It's all about the drums!
Have you ever incorporated group/circle drumming into your church service? If not, you don't know what you are missing! If you are interested in learning more about how to do this, please email me at
songsofroland@yahoo.com
I would be happy to come to your church to conduct a workshop for you, your choir director and members of your congregation!
Personal note:About 7 or 8 years ago I took Will Schmid's class in World Music drumming for classroom music teachers(find link below to his web site) and since then I've been hooked on drums. It has totally revolutionized the way I teach music and direct my church choir! My students love it, and are learning so much about music, other cultures, and respect. I have since formed a percussion ensemble with my 4th and 5th graders and have taught them some of my own arrangements and compositions. Below are links to songs I've used with my own students and church choir. Just click on the song links and you can view and listen to them if you have
Finale Notepad 2006 (free at www.finalemusic.com). In cases where the song is for sale, you will only be able to see a short sample. If the song is offered for free, you can print it and use it. Please send feedback on any music you use to me at:
songsofroland@yahoo.com
Sakura
This one is arranged for 2 Orff xylophones, tubanos, triangle, and simple guitar (I also used soprano Ukes). My students loved this one! I couldn't keep my xylophone players out of my room! Even on the days they didn't have to show up to practice, they still begged to come play! It was simple enough for them to learn quickly, yet challenging enough to give them a sense of pride. It sounded great too!
Spirit of the Hawk
If you implement a recorder program in addition to drumming, this ensemble is written just for you! The percussion parts are minimal, classroom timpani, jingle bells and shakers accompany a simple Native American-like recorder melody. Very pretty. Students responded nicely to this one too.
Rhythm Machine
Fun and a little silly. The kids really liked the slide whistle in this piece! It was fun to play, and pretty simple to learn! My students learned it and had it together in one afternoon. There are some parts in this piece that work together in a "call/response" fashion. If you've been training them using WMD curriculum, they should be able to grasp that concept and learn it quickly.
Ise Oluwa
This is an SATB arrangement for adult choir, however the percussion is simple. Elementary students could learn to sing the melody and probably the higher harmony part too. Yaruban text means "God's work cannot be undone".
African Noel
$15.00 This SATB arrangement was originally made for my church choir. Elementary students could sing just the melody along with simple percussion and some xylophone. Pay one low price and make all the copies you need. After you order this song, you will receive it in your email within 24 hours or less.
Kumbaya
$10.00 This one is also offered on our sacred choral music page. It's arranged for SATB choir with simple percussion and 2 Orff xylophone parts. I've not tried this with my elementary students yet, but it could be done with them in unison or simple 2 part harmony.
Spirit of the Living God
$15.00 This one is obviously a sacred song appropriate for adult church choir. I've included it on this page because it includes drums, rainstick and Orff xylophone for those of you trying to incorporate WMD intot he church setting.
Alleluia, He is Risen
$15.00 This is also a sacred SATB song written to include tubano drums, gongokui bell and shakere. I also double the vocal parts using the marimba setting on our digital keyboard. This one got a lot of positive feedback from my church choir. It was simple to learn and the drums were great for Easter Sunday! I held a short drumming workshop on a Saturday morning for anyone who was interested in our church, this was how I was able to get enough percussionists interested in being our accompanists!
Links to other drumming sites
World Music Drumming
Will Schmid's site. Learn about WMD, find out when the next workshops are being held etc.
Beat For Peace
Michael Kane, school counselor and co-founder (with Paul Corbiere) of the Beat for Peace™ drum circle intervention (Palm Beach, FL) has published the Beat for Peace™ Implementation Manual ©2004. Designed to build respectful, responsible, and resilient children within a school community through the combined power of musical drum circles and counseling. Learn more about their program and products.
Kalani
Well known drum circle facilitator. Find out more about him here!
Health Rhythms
Learn more about becoming a drum circle facilitator, or just learn more about how drumming can improve your health!
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