This immersive fifty-minute workshop allow students to spend time with a qualified teaching artist to explore specific instruments and musical traditions of West Africa and to have fun playing together as a group.
For grades 3–12, (customizable for grade level) Offered daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. $10 fee per student, which includes the workshop fee and museum admission.
Students are introduced to different drumming styles and traditions from several cultural groups in Ghana, Mali, and Guinea. Rhythm, movement, and call-and-response are incorporated into the workshop, so that students are on their feet and interacting with each other and the drum instructor. By the end of the class, students are able to play a group rhythm and sing a traditional West African song, coupled with some basic dance movements. Students will play along using the djembe, agogo double bell, and shekere. This workshop is presented in partnership with the Arizona Rhythm Connection and uses the Roots of Rhythm world-drumming curriculum, sponsored by Percussion Marketing Council, as the educational foundation.
To book a signature workshop, call 480.245.6919 or e-mail grouptours@MIM.org.
A four-week advanced reservation is required, with a minimum of ten and a maximum of fifty students. Workshops are available on a first-come, first-served basis. One chaperone is required for every five elementary students and one for every ten middle- and high-school students, at no additional cost. A $75 deposit or a P.O. will hold the reservation and apply toward final payment.
MIM meets all ADA requirements for accessibility. Please notify us at least two weeks prior to your visit for any special-needs requests.