ABOUT us
We've been promoting the music and cultures of Africa for over 20 years. Explore West African music and cultures with the following unique products and services:
Experience something new with our fun and informative weekly class, and discover some of West Africa's traditional music - Expose school students to some of Africa's huge traditions and cultures through year-round fun, live, or virtual music workshops and presentations - Have a Team building activity at work, offsite, or virtually via Video conference, and bond your team through fun and challenging drumming activities - Make a wedding memorable or enhance a fundraiser / special event with an authentic live or virtual performance - Hire one or more versatile African percussionists for a recording or concert - Let us help you with our Artist management services for African artists - Purchase a professional and authentic West African musical instrument.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY..
About our classes
“Hi Alpha,
I want to let you know that I am really enjoying learning drumming with you. I feel challenged, I have fun and appreciate your patience and teaching style.”
— Terri, Toronto
DRUMMING
LESSONS & CLASSES
Absolute beginners / beginners:
Do you want to start playing the Djembe, but feel intimidated, or don't really know where to start? Allow us to help you break the ice.
Have you been playing the Djembe or hand drums in a drum circle, but feel like you need dedicated instruction from a music school?
There are other people like you in our beginner's and intermediate dedicated drumming classes and lessons.
No prior experience is required.
Join the best drumming class in the city
Every week, we have new students joining the Toronto Saturday adult class. Our class location is: Dundas st W and Jane st (The Junction). $20 drop-in for a 1H30 min class (Cash exact change - No registration required)
Everyone welcomed from 14 to 99 years old!
Djembe drum use for free - You must reserve it in advance
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A free private introductory lesson with the prepurchase
​of your 1st discounted package or gift card:
UP TO 35% OFF
Package of 6 classes in Toronto $90 ($120 value)
Package of 9 classes in Toronto $130 ($180 value)
Package of 12 classes in Toronto $170 ($240 value)
Package of 15 classes in Toronto $200 ($300 value)
Package of 18 classes in Toronto $235 ($360 value)
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You could win a free lesson or receive a coupon code
We also have private in-person drum lessons
Drumming curriculum
These Fun drumming classes and lessons based in Toronto-Canada, are focused on Guinean Rhythms and traditions.
Alpha developed a detailed course with group level and online play-along soundfiles and notation using simple music notation for home practice in between music classes.
A list of all the rhythms (piece of music) played in classes, together with their origins and meanings is also posted.
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Like any other musical and percussion instrument in the world, playing the Djembe drum requires instruction!
Check out our Drumming blog. Some of the main articles posted are: "The many benefits of Djembe drumming", "Why you will never learn how to play the Djembe in a drum circle", "Traditional Guinean percussion orchestra playing basic","Learning how to play the Djembe drum", and more...
Experienced Djembe players:
Do you want to take your Djembe hand playing technique to the next level?
Do you want to experience a higher level of musical interaction, and play more complex and challenging arrangements on one of the world's most famous hand drum?
Do you want to join a group that occasionally performs at venues in Toronto and throughout the GTA?
Have you been playing the Djembe in drum circles for some times, but you feel like you need to improve your playing technique to take it to the next level?
Our percussion school has many people like you in our Intermediate and advanced dedicated group classes and lessons.
Some benefits of Djembe drumming
- Relief daily stress.
- Improve listening skills and develop multi-tasking abilities:
- Improve concentration and the ability to focus.
- Improve short term memory.
- Develop Confidence.
- Improve left / right hand coordination and independence.
- Read and write simple percussion notation.
- Communicate without words or gestures.
- Discover the world of improvisation and soloing.
- Learn about Mandingue and Guinean culture / traditions in a fun and friendly environment.
​By attending our classes, absolute beginners will be introduced to the world of West African percussion in our beginners class. Professional musicians playing a percussive or non percussive instrument will experience music in a way that will change them forever: Piano players, Drum kit players, this is your chance to experience a different right/left hand independence / coordination to take your instrument to the next level.
Toronto class schedule & location
(Click on calendar for class details)
Teaching method
Alpha's teaching method is focused on developing intuitive understanding of West African percussive music, and percussive music in general, with a strong focus on synchronization, as well as the basic playing techniques used in a Mandingue drumming ensemble.
Alpha has had a unique exposure to both European / North American and West African teaching methods, which allowed him to successfully develop a simple and efficient teaching method for everyone.
Beyond the group classes, you will also have access to private lessons with Alpha or other percussion instructors.