Drum Brothers will perform and lead workshop in Whitefish
North Valley Music School in Whitefish is hosting a Percussion Pairing Weekend on Friday, Nov. 4, and Saturday, Nov. 5. Two events featuring percussion will bring music education, performance and music appreciation to Northwest Montana. A public concert and lecture on Friday will be paired with a small, intimate, participatory workshop on Saturday.
Both events are free and open to the public thanks to a grant from the Montana Arts Council. Both events will be held at the Alpine Theatre’ Project’s location in the Mountain Center, located at 6475 U.S. 93 in Whitefish.
The Drum Brothers present high energy performances that celebrate a diverse mix of world instruments and sounds: West African djembe and dunun drums, Egyptian and Irish frame drums, Australian didgeridoo, close harmony vocals, bass and acoustic guitar, saxophone and flute, and original arrangements and compositions. They’ve been at the forefront of the American hand drumming movement since it began in the early 1990s. Over the years, they have offered numerous school and community rhythm classes, drum circles and, more recently, interactive team building events for organizations and community groups. The ensemble is composed of Matthew and Michael Marsolek, Lawrence Duncan, Tracy Topp and Ravi Marsolek.
Friday’s public performance will be presented in a lecture-demonstration-participation format by the five-piece ensemble. Content includes performances of traditional West African rhythms and original music from the Drum Brothers’ repertoire. The evening will also include an introduction to the instruments the group plays and the countries and traditions they come from. Light audience participation includes some simple clapping rhythms to illustrate the concept of polyrhythm.
Saturday’s hands-on workshop will be one and a half hours of active learning presented by two instructors. All are welcome. Pre-registration is needed to save a seat and an instrument. In this 90-minute circle, the Drum Brothers will share some basic rhythm techniques, lead several rounds of drumming (often accompanied by chants and songs), and help facilitate the energy of the music. This percussion workshop will explore principles of rhythm awareness through body rhythm, call and response drum communication and drum language, technique and traditional and contemporary rhythms in the Mande style of Mali and Guinea, West Africa. Register online at https://bit.ly/saturdaydrumsNVMS
SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 4 — Drum Brothers public performance
Doors open at 6 p.m.; performance 6:30 to 8 p.m.
No registration required.
Saturday, Nov. 5 —- Drum Brothers Hand Drum Percussion Workshop
Doors open at 11 a.m.; workshop 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Registration required.
To learn more about the Drum Brothers, visit drumbrothers.com/about. For more information about the event, visit www.northvalleymusicschool.org