AFRICAN DRUMMING WITH RAY PEREIRA

 Learn African Drumming in Melbourne with Ray Pereira, one of Australia’s most experienced African Drumming teachers and performers.

On Jan 26 2021 Ray was awarded an Order Of Australia Medal for service to the Performing Arts as a Percussionist, Performer and Composer 

Learn African Drumming

Learn to play traditional West African rhythms and drums with Ray Pereira, who is one of Australia’s most experienced African Drumming teachers. Join Ray’s African Drumming workshops in Melbourne and learn how to play multi layered African rhythms, on a variety of hand drums, including the Djembe Drum and Dun Dun Drums (African bass drums).Ray will also teach you how to play other percussion instruments like cowbells and shakers, that are used in African music. 

Ray’s students can move from Beginner, through Intermediate, to more Advanced levels of playing, with a wide range of opportunities to learn, practice and perform at concerts and other community events. Ray will teach you how to play different rhythms in harmony with others in the drum circle, and make music that is culturally diverse, joyous and satisfying. Learn about African music, develop a cultural understanding of the music and how these multi layered African rhythms are used in traditional ceremonies, develop your own sense of rhythm and improve your skills as a drummer and musician. 

As you become a more skilled drummer and djembe player you can also play for the dancers in the African Dance classes that Ray runs.

Weekly classes are held in Footscray, Fitzroy and Brunswick.

Ray’s beginner African Drumming class in the studio
Ray Pereira performing African rhythms on djembe, kpanlogo and conga drums

ABOUT RAY PEREIRA

Ray has established a reputation as one of Australia’s leading percussionists and is regarded as an expert in traditional African Drumming and Afro Cuban Drumming styles. Ray will teach you to play a range of African rhythms on the Djembe Drum, Dun Dun Drum (African Bass Drum), Shakers, Bells and other instruments.

Ray is a skilled drummer who is passionate about the music he plays and teaches, and he has designed his courses to help you learn a range of instruments, different rhythms and percussion techniques.

Join Ray’s African Drumming Classes

Ray’s extensive study of different styles of drumming has given him a unique ability to explain clearly to people how complex rhythms fit together. Ray and his teachers are able to demonstrate the nuances in the music that will make your lesson one of the highest quality and an enjoyable experience.

Ray and his team of African Drumming teachers invite you to experience making powerful and inspiring music as part of a group, while learning a traditional art form that has been around for centuries.

Join Ray’s African Drumming Classes in Fitzroy, Brunswick and Footscray, and experience the joy of making music in a group with other people who are interested or curious about learning and performing African Drumming.

Ray performing a traditional African Drumming Rhythm called Kuku on Djembe and Dun Dun.

LEARN African Drumming!

Have fun and be challenged to learn and perform African Drumming rhythms and African music in a holistic and authentic way.

Learn a range of traditional rhythms from West Africa and Cuba

Learn to get different sounds from the Djembe drum by learning Djembe Drum Technique

Learn the role of the Djembe Drum as a solo instrument or as a support instrument

Learn the role of the Dun Dun in the African Drumming Ensemble

Learn to play the Dun Dun and play with drum sticks

Learn how the Djembe and Dun Dun interact with each other to produce the rhythm

Learn to play with an authentic feel