Things to do · Arts and crafts
Learn the djembe in a drumming class
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The djembe is a goblet-shaped hand drum from West Africa, and in a class it is played in a group, in interlocking rhythms. Beginners' courses lend you a drum and teach the strokes, the traditional rhythms and how to hold your part against everyone else's.
GentleUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
What a first class is like
You learn to play together from the start. Crescent Arts Centre's beginners' course covers djembe technique, traditional rhythms and feeling polyrhythms, and then playing in a West African-style percussion ensemble. Drums are provided, though you can bring your own djembe.
Classes add other instruments as you go. The Glasshouse class explores West African rhythms on djembes and bells, and the Old Town School of Folk Music's intermediate ensemble plays djembe, dundun and bells.
Ways in compared
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Glasshouse International Centre for Music | Ten weekly lessons, Thursdays 12.30pm to 2pm (January to March 2026 run); adults, all levels; instruments provided | £64 for 10 classes |
| Crescent Arts Centre | Weekly, Tuesdays 5pm to 6pm (September to December 2024 run); beginners aged 16 and over; drums provided | £102 or £96 |
| City Lit, London | Eight Friday evenings from 29 January 2027; Afrocentric rhythms on congas, bata, bells and hand percussion rather than djembe; instruments provided | £179 |
| Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago | Introduction to Djembe, 80 minutes once a week for eight weeks; or a single 90-minute introductory workshop | $272 ($252 members); workshop $35 ($30 members) |
The Glasshouse class was fully booked when last listed, with a waiting list. Old Town School's page does not say whether drums are provided, so ask when you book.
How to start
- Find a beginners' djembe or West African drumming course at an arts centre, a music venue's learning programme or a folk music school.
- Check whether drums are provided. Some classes lend them; others are happy for you to bring your own.
- Bring a notebook and pen, and ask whether you may record the rhythms on your phone to practise at home.
Where to go
- Glasshouse International Centre for Music: West African Percussion UK
- Crescent Arts Centre: African Drums, Beginners UK
- Old Town School of Folk Music: adult drumming classes (Chicago) US
We opened these links on 11 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
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Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Do I need my own djembe for a drumming class?
Not usually for a beginners' class. The Glasshouse and Crescent Arts Centre courses provide drums, and Crescent Arts says to bring your own djembe if you have one.
Can complete beginners join a djembe class?
Yes. Old Town School of Folk Music's Introduction to Djembe says no experience is necessary, and the Glasshouse class is open to everyone whatever their experience.
What is the difference between a djembe and a dundun?
The djembe is a goblet-shaped hand drum. Dunduns are the drums that play alongside it in a West African ensemble; Old Town School's ensemble class plays djembe, dundun and bells together.
How long is a djembe course?
The courses here run weekly for eight to twelve weeks, with sessions of 60 to 90 minutes. Old Town School also runs single 90-minute introductory workshops.
Where this comes from: Glasshouse International Centre for Music, West African Percussion; Crescent Arts Centre, African Drums: Beginners; City Lit, Afrocentric drumming; Old Town School of Folk Music, Adult drumming classes; AA Directions, Finding a hobby: Drumming. Opened 11 November 2026.
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