Bespoke samba drumming workshops for all ages and abilities. Great for schools, community groups, parties, team building, gala days, just about any event!
03/10/2023
I'm not able to lead many workshops any more but I still keep my hand in.
With Ceartas Advocacy today for their Living Well for Life be event. One group of happy drummers are off for lunch, next group soon 🥁
27/09/2023
Think it's time for a new drum head before a workshop with Ceartas Advocacy next week.
I might not be able to fit in many workshops anymore but I always try to support local organisations
https://www.ceartas.org.uk/news/2023/08/living-well-for-life-join-us-at-our-wellbeing-event-this-october/
14/05/2023
Lovely to get thank-you cards from 2nd Polmont Brownies. I was over playing with them the other week. Lots of happy faces😁
29/10/2022
One of the best drumming days I've had in ages! I was asked by my friends Bev and Adrienne to deliver a workshop this evening on the tiny island of Easdale, near Oban. They are running a creative writing retreat at the beautiful old school house and wanted something a bit different for the evening activity.
In the past I may casually say, "I ferried my drums from A to B," this time it was literal. There are no cars on the island, everything is transported by the small Easdale ferry. Drums were loaded onto the boat, taken across, unloaded and then wheeled up to the community hall on one of the local carts.
We set up and then were joined by around 25 people from the island, some from the writing retreat and some who have made their home here. The group was fantastic. There were youngsters to oldsters, folks who I'd drummed with before and those who'd never touched a drum in their lives. They came together effortlessly, with great vibe, tonnes of enthusiasm and lots of smiles and laughter. We ended the evening by playing outside the hall, in the dark, (Easdale has no outdoor lighting) and produced a sound that had likely not been heard since the heyday of the slate quarrying that the island is famous for.
To top it all I saw the Milky Way for the first time in my life and three shooting stars🤩🤩
Photos by A Quair of Light Drawings aka Jane x
Lovely comment from one of the women in my group of drummers today. It was a local carers group supporting those with dementia and their partners/family. A couple came along for the first time today and both were anxious about participating and felt it likely they'd have to leave. Mr. X joined in wonderfully and picked up the rhythms well. At the end his wife said it was the most she'd seen him smile in months. It always makes me incredibly happy when I get responses like that.
I don't look for perfect drummers I just hope for perfect moments when we drum 🥁🎶😁🤗
06/08/2022
All set up for a workshop in the woods, well gardens at Geilston Garden near Helensburgh. Weather is brightening up and it looks like the rain will stay away😁
Great wee afternoon providing pop up drumming workshops for folks at Eaglesham Fair today. Sorry no photos as I was kept busy from the second I laid out the drumsticks!
26/03/2022
It's been a wee while as I've been busy with other activities recently, but here I am in sunny Falkirk with Woodcraft Folk Scotland. Might need to break out the sunscreen!
06/01/2022
Next week I start a part-time job at the William Patrick library in Kirkintilloch but there will be so drumming workshop slots available for those that would like some samba fun!
04/12/2021
Sorry for the lack of posts. Sadly schools are generally not allowing visitors in, which was the bulk of my work pre-Covid. However I'm still leading some fun and energising workshops.
I was at the picket lines with striking staff at both Stirling and Glasgow universities this week, Glasgow want to start up a union samba band! I have also been delivering weekly sessions with Neurocentral in Auchterarder. This group supports people with neurological conditions such as MS. We're working towards a wee performance on the 19th if you happen to be up that neck of the woods.
There have been sessions for Halo Arts at various community events, just recently at the chilly Hamilton town centre for it's market Saturdays.
Brownies, carers groups and youth organisations have all had sessions in the past couple of months.
Support the arts folks or we'll not be here long term!