First Access: African Songs and Drumbeats

African Songs and Drum Beats introduces a one-year programme of West African drumming and song. This is taught by Sierra Leone master drummer, Zozo Shuaibu, and is offered by Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Music Services as part of the First Access instrumental learning initiative at KS2.

This digital resource supports the school-based workshop sessions.

Unit design: Zozo Shuaibu and Kevin Hamel
Performers: Zozo Shuaibu and Sam Maitland
Video and Still Photography: Chris Holmes

‘Working with drum patterns involves the use and development of aural and temporal thinking. These learning modes have their own languages and sets of skills – similar to visual and verbal thinking. Some students excel in aural and temporal activities who otherwise face difficulties in the learning approaches emphasised in conventional educational settings’ The Algebra Project