Essentials for creative rhythm, percussion and improvisation

These two intensive workshops led by Ant Romero will guide your percussion playing within musical traditions ranging from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean to Latin American. Participants will be introduced to the rudiments for building phrases in all time signatures, as well as exercises for independence, rhythmic subtleties such as the displacement of accents, and complex subdivisions. You will also develop strategies for soloing, such as using a melody and your voice, and techniques of improvisation. You will also enhance some fundamental areas of your musicianship, such as how to approach and structure your practice sessions.

The class will accommodate all levels of student with a feeling for rhythm. Although the instruments we will focus on will be darbuka, dohola, frame drum and cajón, students may find the rudiments, concepts and ideas useful for any other instrument (even the not obviously percussive ones).

Course timings: 2 x 3-hour sessions, 12 and 13 December 2020, 15.00-18.00 GMT.