the very start.
Download review
King Edward's Junior – Review – 30 Player Budget Gamelan Pack
Reviewed by: Mary Edwards, Director of Music – King Edward's Junior School – April 2010
The addition of the Gamelan in year 5 (and the Steel Pans in year 6) has now broadened the children's musical awareness of how music works and is experienced in and through 'non-western' cultures and especially through the more aural traditions that exist within these musical genres.
Download review
Wirral Music Service – Review – 30 Player Premium Gamelan Pack
Reviewed by: Neil Watson, Wirral Music Service
The premium gamelan pack has allowed both secondary and primary school pupils to experience the culture of Bali not only through the medium of music but also through the physical medium of touching and playing authentic hand made instruments.
Download review
Bristol Music Service – Review – African Drumming and Gamelan Packs
Reviewed by: Anita Silverston, Head of Teaching and Learning, Bristol Arts and Music Service
Drums for Schools has an impressive and unique product range that has obviously been developed in association with schools and teachers to provide music educators with the best in equipment and resources to deliver a diverse music curriculum. We have purchased time and time again your 30 player African Drumming Pack as it is perfect for delivering the African Drumming wider opportunities lessons in our primary schools, giving each pupil a rewarding playing experience.
Download review
Jessie's Fund – Review – Special Educational Needs
Reviewed by: Lesley Schatzberger, Founder, Jessie's Fund
Drums for Schools has developed a wide range of excellent musical instruments suitable for both mainstream schools and those for children with special needs. By developing direct relationships with the craftsmen who make them they have been able to offer the instruments at very affordable prices – somewhat below their competitors. In these days of cutbacks that can mean the difference between giving children the opportunity to play musical instruments and denying them that opportunity.
Download review
Primary Teacher Update – Gold Award for Class Percussion Budget Pack – Sep 2012
Reviewed by: 2012 Primary Teacher Award Judges | Gold Winner
An absolutely fantastic selection of instruments, suitable for a range of ages. Our music coordinator was bowled over with the quality and durability of the instruments.
Download review
Practical PreSchool – Silver Award for the Dream Drum – Sep 2012
Reviewed by: 2012 Practical Preschool Award Judges | Silver Winner
This was a very appealing resource; both the staff and children were very excited to receive it. The children enjoyed listening to the different sounds and then producing them together as a group.
Download review
Practical PreSchool – Silver Award for the Musical Baby Bonding Kit – Sep 2012
Reviewed by: Practical Preschool Award Judges | Silver Winner
All the instruments come in a delightful little basket; they are well-made and featured a variety of sounds to keep your baby interested.
Download review
Nursery World Award for Best Resource for 3s to 5s – The Dream Drum – Sep 2012
Reviewed by: Nursery World Awards 2012 Judges | Equipment
The Dream Drum is a unique yet simple pitched percussion instrument with a soothing, meditative sound. It is easy and satisfying to play and offers a range of learning opportunities in an early years setting.
Download review
Educational Resources Awards 2011 – Gamelan Teaching Pack
Reviewed by: Education Resources Awards 2011 Judges | Secondary Resources
The quality of entries this year has been consistently high, highlighting the tremendous vision of the resources industry and its commitment to education. You are always competing against a great many others who may have made a stronger case or may tune into the group's perception of what works in educational terms.
Download reviewEducational Resources Awards 2011 – African Drumming & Gamelan Teaching Packs
Reviewed by: Education Resources Awards 2011 Judges | Secondary Resources
The quality of entries this year has been consistently high, highlighting the tremendous vision of the resources industry and its commitment to education. The panel of independent judges – all education professionals – convened in February to judge your submission. The Education Resources Awards judgements were achieved through lengthy analysis and detailed discussions.
Download review