Ready to put your hands on a drum and learn where these rhythms actually come from?

This class is a hands-on introduction to traditional hand drumming from West Africa and the Caribbean. Students learn real rhythms in their traditional forms — not simplified imitations — along with the technique, ensemble roles, and cultural context behind them.
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You'll build clean tone production on djembe and conga, learn the supporting parts that hold a rhythm together, and develop the ear to hear and answer a call. Each rhythm is taught as a full ensemble piece, with the group performing together on the final night.

All levels welcome. If you've never touched a drum, you'll leave with real technique; if you already play, there's depth here in feel, phrasing, and traditional variation.

Fall Session Open Now!
Every Monday, 7:15–8:15 PM in The Pocket

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Single Class: $29  |  Full Session: $192 ($24 per class)

Drop-ins: We recommend reviewing the schedule below before joining.
​If you drop in near the end, you may be joining a class preparing for (or presenting at) the final showcase.

SIGN UP HERE!

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Students Will Learn:

• Hand Technique & Tone: Produce clean bass, tone, and slap without strain or injury — the foundation everything else sits on.
  
  
• Traditional Repertoire: Learn complete rhythms from West Africa and the Caribbean, including their supporting parts and breaks.
  
  
• Ensemble Roles: Hold a supporting part, lock in with the dunun and bass, and listen across the whole group.
  
  
• Calls & Improvisation: Recognize and lead calls and breaks, and take first steps into soloing over a rhythm.
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• Cultural Context: Understand where each rhythm comes from and the tradition it belongs to.

What To Bring:

A limited number of drums are available to borrow, so drop-in students are always welcome. That said, we strongly recommend playing on your own drum — hand drumming technique develops around the specific size, head tension, and response of an instrument, and progress is noticeably faster when you're on the same drum every week. Your instructor is happy to advise on what to buy if you're looking.

The 8-Week Plan:

• Week 1 — Hand Technique & The Three Tones: Posture, hand health, and clean bass, tone, and slap on the djembe.
  
  
• Week 2 — The Ensemble: Djembe & Dunun Roles: How a West African drum ensemble is built and how the parts lock together.
  
  
• Week 3 — Traditional Rhythm I: Kuku: Learning a complete Guinean rhythm with its supporting parts and break.
  
  
• Week 4 — Traditional Rhythm II: Variations & Layering: Adding a second traditional rhythm and layering multiple parts at once.
  
  
• Week 5 — Caribbean Crossing: Conga Technique & Tumbao: Open tones, heel-toe, and the Cuban tumbao pattern.
  
  
• Week 6 — The 6/8 Feel: Bembé and Beyond: Playing in 6/8 and hearing how the feel travels between traditions.
  
  
• Week 7 — Calls, Breaks & Soloing: Hearing and leading a call, playing breaks, and first steps into soloing.
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• Week 8 — Final Ensemble Performance: The group performs a full rhythm together, with calls and breaks.

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Meet Your Instructor

Robert Battle is a DC-based musician, educator, and community builder. As an experienced educator and host of The Pocket Open Mic, he brings deep experience in teaching, performing, and curating spaces where people can grow through music.

At 7DrumCity, Robert leads group classes that blend rhythm, creativity, and collaboration, helping students build confidence while having fun.

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