2011/06/11

Solstice Drum/Potluck June 20th

Current and past students of Monica's drumming classes are welcome to join in on a drum circle and potluck feast, 6 - 8 pm June 20th at the Fallen Alders Hall on Royston Road! As usual, families most welcome and donations will be taken to cover the hall rental and the rest for a donation to a worthy cause on Global Giving! Please bring your own utensils, plates, and cups and a finger food item to share with the crowd! This will be the perfect finish to a long weekend of drumming! And an awesome, energy-filled start to the summer!

2011/06/01

June 18th @ Innisfree Farm and June 19th @ Anderton Therapeutic Gardens

Two more opportunities to drum with Monica:
June 18th (following the ADFA Fundraiser and Robin's workshops - pfew!), 6:30 pm at Innisfree Farm on Trent Rd (Royston), by donation - a potluck and fundraiser to get wheelchair access into the Gardens Without Borders gardens at the farm. You can walk their labyrinth too!
Or come to the Anderton Therapeutic Gardens (on the way out to the Little River Ferry) at 6 pm the next day, June 19th, and join Monica in a quieter form of drumming, to accompany a walk through their lovely labyrinth following a presentation on the meaning of the form.

Drum All Day June 18th! - Rare Workshop Opportunity

Rhythm enthusiasts and drummers of every type and all ability levels will not want to miss this special event coming to the Comox Valley. Robin Layne, founding member of Jarimba, an Afro-Funk Collective, and percussionist with roots/blues artist Bocephus King and world fusion group Tambura Rasa, will be offering two exciting workshops to anyone interested in expanding their drumming repertoire or simply curious about Central and South American rhythms.
Robin has performed across China, the U.S. and Canada at jazz and folk festivals and besides freelancing with a wide range of ensembles from salsa and jazz to traditional West and South African music, he is an educator who loves sharing his passion for music and rhythm with people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities. He is on the faculty of the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach Program, where he teaches mallets and percussion, and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts where he accompanies dance.  Robin is a graduate of the L.A. Music Academy and V.C.C. School of Music.  His love for world music has taken him to Cuba where he studied with the Folclorico Nacional Ballet Cutumba and most recently to Guinea and Mali to study their traditional music and culture, funded in part by the BC Arts Council.
Join Robin after the Day For Africa fundraiser being held at the St John the Divine Church hall on June 18th for workshops in Latin Rhythms and Samba/Funk. The Latin Rhythms workshop runs from 1:30 – 3:00 pm. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of Afro-Cuban rhythms and how to play the conga parts on djembe (or conga if you have them!).  From the clave, to tumbao and rumba, you'll have a blast discovering the rhythms behind the music of Salsa.  The second half of this workshop will focus on soloing concepts and how to build your rhythmical vocabulary while opening up to your inner rhythm through improvising.  Aside from djembes and congas, bells, claves, shakers, or other small percussion are welcome. In the Samba Funk workshop, from 3:00 – 4:30 pm, you will be transported to the rhythms of Northern Brazil, and will learn samba patterns, samba-reggae grooves, breaks of the Batucada and a variety of funk rhythms that are great for jamming on the djembe.  Bring your djembe, shakers, bells, or any other drum you might have.  These will be fun, energetic sessions for players of all levels; the cost is $25/workshop or $40 for both.
These workshops are sponsored by Monica Hofer, local African hand drumming teacher and drum circle facilitator; pre-registration is necessary and drums are available for rent upon request. Don’t miss this rare opportunity! On June 18th you can literally drum, dance and sing all day long by joining Monica and Robin, as well as Joanna Finch and Jade de Trey at the Day For Africa fundraiser and then stay in the groove by participating in these exciting workshops.  FMI and to pre-register, please contact Monica at 250.338.1444 or drumdeva@gmail.com