So Sunday afternoon drum jams are happening, as long as the weather is decent, which it was last Sunday. Time: 2:30 to 5:00, at the far end (Southwest) near the DND gate.

Hope to see/hear you there!

Alan

Please pass this info on to friends who might be interested, and I hope to see you all there.

Drums and rhythm instruments will be on site, as will some chairs. If you have your own (drums, instruments, chairs) please bring them!

OH:  this will be a fundraising event  – with Mother’s Day coming up, I think it would be fitting to donate all proceeds to the Healthy Babies Program at Comox Valley Family Services which provides support, advocacy, education, food, clothing, and much more to pregnant women and mothers of children up to age 5.

See you Saturday!
–
Monica
http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com

Kocassale Dioubate, from the Mandingo tribe of Guinea, West Africa, is a descendant of his tribe’s griots – traditional story-tellers, entertainers, musicians, praise singers, counselors, and mediators: those who keep and preserve the tribe’s oral history and tradition, known to have deep connections to the spiritual, social, and political powers. Koca was born into this inherited lineage of arts and entertainment, as well as social skill, and has been playing and creating music, as well as dancing, since his early childhood, ever since he was old enough to walk.

Born in the interior of BC and raised on the Sunshine Coast, Sasha Belle has been studying, teaching, and performing various forms of percussion and dance for over 10 years. In addition to her music & dance training in Latin America with a number of teachers from Mexico, Cuba, & Belize, Sasha has also more recently travelled to Guinea West Africa for intensive training. In North America, she has had the fortune of training with percussion and dance teachers from Guinea, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, the Congo, Cameroon, and Ghana (read more about Koca and Sasha at www.kundaculture.com).

On April 27 and 28 at the Abbey in Cumberland, Koca and Sasha will be offering workshops in djembe, dun dun (bass drum) and dance. These workshops will be open to drummers and dancers of all levels – expect to experience drum and dance African-style!

Different rhythms will be taught each day and the rhythm parts taught will be tailored to participants’ ability and comfort level. Anyone who has had the opportunity to attend one of Koca’s workshops in the past will attest to the fact that it is an experience in and of itself to be part of the energy created when an African Master Drummer is teaching the class or accompanying the joyful dancing! Dance class participants beware: Sasha and Koca makes it look easy, but bring lots of water and be prepared for a workout!

Workshop times are as follows:

Friday 6 – 7 pm duns; 7 – 8:30 pm djembe

Saturday 11 am – 12 pm dance
Break for lunch
12:30 – 1:30 pm duns #2; 1:30 – 3 pm djembe #2

 If you are planning on registering, please do so asap!

The very reasonable cost for these workshops is:

1 class $20, any 2 classes $35, any combination of 3 classes $50, any 4 $65 or the whole weekend for $75.

For more information and to pre-register,

contact Monica at 250.338.1444 or drumdeva@gmail.com.

Registration is limited due to space; pre-payment is necessary to hold your spot.

Drums (djembe and dun) available for $5 rental charge if pre-ordered.

Also for those interested: Koca and Sasha will be donating their time and energy on Friday afternoon (April 27th) at the Fanny Bay Hall to perform as a fundraiser for Beachcombers Community School. This 1/2 hour performance of drum and dance will be “by donation” and the money raised will go towards Beachcombers’ Music Department – some of you may know I am the music teacher there, so this is a really lovely opportunity for us! So if you’re in the neighbourhood, or feel like taking a lovely waterside drive out to Fanny Bay, please come out and support this wonderful little school! Arrive 1:45 pm, performance 2:00 – 2:30 pm.
–
Monica
http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com

Sunday Drumming April 15th, 2:30- 5:00
Greetings everyone-hopefully spring has finally arrived. We’ll be drumming again in the Salish Building in Lewis Park (Courtenay) on Sunday.
Please join us.

A new 6 week session of drumming begins April 16th, 2012
Intermediates continue at the Native Sons Hall, Mondays, 11:45 – 12:45 pm.
Beginners, if there are enough NEW registrants (this would be a beginners beginners class!) would be 10:15 – 11:15 am at the Tsolum Building.
To register for these classes call 250.338.1000.

My cooked beginners class at the Fallen Alders (consisting of those who have just completed the last beginners session, and any others who have some drumming background but are not ready for intermediate/advanced) will still run Monday evenings, 5:15 – 6:15 pm. I’m pretty sure we have enough folks, but please email me to confirm you will be attending. I would also like to know who needs drums…

Advanced drummers continue to meet Monday evenings at the Fallen Alders, 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Register through yours truly, via email or at the door.

Also watch for upcoming emails on April’s special treat: a visit from my teacher/mentor/friend Kocassale Dioubate and his partner Sasha Belle Hunt (along with another drummer) who will be in the Valley April 27 – 28 doing a fundraiser for the music department at Beachcombers School (where I work) and workshops in African drumming, duns and dance! More info coming up…
See you all soon !
–
Monica
http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com

Please join us on Sunday in the Salish Building in Lewis Park from 2:30 to 5:00, for explorations into the world of rhythm. Creativity, dancing, vocalizing welcome.

A small donation for the hall rental would be appreciated.  See you there!

Please join us in the Salish Room in Lewis Park on Sunday for further explorations of rhythm. Drumming, singing, rhythm instruments welcome.

Donations gratefully accepted for the hall rental. See you there!

Please register for the CRA drumming classes by phoning 250.338-1000.
Neither the beginners nor the intermediate class is full (as some of our members were told mistakenly!). The session runs from Feb 20 – Mar 26, and most likely there will only be an intermediate class as there are no registrants for beginners as of yet.
For the Fallen Alders drummers, I plan to run both a beginners and an advanced session. Same dates Feb 20 – Mar 26. I will then take a two week break with my kids (spring break). FYI: beginners normally take a beginners session anywhere from 2 – 5 times before they feel ready to advance to the intermediate or advanced stage. Please feel free to chat with me about “graduating”! Generally, as a beginners class advances together, they morph into an intermediate level class together – so there is something to be said for a class “sticking together”…

Class times have not changed:
CRA Intermediates at the Upper Native Sons, Mondays 11:45 – 12:45 pm.
Fallen Alders Beginners 5:15 – 6:15 pm and Advanced 6:30 – 7:30 pm.

Some students have asked for a dun dun (bass) drum workshop; watch upcoming emails for details! Glad to hear more folks are interested in the duns!

Some other upcoming events not to be missed are:
TaKeTiNa in March
and
African drum and dance (with Koca and Sasha) in April!

Spring has sprung – watch your emails and my blog for more news!
In the spirit of rhythm,

Monica
http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com

In the short days and long nights of this time we are truly in the heart of darkness Please come to celebrate the rhythm and beauty of our winter days together. 

Sunday  Jan 22, 2012 Salish Bldg at Lewis Park 2:30–5:00