[Dance Spree] New Drumming Classes with John Hughes starting Oct 25th

[John Hughes]

Hi, friends-

I've created an exciting new format for my drumming classes that I 
would like to let you all know about!  My students and I have just 
completed an 8-week inaugural run and a great time was had by all!

So what's all the fuss?
Skill-level integration.  In the past, I have structured my classes 
such that students at different levels of experience/skill were 
separated into three different classes:  Beginner, Intermediate and 
Advanced.  This practice has both advantages and dissadvantages.   
Endeavoring to capitalize on the advantages and overcome the 
dissadvantages, I have found a functional and rewarding way to 
integrate students of varying levels of experience into the same class.

It's an elegantly simple plan, really (Duh...can't believe that I 
didn't think of it before!):
-Beginners and intermediate level students come at 7:00.  The focus and 
level of complexity is tailored to their needs.
-at 7:30, advanced students join in.  We step things up slightly to 
challenge the beginners and cater more to the intermediates.  This time 
serves as a technique 'clinic' for the advanced students (we're never 
too advanced to sharpen those skills!).
-At 8:00  the speed and level of complexity rises to suite the advanced 
students.  Beginning students are encouraged stay and get a taste of 
what the music is meant to sound like!  Watch, dance, listen and learn 
from a class of students who have been playing for years.  My advanced 
class consists of students who have been studying with me non-stop (at 
least one class or private lesson per week) for as many as 15 years!

I am starting a new 8-week class series on Wednesday October 25th (next 
week!).  The classes will be held in my studio in Brattleboro, VT - 
just 35 minutes of easy highway driving from exit 20 in Northampton!   
Please give me a call if you are interested in joining in on the fun or 
have any questions!  (802) 254-4233

Below, you'll find detailed info. about me, the music, my classes and 
teaching philosophy.

Thanks for your consideration!
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About My Drumming Classes:

My classes offer an intimate and social experience of an ancient and 
highly developed communal art-form unique to the cultures of West 
Africa. Playing the intricately meshing polyrhythms, for which this 
music has become so universally appreciated, promotes physical and 
mental coordination and focus. It aids in harmonizing the functions of 
the two hemispheres of the brain, and advances spacial and temporal 
acuity - ones ability to conceptualize time, space and matter in three 
dimensions. Scientific tests have shown that drumming even increases 
ones white blood cell count, ...but I digress!

Classes run for 8 weeks, meeting once per week. I teach all of the 
various parts of a traditional orchestral rhythm structure from Guinea, 
Mali, or Senegal, West Africa, including the song that accompanies the 
rhythm. The average "rhythm structure" from this tradition contains at 
least 9 parts played on jembes, dununba, sangban, kenkeni (names of 
different drums), and bells simultaneously!! When all of these parts 
(and the people playing them!) "sync up" and flow together, it really 
is truly magical! What a feeling!!

This music, like all rich percussion traditions, is about melody just 
as much as it is about rhythm. Hence, there is great emphasis placed on 
learning the proper hand techniques that will allow students to make 
the various sounds with which the drums speak - essentially, the vowels 
and consonants of drum language. Proper technique also allows us to 
play as long as we want, without bruised or otherwise injured hands!

Each week we build on and refine the previously reviewed material and 
learn new parts. Once we have a solid and musical foundation, I teach 
some techniques for improvising and we all have some fun with soloing!

I strongly encourage students to commit to the whole 8 week series. 
This allows for a cohesive ensemble and not too much back-stepping, 
making possible a much deeper exploration of the music.

Costs:
If one prepays for a whole 8-week session, the price for each class is 
just $14.00. The drop-in price is $18.00 per class.

Drums:
Students need to have a drum!  A jembe is best, (as that is the drum 
for which the music I teach was "written"), but you could also use an 
ashiko or a conga drum. I provide the dununba, sangban, and kenkeni 
drums, as well as bells.

Times:
Wednesdays:
		7:00 - 7:30 pm  Beginner / intermediate.
		7:30 - 8:00 pm  Advanced students join the beginners at their 
(beginners') pace.
		8:00 - 9:00 pm  Advanced class - beginners are welcome to stay and 
observe.
.

Size:
Classes generally have ten students. This is a great number in many 
ways. Ten students create a diverse and vibrant "community," generating 
a great deal of playful and supportive energy. It allows for all of the 
parts of a traditional rhythm structure to be played simultaneously, 
with at least two people on each of the Jembe part. Lastly, ten is not 
too many for me to be able to get around the room and give everybody 
lots of individual attention!

John Hughes has studied the  music, song and dance of West   Africa for 
more than 17 years, training with  master drummers and dancers  from 
Guinea and Mali, including  Mamady Keita, Famoudou Konate, Sekou Sylla, 
and Yous? souf Koumbassa.

	"John is truly a  masterful drummer and teacher.  His inventive 
teaching style is patient, playful, thorough and engaging. His 
	enthusiasm and love  for the music are infectious!  In addition to 
teaching technique,  rhythms, songs and dances, John  shares 
	interesting and poignant  cultural information about the instruments, 
music and the people  of West Africa which greatly  deepens 	the 
experience."
						-Student


John Hughes
Kora Player & Percussionist
33 West St.
Brattleboro, VT  05301
(802) 254-4233
john at johnhughesmusic.com
http://www.johnhughesmusic.com/

Listen to my music at:  http://cdbaby.com/cd/jhughes
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