Surviving Covid-19

Covid-19 has effected everyone, all over the world. So how have we faired throughout the challenges of lockdown’s, Tier 2 to Tier 4 closure’s and further lockdowns?

First and foremost we have kept drumming! During the first lockdown, Spring 2019, we quickly worked out how to switch our students over to ZOOM classes. We originally offered this for free and used it as a weekly check in to make sure everyone was ok and we just did some simple drumming.

Then in the Summer 2019, we were able to bring students back in-house to our Studio 1 and we resumed in-person classes. We reduced the class sizes from 12 to 6 people and enforced masks, temperature checks pre-entry and socially distanced seating of 1 metre+ apart. We ran the classes like this throughout the summer and until we went into Tier 2 which very quickly became Tier 4. At this point we had no choice but to resurrect the Zoom classes. Now in full swing with a paid monthly subscription of £40, we offer three classes a week over four weeks which runs continuously every month. Students are able to attend all classes which compensate for any technical glitches encountered, usually lack of bandwidth - especially at night when everyone logs onto their internet to stream Netflix.

Zoom drum classes at Wooden Roots have provided a way for us to keep in touch with our students and provide them and us with a focal point to the week. It’s something to look forward to and it’s most certainly helping with mental health and wellbeing. Drumming is the heartbeat to every musical style, it’s what gets your foot tapping. It’s a chance to express your creative side and it gives you a voice and confidence to play in a group.

When playing in a group it’s called an “Ensemble”. If you are part of an ensemble you all play along to the same tempo and it takes concentration and coordination to do this. The more you put into drumming the more you can hold your concentration for long periods at a time. Over time your coordination skills will improve especially with being able to learn new rhythms and drumming patterns. All of this is a huge benefit for you in every day activities as well.

Of course lets not forget that drumming is a brilliant stress relief. If you’ve had a bad day at work or school there is nothing better than being able to relieve it with drumming. Fast paced drumming can give you such an adrenaline rush and will help shake off stresses of the day and help to cheer you up.

Best of all about learning to play the Djembe is that it is one of the oldest, most cultural instruments there is!