A Burnham-On-Sea drumming group is set to hold an ‘open evening’ for adults on Monday 19th August for visitors to find out more.
Rhythm Harmony, offering African and other traditional world drumming for grown-ups of all ages, is holding its open evening at the town’s Bay Centre at 7pm. Entry costs just £4 per person with any profits going to Secret World Wildlife Rescue.
Talking to Burnham-On-Sea.com, organiser Suzanne Llewellyn said: “I run regular drum circles, classes and events under the name of Rhythm Harmony.”
“We meet at Burnham-On-Sea’s St Andrew’s Church Hall, Burnham Baptist Church, The BAY Centre and Highbridge’s Southwell House and other places nearby.”
“I started to run drum circles a year ago, and now do several, with different types of drums and styles of drumming.”
“It’s all ‘native’ style drumming, (African, American Indian and other world rhythms) – no amplification, just ‘raw’ drumming that anyone can join in, and I have plenty of drums available so you don’t need your own.”
“I have drummers aged from 30 to 80+ which is great. They are people from all walks of life that come together to enjoy the experience of group drumming.”
She adds that her background is in holistic therapy, and the health benefits (which are numerous) of drumming are a focus of hers, as well as the ‘musicality’ of what can be created by people, for which no previous experience is needed.
“The djembe players have entertained at various events over the last few weeks, including the recent Playday at Apex Park, the Burnham Hospital Garden Party, the Burnham Food Festival, and lots more.”
Each session is 90 minutes (though often goes on longer as no-one wants to stop!), and includes a cuppa in the middle. The cost of each session is £7.50.
Suzanne adds: “My own personal mission is to share the joy of group drumming in a relaxed and supportive environment.”
“It is a wonderful experience to be a part of, and so good for us on every level. It is an absolute joy to me to see how people benefit from drumming together, and I feel very lucky to have lots of wonderful people to drum with. There are people that have been drumming with me for several months now, and have made amazing progress with their sense of rhythm, timing and co-ordination.”
“I think that sometimes people may be a little hesitant to come along as they are unsure what to expect or even if they can ‘do it’, or perhaps are not sure about the different types of drums that there are and what would suit them, or even who is running the sessions, so I thought that an ‘open evening’ type event every now and then would be a good idea, and also a way to raise a little money for charity too.”
Regular drumming sessions are held at these times:
Djembe Drumming:Â
Weekly on Mondays at 10am in St Andrew’s Church Hall
Weekly on Thursdays at 1.30pm in North Petherton Church Rooms
Weekly on Thursdays at 7.15pm in East Brent Village Hall
Buffalo Drumming for the Spirit and Soul – A drum circle for women:
The first Tuesday of the month in Southwell House, Highbridge at 10am.
The second Tuesday of the month in North Petherton Church Rooms at 10am.
The fourth Wednesday of the month in Burnham Baptist Church.
Also, at The Bay Centre on Monday evenings at 7pm, where there is rather a mixed calendar of drumming, including courses in Tub Drumming, and a couple of women’s drum circles taking place over the next few months. More details are online at www.tmoh.uk.
