Primary School Incursions

With EVERY BEAT, young people build a sense of connection, success, empowerment, & wellbeing!

African Drumming in Schools

Having FUN is a powerful aspect of effective learning, developing social skills, confidence, and promoting creativity for children and young people alike.

Afrobeat captures the imagination of its audiences while inspiring cultural awareness, diversity, team spirit, and connection through African Drumming and Dance.

Specially tailored to suit Primary aged students, AFROBEAT’S inspiring school workshops and interactive shows are FUN, engaging, educational, inclusive and entertaining, and allow for ALL abilities to experience success!

Drumming together is simple, FUN, accessible and effective - Everyone can do it!

Students learn the art of working together without words, building dynamic sounds, and polyrhythmic compositions traditional to West African music. They will learn about the meanings and cultural contexts of the rhythms and how this translates to their own life story while imparting core community values and life metaphors that Afrobeat masterfully weave throughout. This is teaching without Teaching!

For quality Educational Workshops, Interactive School Shows, or Term Courses that can be tailored to suit your desired outcome, theme, social issue, and curriculum focus, or fortify your School’s core values – Afrobeat’s Interactive Drumming and Dance delivers unbeatable value!

What others are saying...

Meeting Opener – Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff (PART 1)

Thanks so much it was a great way to start the day off before our meeting. From all accounts everyone enjoyed the session so thank you. A lot of fun and a great euphemism for our corporate journey and aspirations to be…

Meeting Opener – Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff (PART 2)

…a harmonious workplace. This was a creative fun approach towards team building and unity. Great right / left brain activity, providing creative escapism.

Conference Participant – Sydney (PART 1)

We had Afrobeat attend the afternoon of our annual planning day. I was overjoyed to walk into the function room after a break, only to find the room set up in three rows of chairs, with a drum in front of each. My joy grew exponentially as I sank into…

Conference Participant – Sydney (PART 2)

…the meditation and excitement of drumming within the group; after 40 minutes of this I was hooked, and myself and a colleague signed up to Janine’s community classes.

DRUMMING COURSE – Werrington Youth Centre, NSW 1

These workshops were highly successful in bringing together our community. Participants learned the beautiful rhythms of Africa and their cultural stories. We learned how different rhythms were specific to different celebrations & customs. It was an enlightening experience for all involved. During these workshops, we were approached by the producers of Channel 10’s

DRUMMING COURSE – Werrington Youth Centre, NSW 2

…’Totally Wild’ to film a story on African Drumming. It was an extremely exciting time, bringing a community of young people, parents & workers together. Janine is very sincere & genuine & has the ability to energise a group of people & inspire them to share with her the wonderful rhythms & dances of Africa.

6 week Drumming Program for At-risk Youth – Leaps and Bounds 1

Leaps and Bounds staff and students had a great term, which culminated in a brilliant performance. Indeed, the facilitator was very charismatic & always appropriate for our students who all have different issues and difficulties. The performance in front of parents driven by Afrobeat’s enthusiasm & belief in them was an amazing feat for students…

6 week Drumming Program for At-risk Youth – Leaps and Bounds 2

…who may never have an opportunity to show their skills or push their limits in front of an audience, particularly one who they believe may be sceptical or negative. They put their fears aside, and the looks on their faces showed how important this event (and the previous lessons) had been.

Sovereign Hill Music Festival – Managing Director of Mushroom Marketing 1

Energetic, Entertaining & Exciting! Afrobeat introduced members of the audience to the art of African Drumming by inviting them to participate in a group music ‘jam’. 60 or more children & parents participated in the event where traditional barrier between performer and audience was well and truly broken!…

Sovereign Hill Music Festival – Managing Director of Mushroom Marketing 2

The excellent communication skills of Afrobeat, particularly with young children, and their ability to involve all members of the audience made these workshops a highlight of the Festival. It was no surprise that the feedback from was fantastic and I would expect that this experience would live long in their memories.

INTERACTIVE DRUM & DANCE SHOW – Oatlands Primary School, VIC 1

It was an awesome show yesterday! Huge full school attendance and an epic high energy and engaging interactive performance! The students were welcomed with beautiful kora music and drumming. Later, several students were invited to the stage and guided through a drumming workshop…

INTERACTIVE DRUM & DANCE SHOW – Oatlands Primary School, VIC 2

…while the rest of the school clapped along, and everyone was in awe of the dancing and flips and somersaults that followed! High energy drumming and a phenomenal show! The teachers drum and dance inclusion towards the end was enjoyed by all, and the guys were real pros: such a powerful combo!

AFRICAN DRUM & DANCE SHOW – Bannockburn Primary School, VIC

A fantastic high energy performance. We were clapping and stamping our feet from start to finish. Kept 550 kids enthralled for the whole show!

FULL DAY INTERACTIVE DRUMMING WORKSHOPS & SHOW – Ascot Vale Primary School, VIC

The whole school loved the experience. The kids really enjoyed the smaller group experience where they all had access to a drum… Initially I was thinking the first small group activity would be too short however having seen the kids in action they were pooped after the 25 minutes. The staff loved the experience, Thank-you!

