Interactive Performances

The Drum Workshop offers interactive performances under the banners of “Congacycle, Live!”  and “Immersion Ensemble”.  In performance we use a variety of traditional instruments and musical styles, mostly rooted in West African and Caribbean culture.  The songs are generally  constructed around the foundation  of a traditional ensemble rhythm and we play a wide variety of lesser known  instruments, including steel drum, djembe, congas, serdo, bougarabou, údu, birambao, timbales, and nose flute.

These performances  are  excellent vehicles for teaching music in this genre.  Ideally, we’d have an opportunity to work with several of the participants,  teaching them the rhythms, and including them in the show.  Participants become performers and the older children in a school community can assume leadership roles for the younger.