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 18^th 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 18^th 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

A Day For Africa, June 18th

At the end of 2009, 33.3 million people were estimated to be living with HIV/AIDS.  Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most affected by HIV and AIDS and is home to 68% of all people living with HIV worldwide. The question is: when faced with such staggering statistics, what can we who are blessed to live here in the beautiful Comox Valley do to help? The answer is as close as our very own, home-grown “A Day For Africa”, a community-based fundraising program that supports people affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Donations to A Day For Africa, whether they be generated on actual volunteer “odd-job days” or at other local fundraising events, are collected and forwarded to the Stephen Lewis Foundation where they fund grassroots initiatives in countries throughout the sub-Saharan region. In short, A Day for Africa gives concerned individuals a way to respond to an urgent situation and provides people affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa with the resources they need to take care of themselves.

Inspired by a previous, very successful fundraising effort for ADFA - with a midsummer, community drum circle at the Farmer’s Market – Monica Hofer of Rhythm Spirit (http://rhythm-spirit.blogspot.com) decided this year to put the word out to fellow expressive arts facilitators that a larger event was in order. The result is an amazing collaborative effort.

On Saturday, June 18^th join Monica and her co-facilitators Robin Layne, percussionist with the gypsy/folk band “Tambura Rasa” (imported from Vancouver), Joanna Finch, a Valley favourite and vocal improviser extraordinaire, and Jade de Trey, local improvisational performer with Methuselah Dance and teacher of creative movement, as they inspire you to drum, dance and sing for Africa.

Monica, who is a well-known local African hand drumming instructor, will start the event off with a community drum circle, created in the moment and sure to have you joyfully engaged and in the groove in no time. Robin will then transport you to the rhythms of Northern Brazil, incorporating the sounds of a variety of instruments such as shakers and bells and whetting your appetite with some “Samba/Funk”. Spontaneously entering the mix,  Joanna and Jade will lead you in an improvised chakra dance and “songweaving from the voice of the ancestors”, where all participants add their voice in the language of their choice and are inspired to move from their soul and find passion and joy through creative self expression.

This ADFA fundraiser takes place at the St John the Divine Church hall on 5 th Street, a venue graciously donated by Father George and his congregation, and will run from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Participation is by donation with all proceeds going to the Stephen Lewis Foundation via A Day for Africa. This is an “everyone welcome” event; you are encouraged to bring your own drums and rhythms instruments (a number will be available for shared use), an open mind and a generous heart – and be prepared to share in the magic of making music and moving (bare feet encouraged) in community! Following this event, Robin Layne will be offering two drumming workshops (Latin Rhythms and Samba/Funk). For more information on the fundraiser and workshops, please contact Monica at 250.338.1444 or drumdeva@gmail.com