Intermediate African Drumming Classes - St Kilda

Improve and refine your djembe skills with our intermediate community classes! These fully hands-on classes have an emphasis on having fun and are the perfect way to continue your journey into West African music. Discover your inner rhythm, with expert guidance from the one and only Magic Mike. Don't have a djembe? Not to worry, we have plenty at the shop you can use during your classes. If you'd like to hire a djembe to practise outside of classes, we can loan you one for $20 per week. If you decide to buy the drum you’ve been renting, we’ll deduct the amount you’ve paid in hire fees from the total cost of the drum. 

Get ready for an exhilarating learning experience where we explore traditional West African rhythms over six-week cycles, culminating in biannual student performances. Please note, we have a strict limit of 13 students per class as a social distancing precaution. If you miss both the 1st & 2nd week of the cycle, we recommend joining the following cycle.

Please note our safety measures in response to COVID-19
We are following strict government guidelines and updating as they change
○ All of our drums will be wiped down and disinfected before each class
○ We will provide hand sanitiser to our students on entry to the shop
○ Our teachers will practise safe social distancing
○ We have a strict limit of 13 students per class

Here’s how you can help
○ Sanitise your hands upon entry to the shop – we will provide sanitiser
○ Please stay in your station and only use the downstairs bathroom
○ Avoid touching your face
○ Cough and sneeze into your elbow and discard of any tissues immediately
○ Practise safe social distancing at all times
○ Students are encouraged to bring their own djembe if they can

About our teacher: Born in Zimbabwe, Mike began his musical life with the rhythms of Southern Africa, practicing a variety of musical disciplines since 1998. In 2015 his passion drifted westward to discover the djembe, and intensified when he moved to Melbourne and continued his learning under Simon Fraser and Bassidi Koné. He regularly performs with fiery ensemble Dunu Teké and spends his practice time developing his understanding of West African rhythm. He believes that music is inside each of us - it's just a matter of learning how to speak its language.

We believe in uniting cultures through the power of music. 

We are dedicated to sharing the music and culture of West Africa in all that we do: through instrument making, workshops, study tours, and performances. 

We are the largest African music store in Australia and we love our drums! We are committed to giving back to our planet and ensuring our ventures are eco-friendly and sustainable, including the management of two Tree planting initiatives across Ghana and Indonesia. 

With an international network of drummers and dancers, our team includes performers and drum makers from around West Africa including Mali, Senegal, Guinea and Ghana, and homegrown Aussie talent too. 

The rhythm journey is a beautiful and often profound paradox, its depth knows no bounds. It has been our goal to take the drum to as many corners of the world as possible. Once it’s there, the vibration of the rhythm goes to work and magic happens.