Introducing Ray Kingsmore's Drum Clinics

Get students out of their regular comfort zone by playing drums and singing.

Introducing Ray Kingsmore's Drum Clinics

Get students out of their regular comfort zone by playing drums and singing.

See below for Drum Clinic lengths, content, and expectations for all grades from Kindergarten to grade 8. You will also see important details about where the Drum Clinics will take place in your school, as well as when all the equipment will be set up and eventually removed. Please request more information if needed.

Featuring pro-grade ride/crash cymbals, African Djembes, snare drums, soft-tipped and hard tipped drumsticks, jazz brushes, flexible sound reducing drumsticks, tambourines, shakers and wooden spoons. All music is safe for schools and reflects Nursery Rhyme, Pop, Folk, World, and Country with some Jazz selections.

Grades 7/8 The Good Old Days: 2017

Drummers in grades 3-8 are exposed to various Musical Rudiments, including Tempo, Dynamics, Rhythm (short and Long), Beat and Keeping Time. Older Drummers are expected to react to and predict changes in rhythm and dynamics, using a variety of percussion tools.

Kindies on the African Djembes

Little hands searching for the pulse (beat) in the music. Then we add a shaker and maybe a tambourine. Of course they want to play really really quiet so as to NOT wake the baby up! Only then can they proceed to the "BIG PEOPLE DRUMS" and play a beat on the snare and cymbal. Maybe even a cowbell.

WE Use Finger-Tips Technique. Hush "Don't Wake the Baby."

Grades 1-3 African Beats

They eventually enjoy playing "free style," where they decide what instruments to play, how to play them and how many to use. Once their comfort level seems satisfactory, they try similar actions on the snare, cymbals and djembe while adding in the smaller hand shakers as they see fit. Expectations for Kindergarten - Grade 2 drummers focus on listening for Dynamics (loud and soft) Beat (pulse) and Keeping Time within various Rhythms.

Grade 7/8 Drummers Fitting In

Anyone can tap out a rhythm to a tune. But here Drum Whisperer Ray challenges the drummers to listen for when upcoming changes are imminent. The drummer should subtly "announce" the upcoming change(s) with an appropriate drum or cymbal roll, or perhaps a change in instruments. Pausing is also an effective use of dynamics.

Grades K-2 Adding More Drums

Kindergarten and grade 1and 2 students start out using the snare, djembe hand drums, shakers and tambourines. They are shown how to hold their instruments with their fingers only, thus encouraging softer volume. "Don't wake the baby." Kindergarten-grade 2 students use soft padded drumsticks, which control the dynamics.

Overview of Hands-On Drum Clinics

In accordance with "social distancing" requirements, each drummer has their own individual Drum Set consisting of: a 14 " snare drum, professional quality 18" ride/crash cymbal, jazz brushes, 16" tall light-weight African djembe drum, wooden drumsticks, padded mallet drumsticks, flexible sound reducing flix sticks, toe-tambourine, cowbell, wooden spoons, Chajchas (Bolivian goat-hoof shakers). Primary Drummers use 3 to 4 percussion instruments while usage increases with older aged Drummers. Depending on the drum clinic length, not all the described percussion instruments will be used.

Grades 4-5 Freestyle

Here drummers are reversing their drumsticks, making use of the soft and hard ends. They are also choosing to use the Jjzz brushes, shakers, cowbells and toe tambourines at their discretion. Cymbal crashes are never too loud, since Ray teaches them to "choke" off the crashes or crescendo effects.

Grades 1-3 Rhythms

All Drummers are encouraged to sing as they explore the rudiments of music. Younger Drummers can easily follow the Beat (Pulse) and are able to respond satisfactorily to changes in Dynamics (loud versus soft).

Grades 4-8 Using 3 Limbs

These students, with "Ray The Drum Whisperer's" guidance delve into several Musical Rudiments of a classic Rock Opera. They learn to use the bell of the ride cymbal for heightened effect. Cymbal edges are employed to achieve crescendo warnings of rhythm/dynamic changes. Toe-tambourines are used to keep time. The jazz brushes are employed on the snare drum and cymbal for very quiet passages. Shakers result in emotional impact and a soft Mallet on the Cymbal gives a pleasing Gong effect.

