Percussion Workshop - Rhythm & Movement

Facilitated by 
Matthew Richards

Saturday 10th May, 1:00pm until 2:30pm at the Unitarian Chapel, Brunswick Square, Bristol, BS2 8PE.
Price - FREE!
 
Hello! My name's Matthew Richards. I'm a 28 year old musician and teacher from Bristol. I have always been interested in how music can be used as a tool to foster communication and interaction between children. Music can transcend the barriers that divide us socially and culturally. Music is a language spoken by all, making it an inclusive and unifying experience. It binds us together and can bring forth attributes in a person that were previously latent.

I am devising a series of workshops that are designed for children between the ages of four and seven. The primary focus is using the fundamental principals of music - i.e melody, harmony and rhythm - to encourage children to become more aware of themselves and how they relate to others.

My second workshop, 'Rhythm and Movement' is percussion based. The aim is to engage children in acting out internal rhythms (heartbeat, breathing) and external rhythms (in music) using percussion, movement, self-expression and teamwork. The workshop will contain several games, exercises and the making of percussion instruments using pasta, lentils and empty containers. Each game and exercise is designed to inspire positive interaction and communication, as well as sparking the imagination.

The structure of the workshop is as follows.

Stick Stick Shoe Floor
What is Rhythm?
The Rhythm Of Time
Role Play Rhythms 
Break - Drink & Biscuits 
Make Your Own Percussion
Call & Response
Drumming & Movement
Drumming Emotions
Drumming & Nature
Song - Human Drum Kit




This particular workshop requires eight children between the ages of 4 and 7. Parents please contact me (details below) if you have a child or children who want to join in, that way i can formally add you to the list. Entry will be on a first come first serve basis but don't worry if you miss this one because i will be holding many more over the coming months! Additionally if you have a child who is interested in one to one creative music sessions then please get in touch. My email is dfaband@live.co.uk or you can phone me on 07920407490. 

I look forward to hearing from you!

Matthew Richards


 
 

Percussion Workshop No 1 - Rhythm and Movement

Saturday the 1st of March marked the very first creative music workshop facilitated by myself, with additional and quite frankly invaluable support from Sally Edwards. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the children for coming and getting so involved, and the parents/guardians who brought them!



For me, the workshop was as much about discovering what would work and what wouldn't as it was about encouraging positive interaction between the children. I have many things to improve and fine tune ahead of the next workshop. It is clear that percussion is a fantastic way of bringing children together and the act of drumming summons an unbelievable amount of self-expression.

I will be posting another blog in regards to the next workshop shortly. I can tell you at this point that I will be looking for a smaller group of eight children aged between four and seven. 

Yours Rhythmically,

Matthew Richards