Workshop and Class Ethos

Each class or workshop works with rhythms, songs and chants in harmony from the Tribal cultures of planet Earth. At all classes, day workshops, weekend retreats, week long retreats and concerts certain key concepts ensure the events will be powerful and healthy. This common ethos and approach make a Tribal Spirit Drumming class unique. Where in our modern cultures our experience of music is often as a stressed out performer or a passive consumer, here we explore a different way. A safe space is created where we can restore our spirits, our connection with ourselves and each other and the spiritual side of our lives.


The Drum: Exploring the application and modification for 21st century humans of traditional use of rhythm.

From study with traditional teachers and research of archives of drum rhythms wherever they are found, (i.e. Primarily Africa and the African Diaspora, but including native American drumming and modern rhythms arrangements and even trance / techno rhythms), a library of very powerful yet accessible rhythm has been established.


The Chant: Exploring the use of melody and harmony as a healing tool.

Chants have been carefully researched and powerful chants of a positive spiritual nature have been selected and often created or modified. At each session the attempt is made to honour, celebrate, invoke and understand the religious and spiritual traditions of the chant. 


Ritual: Enhancing and deepening the musical experience

Research has been carried out on traditional rituals associated with healing, personal growth and spiritual access. Alongside the use of sessions of music, careful and creative use of ritual is an intimate tool to enhance the power of these events.

 

Key Concepts

The leaders will endeavor to always create a magical and uplifting event to the maximum potential of the group at that time and space. To achieve this each workshop leader will work with these key concepts;


  1. •All participate, There is no audience, even in concerts audiences are taught chant and clapping rhythms so they are no longer simply spectators but instead part of the community.

  2. •No drugs or alcohol, as these effect the highly important growth of sensitivity and awareness and the path towards health.

  3. •Positive acknowledgement of the group and its individuals, their wins and struggles is maximised, criticism is kept to a minimum. This boosts confidence and safety.

  4. •Safe space for tears and other releases of emotion. All traditional cultures allow space for prolonged release of grief and do not medicate individuals to inhibit these healthy releases. Powerful music in a well held community setting often facilitates cathartic releases which can involve prolonged tears, shaking, and sweating. All are simple bodily ways of releasing emotions from the past.

  5. •Positive use of humour as a tool to help us shed our fears and embarrassment. events are deliberately playful and anarchic spaces where we are encouraged to play and create.

  6. •Exploration of abundance and kindness, Access is created for people who have limited access to cash, and creative ways are explored so that all can contribute to the event. Those who are privileged with a reasonable income are encouraged to contribute more financially.


A rule of thumb is : Erring on the side of kindness.


Moneys earned at events contribute to nurturing and increasing the resource available, i.e. for transport, repairs, room rental, research materials or new drums and other instruments.

Atunement. Each piece of music, in order to reach its deepest potential as a healing tool, is set a spiritual or emotional framework relevant to the traditional use of that piece of music and to the group exploring it at that time. Sharing of relevant information about tribal traditions, world political struggles, healthy options, and environmental ideas is encouraged and a key part of the growth of the individual and community. If information is of a spiritual or religious nature care is taken to be clear that these are cultural ideas, that may or may not resonate with us, rather than absolute truth.

Natural wherever possible, i.e. natural light, sound, food, environment all play key roles in adding to the power of these events.

Allowing time. In traditional cultures a piece of music may last for a very long time, maybe even several hours. This concept of duration, allowing time for the music to settle is one of the key tools in creating a magical and healing journey for the group.

Communication; All these concepts are explained to participants and in this way all are empowered with an understanding of the use of these tools.

Time is also spent in sessions sharing attention. Both giving and receiving attention are skills that can have profound healing results and information is shared regarding simple listening skills and confidentiality.


Information on weekend workshops and weekly classes can be found in the events section and weekly class section.