SO WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

The main event takes place at the amazing Snape Maltings in Suffolk, UK and you can start your weekend at Wooden Roots on Friday night with Smoke N'Drums Meet N'Greet the artists if you select a GOLDEN TICKET.

Artists Babara B Fakoly, Monette Marino & new artist for 2024 Harouna Dembele will be teaching djembe workshops from beginner to advanced and they are joined by fellow artists Sidiki Dembélé & Aida Diop.  Sidiki and Aida will lead symposium style West African dance & drum workshops throughout the weekend taking you to the roots & core fundamentals of how the drum & dance connect.

This new feature is something that Wooden Roots have been developing with Sidiki Dembele and Aida Diop for some time.  We all see that drummers and dancers need a little more help connecting and making this all make sense, meaning that the cultural exchange between drum and dance needs to be better understood.  The drummer needs to understand the dance and the dancer needs to understand the drumming.  So, we have created sessions where drummers and dancers can be taught how it all works, the symposium style is literally talking, teaching and demonstrating what is happening with Q&A lead by Aida & Sidiki throughout the sessions.  You will get the opportunity to learn the dance movements and understand what your drumming solo phrases are for and how they should be properly used within the context of the dance.  As for actual drumming for the dancers, this is geared towards the Advanced drummer who is looking to be stretched a bit more than the regular Advanced drum class.  We are not sure what level you are but there will be sessions for the Advanced player to play for the dancers, but because it’s truly advanced, we will need to make sure that you are at that level to play for a dance class to make sure that you and the dancers get the best value for those sessions.  The other levels are welcome to take the symposium workshops to learn and to help them with their drum & dance journey.  This will be an amazing opportunity for all participants from Beginner to Advanced+.

Act fast and get your tickets now as they are limited.

Payment plans on both GOLD & SILVER tickets are no longer available.

This is an incredible opportunity and line up for 2024.  It's exciting, dynamic and a specialised event for the absolute beginner to those at their eminence peak.

For more general information about the event check out our Wooden Roots Experience Q&A page

CALLING ALL TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS

CPD OPPORTUNITY

Looking for an immersive and educational experience that celebrates the vibrant rhythms of the West African diaspora? Look no further than the Wooden Roots Experience!

This incredible weekend event is perfect for educators and drum enthusiasts alike. If you have djembes tucked away in your school cupboards, this is the perfect opportunity to dust them off and join us for a weekend packed with over 40 workshops!

Discover the rich heritage of West African drumming and dance through interactive sessions led by renowned instructors. Immerse yourself in the infectious rhythms and learn traditional techniques that can be incorporated into your classroom curriculum.

Whether you're a seasoned teacher or just starting your educational journey, the Wooden Roots Experience offers something for everyone. Expand your knowledge, connect with like-minded individuals, and gain valuable insights into the power of music as a teaching tool.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to enhance your teaching skills and bring the joy of drumming into your classroom. Join us at the Wooden Roots Experience and let the rhythms of West Africa inspire your educational journey!

Laura Scott, Director of Music at Hartismere School in Suffolk, attends the Wooden Roots Experience at Snape Maltings for CPD purposes after being inspired to start a djembe group in her school. 

The Experience allows her to learn new repertoire, teaching approaches, and gain a deeper appreciation of West African rhythms from world-leading artists. Laura believes attending the event helps her to develop a weekly school djembe group for KS3 students. 

At the Experience, which takes place in a high standard music conservatoire venue, Laura aims to develop her musicianship further, learn beginner's repertoire to teach students, and to give her skills to train older students as djembe group leaders.