A Brief overview of Particulars

Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 Format: 40 Minutes

Entry: 5-8 minutes

Getting to Know: 15-20 minutes

- Djembe

-Tambourine and Shaker

Freestyle to Music: 10-15 Minutes

- Djembe

-Tambourine and Shaker

Play Big Person drums: 5-10 minutes

(Using Dampened Snare, Hi Hat Cymbals, Cowbell, Soft Sticks)

Grade 3-5 Format:50-60 Minutes

Entry: 5-8 Minutes

Getting to Know: 20-25 minutes

Large Cymbal (edges, top bell, middle), Djembe, snare drum, hard and soft Sticks, jazz brushes

Cow Bell, Shakers, Toe Tambourine

Rudiments: 10 -15 Minutes

(Dynamics, Rhythm, Tempo)

Application of Rudiments: 15 Minutes

Drummers creatively apply the Rudiments; they decide what instruments to play in order to complement the dynamics of the music.

Grade 6-8 Format 60+ Minutes

Entry: 5-8 Minutes

Getting to Know: 15-20 minutes

Large Cymbal (edges, top bell, middle)

Djembe (edge and centre points of contact on the drum head), snare drum, hard and soft sticks, jazz brushes, cow bell, shakers, toe tambourine.

Rudiments: 10 Minutes

Dynamics, Long Rhythm, Short Rhythm, Tempo, Pause, Anticipate and Announce upcoming changes in Dynamics,

Apply Rudiments: 15-20 Minutes

Making use of 3 limbs, Drummers use instruments of their choice as they decide how to interact with and predict changes in the music selections

References are Available

Contact Ray Kingsmore for the contact information of his most recent school bookings.

General Information. For more detailed Clinic description and Fees contact Ray Kingsmore

Equipment will be set up at around lunch time in 1/2 of the school gym on the day prior to the start of the Clinics. This is a 3.5 hour process.

Equipment will be removed at the very next lunch time after Clinics are concluded. This is 1.5 hour process.

Equipment will be left in the gym after school and over nights until tear down is complete.

Staff can decide whether or not the empty 1/2 gym can be used safely at noon or after school, without having to move any fragile gear from the drum clinic side.

Community Evening Permits, After School Team Practices etc. must be cancelled well ahead of the Drum Clinic Event.

Noon Hour Staff Clinics and an After School Community Event are available free of charge, but are dependent on certain scheduling considerations. Details are available.

Ray Kingsmore, presenter of Drum Clinics, has appropriate Insurance and recent Vulnerable Police Check.

Introducing Ray Kingsmore's Drum Clinics

Introducing Ray Kingsmore's Drum Clinics

Grades 7/8 The Good Old Days: 2017

Kindies on the African Djembes

WE Use Finger-Tips Technique. Hush "Don't Wake the Baby."

Grades 1-3 African Beats

Grade 7/8 Drummers Fitting In

Grades K-2 Adding More Drums

Overview of Hands-On Drum Clinics

Gr 5-8 Bohemian Experience

Grades K-2 Keeping Time

Rhythm: Long and Short

Grades 1-3 Getting Physical

Grades 4-5 Freestyle

Grades 1-3 Rhythms

Grades 4-8 Using 3 Limbs

A Brief overview of Particulars

Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 Format: 40 Minutes

Grade 3-5 Format:50-60 Minutes

Grade 6-8 Format 60+ Minutes

References are Available

General Information. For more detailed Clinic description and Fees contact Ray Kingsmore

Introducing Ray Kingsmore's Drum Clinics

Introducing Ray Kingsmore's Drum Clinics

Grades 7/8 The Good Old Days: 2017

Kindies on the African Djembes

WE Use Finger-Tips Technique. Hush "Don't Wake the Baby."

Grades 1-3 African Beats

Grade 7/8 Drummers Fitting In

Grades K-2 Adding More Drums

Overview of Hands-On Drum Clinics

Gr 5-8 Bohemian Experience

Grades K-2 Keeping Time

Rhythm: Long and Short

Grades 1-3 Getting Physical

Grades 4-5 Freestyle

Grades 1-3 Rhythms

Grades 4-8 Using 3 Limbs

A Brief overview of Particulars

Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2 Format: 40 Minutes

Grade 3-5 Format:50-60 Minutes

Grade 6-8 Format 60+ Minutes

References are Available

General Information. For more detailed Clinic description and Fees contact Ray Kingsmore

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