Percussion workshop opens at NCPA |21 August 2018

Tanbour moutya, triangle and drum kits are among the instruments that children and adults alike will be learning to play during a percussion workshop organised by the School of Music.

The week-long workshop which was launched yesterday at the National Conservatoire of Performing Arts, Mont Fleuri is being facilitated by renowned singer John Wirtz, drummer Mervin Nibourette from Metisse Band as well as music teachers Terry Havelock and Chad Cedras.

During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to learn how to handle and play the different instruments including traditional forms of percussion and contemporary drumming equipment.

Percussion instruments are musical instruments that sound when struck by hand or a beater. They include cymbals, triangle, tambourine and bass drums.

The first session kicked off yesterday with a brief introduction by Hubert Poirette, a well-known drummer on the local music scene whose specialty is the ‘tanbour moutya’.

Mr Poirette briefly explained the history of ‘moutya’ to the group of students taking part and explained the correct posture and hand placement drummers should adopt before they were each handed a ‘tanbour moutya’ so they could learn basic rhythms.

Music Instructor Chad Cedras said by the end of the workshop, they expect participants to be familiar with most of the instruments and to have learnt basic rhythms.

“We organised this workshop during the school holidays so the children will have something to do which will also help them to develop their talents. It will hopefully encourage them to carry on by signing up for classes at the school,” he said.

He added that many parents are enthusiastic by the workshop and have signed up their children.

Emiliano Gallante, a 10-year-old drum enthusiast expressed his excitement at having the opportunity to learn different instruments.

“I have always liked drumming. My parents bought me a small drum kit when I was younger and I still love it,” he said.

He added that he is looking forward to learning to drum on a complete drum set later during the week.

The workshop is being held daily in two sessions; 9.30am to 12 noon for children aged 9-16 and 1.30pm to 4.30pm for people aged 17 and over.

A R200 fee applies to children and R300 for adults for the entire workshop.