Secondary Schools & Youth
Ditch the devices & let the drums do the talking!
With EVERY BEAT, young people build a sense of connection, success, empowerment, and wellbeing!
Guaranteed to unite everyone in the room within minutes, African drumming together has the power to connect strangers, facilitate community engagement, and inspire change to the beat of the African drum.
Afrobeat are passionate drum leaders - ‘life educators’ who inspire young adults through the medium of the drum and music making. Within minutes, Afrobeat transform a group of novice young drummers from a cacophony of noise into a lively orchestra. With every beat, their excitement builds as they begin to sense the power of their rhythmic contributions and realise their musical potential and the support of their peers.
DRUM WITH US
See how we engage 300 Year 7’s in our Interactive African Drumming Show while capturing the School’s themes of Compassion, Innovation & Integrity.
African Drumming teaches young people valuable life skills that will endure a lifetime including mindfulness, resilience, and perseverance while fortifying community values, inspiring cultural awareness, diversity and team spirit.
Because ‘The djembe drum knows no borders’, it levels the playing field, allowing all abilities, backgrounds, languages, social status, and experiences to come together in a FUN, relaxed and creative environment.
Encouraged to ditch limiting self beliefs, peer pressure, and their comfort zone, participants are immediately rewarded by the simple act of engagement, contribution, and freedom to express their true selves to the beat of the drum.
Through rhythmic entrainment, drummers relax, learn to quiet the distraction, regain focus, and calm breath and mind.
The message is – Everybody belongs, everybody has a part to play.
CANDID HIGHLIGHTS!
Check out our 'Director's Cut' with original audio & candid moments including student dance-off!
What others are saying...
Afrobeat’s Interactive Drumming is perfect if you’re looking to help your group
- Get inspired to participate in mainstream activities
- Build confidence
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Develop Respect & Sense of Pride
- Feel a greater sense of belonging
- Improve social skills
- Harness peer support
- Increase self esteem, self-worth and self belief
- Improve communication, listening and response skills
- Develop better memory and concentration
- Learn mindfulness and other coping skills
- Cooperate and contribute in a group environment
- Build resilience and perseverance
- Instill a sense of history, community, tradition and culture
- Build tolerance of other’s differences
- Get energised and inspired
- Improve self expression
- Develop cultural awareness and diversity
- Experience solidarity and social harmony
- Improve mental health
- Build leadership and follow-ship Skills
- Practice patience and self-control
- Meet on an equal playing field
- Work together as a team to create music
- Learn a new skill
- Foster imagination & creativity
- Experience a sense of connection and celebration
Application Ideas
- Music & Dance Incursions
- Interactive Whole School Entertainment
- FULL / HALF DAY Programs - Round Robin Workshops
- Whole Year Level Engagement
- Year 7 - Welcome!
- Building Resilience through rhythm
- Re-engage disengaged students
- Year 9 - Leadership Development to run Peer Led Program
- Annual School & Youth Camps
- At Risk Youth
- BEAT Stress - Student Wellbeing Program
- Stress Relief for Senior Students
- Community Engagement
- Team Building
- Staff PD Activity
- And MORE!
Incursion Options
Interactive Drumming Workshops
Suit: Whole Year Level or Whole School engagement
Group Size: Less than 100 pax
Duration: 30 min - 60 min
Delivery:
Single Session [up to 60 min] or
Multiple 'Group' Sessions on rotation [30 min each]
Description:
An exciting and memorable introduction to African Drumming! 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.
Interactive Drumming Show
Suit: Whole Year Level engagement - (Year 7 'Welcome' and School Camps highly recommended)
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:
Afrobeat's Interactive Drumming Show delivers an unforgettable impact! To the delight and surprise of unsuspecting audiences, Afrobeat invite EVERYONE to take up a drum of their own or get out of their seats and join our team on stage.
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.
'Find Your Rhythm' - Wellness Course
Suit: Whole Year Level or Whole School Engagement (especially if you are a small school)
Duration: 45 min ‘group’ sessions, weekly over School Term
Delivery: Term Course
Description:
The Drum is a vehicle for personal transformation in this 8-week journey, where students will reconnect with self and community after a time of isolation and feeling unsure about the future.
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, respect, and community values, all of which Afrobeat masterfully weave throughout the course.
*Measurable outcomes
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!
BEGINNERS African Drumming Course
Suit: Class group/s, Whole Year Level, Annual Program
Duration: 30 - 60 min sessions weekly over School Term
Delivery: 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!
Year 7 – Welcome!
Suit: Whole Year Level, Annual Program
Duration: 30 - 45 min Show
Delivery: One-off annual event
Description:
To welcome the incoming Year 7 students, we have a special Interactive Drumming Show that has become an annual tradition in many schools. This vibrant show provides an exciting introduction to the world of drumming and sets a positive tone for the academic year ahead.
It's an excellent way to connect students, foster a sense of belonging, build resilience and perseverance, and fortify the school's values while creating a warm and inclusive environment for all students.
Year 9 & 10 – Transition & Leadership Training
Suit: Whole Year Level in Class size groups
Duration: 45 - 60 min weekly over School Term
Delivery: Term Course
Description:
Afrobeat offer a unique Leadership Training program for Year 9 and 10 students. This training focuses on the art of drum circle facilitation, empowering students to lead their peers in regular ongoing interactive drumming events that benefits the greater school community. This initiative not only promotes teamwork and leadership skills but also encourages a sense of unity and camaraderie among students.
The Drum is a vehicle for personal transformation and community building in this percussive journey.
When we drum together, we create a unique microcosm for learning that provides a common language, experience, analogies, and stories which can be related back to the school environment and its culture.
While students learn to play African drums, building dynamic sounds, and working together without words to create music, they will also be introduced to themes of teamwork, communication, respect, identity, cultural and social inclusion, and community values, which Afrobeat masterfully weave throughout the course. The weekly experience serves as a catalyst for continuing these themes and discussions back in the school environment.
Year 11 & 12 – Mindfulness & Meditation
Suit: Stress relief and Mindfulness for Senior Students
Duration: 60 min session
Description:
There is a growing body of research on the therapeutic effects of group drumming. Ground-breaking studies show drumming benefits the immune system, stress levels, and mood. It also shows that repetitive drumming changes brain wave activity, inducing a state of calm, and focused awareness. Just what senior students need to get through the everyday pressures, demands, and expectations of the senior school years.
When we drum, we engage both hemispheres of our brain simultaneously. This is meditation. Uplifted, alive, and present in the current moment. Through this rhythmic entrainment, students learn to quiet the distraction, regain focus, and calm breath and mind, promoting relaxation, a healthy mind, and a new pathway to social belonging.
Annual School Camp
Suit: Whole Year Level, Whole School, Annual Program
Duration: 30 - 45 min Show
Delivery: One-off annual event
Description:
Afrobeat's interactive drumming show has become an annual tradition for BIG groups on school camps!