INTERACTIVE DRUMMING FULL DAY WORKSHOPS & SHOW – Point Lonsdale Primary School, VIC 1

Afrobeat is not your average music program to visit a school. It offers so much more! Afrobeat brings the kids together in rhythm, makes it contagious enough for the teachers to want to play along, and invites the school community to come together in a way that is truly special. It’s clear to see Afrobeat…

INTERACTIVE DRUMMING FULL DAY WORKSHOPS & SHOW – Point Lonsdale Primary School, VIC 2

…weaves the very best of this cultural drumming & offers it to Aussie school kids in a way that makes sense, excites them & lets them experience African culture and music in their classrooms. At its heart  is a driving rhythm that brings the school community together in magical way!

AFRICAN DRUM & DANCE SHOW – Bacchus Marsh Primary School, VIC

EXACTLY what I was looking for! The entire audience (Prep-Year 6, and teachers) was into the show. Entertaining and interactive. Fantastic!

INTERACTIVE DRUMMING WORKSHOP – Sacred Heart School, Mona Vale NSW

Our facilitator was excellent the children thoroughly enjoyed their first session, as did I! Fantastic, enlivening, well pitched to children!

AFRICAN DRUM & DANCE SHOW – St Michael’s Primary School, VIC

Performance was great, high impact, very interactive and absolutely loved by all the children!

HARMONY DAY PERFORMANCE – Glen Huntley Primary School, VIC

Thank-you for a fantastic performance at the school’s Harmony Day celebrations. The students loved it and the teachers all agreed it was the best visiting performance we have had. Please pass on my thanks to the performers.

Incursion Options

Interactive Drumming Workshops

Suit: Whole Year Level or Whole School engagement

Group Size: Less than 100 pax

Duration: 30 min - 45 min

Delivery:

Single Session [45 min] or

Multiple 'Group' Sessions on rotation [30 min each]

Description: 

An exciting and memorable introduction to African Drumming where EVERYONE gets a drum and an invitation to join in’! These sessions are FUN, engaging, educational, inclusive, and entertaining, and allow for all abilities to experience success together. Afrobeat capture the imagination of its young audiences while inspiring cultural awareness, diversity, team spirit, and connection through African drumming. In this session students learn the art of working together without words, building dynamic sounds, and polyrhythmic compositions traditional to West African music in a non-stop, call & response format.

Optional: FULL day of Workshops may culminate in an end of day whole-group interactive show

Interactive Drumming Show

Suit: Whole Year Level / Whole School engagement

Group Size: More than 100 pax

Duration: 30 - 40 min

Delivery:

FULL SHOW - EVERYONE gets a Drum!

Downsized Show - 20 Drums provided for 'some' audience members

Description:

In this session we will have everyone drumming to the beat of large African bass drums. Within minutes, Afrobeat have students beating out rhythms of unity, creating musical harmony and an outstanding theatrical performance! With every beat, enthusiasm and excitement build as students begin to sense the power of their individual rhythmic contributions! Before they know it, they have become performers rather than spectators and the group dynamic and team spirit begin to emerge.

African Drum & Dance Show

Suit: Groups 100+, Whole year levels, or Whole school audience

Duration: 30 - 40 min

Description:

Get your passport and jump on board the African express!

Our dynamic drumming and dance ensemble brings together the powerful rhythms, sweet melodies and dynamic dance movements representative of the colourful and vibrant culture of West Africa. Dynamic, colourful, and audience interactive AFROBEAT'S African Drum and Dance Explosion is led by professional African Artists in costume. A highly captivating and unforgettable Show!

Suit: Class groups, Whole Year Level, Annual Program

Duration: 45 min ‘group’ sessions weekly - Term Course

Description:

The Drum is a vehicle for personal transformation in this 8–10-week journey, where students will reconnect with self and community. While students learn to play in an African drumming ensemble, building dynamic sounds, and working together without words to create music, they will also be introduced to themes of teamwork, communication, leadership, respect, wellbeing, and community values, all which Afrobeat masterfully weave throughout the course.

Measurable outcomes

Beginners - African Drumming Course

Suit: Class group/s, Whole Year Level, Annual Program

Duration: 30 - 60 min sessions weekly *Depending on group numbers - Term Course

Description:

This Course focuses on learning multi-layered rhythms that require teamwork and may include some vocal fun, body percussion and traditional African dance movements too! Students learn the art of working together without words, building dynamic sounds and polyrhythmic compositions traditional to West Africa. Students will develop increased self-esteem, communication and listening skills, cultural awareness, respect, and tolerance of others' differences, and the ability to work together as a team to create music. They will learn about the meanings and cultural contexts of the rhythm and how this translates to their own life story.

Optional add-on: The course may culminate in an interactive performance where the entire audience become part of the experience!