Secondary Schools & Youth
Ditch the traditional talk based interventions, put the mobile devices away, & 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, drumming together has the power to connect strangers, facilitate community engagement, and inspire change to the beat of the 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.
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 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.
DRUM WITH US
and experience it for yourself!
See how we engage 300 Year 7’s in our Interactive Drumming Show while capturing the School’s themes of Compassion, Innovation & Integrity.
NEW 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 - Transition
- Building Resilience through rhythm
- Re-engage disengaged students
- Year 9 - Leadership Development to run Peer Lead Program
- 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!
Afrobeat is committed to the safety of our community!
*Covid Safe Drumming TIPS*
1. Wash your hands before touching the drums
2. Respect social distancing between Participants and Facilitator
3. Participants exhibiting 'symptoms' should not participate in the activity
4. Where necessary, our Facilitator will wear a mask
What's on offer?
Year 7 Welcome - Interactive Drumming Show!
Suit: Whole Year Level engagement - (Year 7 recommended)
Group Size: Minimum group size 100
Duration: 30 - 45 min
Description:
EVERYONE gets a drum & and Invitation to join in!
Afrobeat's unique 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 and join in the show.
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.
Year 9 – Transition & Leadership Training
Suit: Whole Year Level in Smaller Groups
Duration: 8 Week Course OR 2 Day intensive
Description:
The Drum is a vehicle for personal transformation and community building in this 8-week 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.
Our Leadership Drumming Program teaches students to be drum circle facilitators on the premise that if you can successfully conduct an interactive drumming experience, you can lead a team! 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, self-identity, 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
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.
8 week Term Course
Suit: Whole Year Level or Whole School Engagement (especially if you are a small school)
Duration: 30 – 45 min ‘group’ sessions, weekly over School Term
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.
Optional add-on: The course may culminate in an interactive Show where the entire audience become performers rather than spectators!
FULL DAY / HALF Day Program
Suit: Whole Year Level or Whole School engagement (there is no cap of group size)
Duration: 30 min ‘group’ sessions on rotation (Up to 4 sessions for a half day and up to 8 sessions for a FULL Day)
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.
One-Off Workshop
Suit: Class Size Group
Duration: 45 min
Description:
An exciting and memorable introduction to African Drumming! In this session we will have everyone drumming to the beat of large African bass drums. With every beat, the enthusiasm and excitement build as participants begin to sense the power of their individual rhythmic contributions! Before they know it, they have become performers rather than workshop participants and the group dynamic and team spirit begin to emerge.
Educator’s Team Building Session
Suit: Professional Development Day, Team Building,
Duration: 45 min
Description:
When we drum together, we work as a team one beat at a time. The experience of drumming together helps remove social barriers in a non-intimidating, and fun atmosphere. Your staff can relax, gain enthusiasm and the necessary confidence to fully participate in other ‘team’ activities.
You know from watching the kids, 'drumming together' is simple, fun, accessible, and effective! Drumming together inspires connection and celebration, provides participants with an instant sense of joy, accomplishment and gratification, boosts confidence, employee enthusiasm and positive morale. It is a cutting-edge tool for team building, reconnecting with self & others in these disconnecting times, leadership training, and staff well being that will leave your group feeling relaxed, uplifted and inspired!
Teacher Training
Suit: Private 1 on 1 or Group Sessions
Duration: 60 min session / 6 Week Course
Format: Zoom Call or in-person
Description:
Tailored to your vision, group’s needs, curriculum focus, learning outcomes, social themes, and school values, Afrobeat Founder and Trainer ‘Janine’ will work closely with you to develop your teaching and drum facilitator confidence, with a tried & tested teaching method, and interactive drumming formula, relevant, age appropriate and pedagogical content ready to hit the ground drumming!