The Rhythms of Presence: Part 7

A series of short musings on the impact of presence within the world of rhythm. This is a Contrapuntal Poem. Read the 'first poem' down the left hand side. Read the 'second' poem down the right hand side. Read the 'third poem' from left to right, line by line. The drummers have gone scattering on...

The Rhythms of Presence. Part 6

A series of short musings on the impact of presence within the world of rhythm. What if we are not facilitating the drum circle? What if, in fact, it is facilitating us? Imagine for a moment if you will, that the drum circle is animate. That it is a living thing, moving in its own...

The Rhythms of Presence: Part 5

A series of short musings on the impact of presence within the world of rhythm. The year is 2002 and I have travelled to Hawaii, courtesy of the Arts Council of England, to attend my first Mentor Training and complete my funded 2 part study with Arthur Hull at Village Music Circles. My first taste...

The Rhythms of Presence: Part 4

A series of short musings on the impact of presence within the world of rhythm. I am teaching a Rhythms of the World class. We are three weeks into a 9-week block. I have been focused on teaching a version of a Kpanlogo rhythm from Ghana, which has up to 8 separate interlocking patterns namely,...

The Rhythms of Presence. Part 3.

A series of short musings on the impact of presence within the world of rhythm. Hawaii, 2002. Drum Circle Facilitator training with Arthur Hull. It is 1am in the morning and the late-night drumming has been in full swing for hours. A transition point has been reached and there is some movement of bodies away...

The Rhythms of Presence. Part 2

A series of short musings on the impact of presence within the world of rhythm. Stainsby Festival, Derbyshire, England 2004. I am back at one of my favourite gatherings to facilitate two community drum circles at midday on the Saturday and Sunday of the Festival. I am also excited to know that Anna Mudeka, a...

The Rhythms of Presence. Part 1.

It begins with a single part. A pattern. Your task is to hold onto this part. To get it. The challenge here is that the person sitting next to you has their own part. Different to yours but connected. This challenge increases in complexity the more of you there are. Some culturally specific rhythms in...

Traffic Jamming.

What would you say if I told you that a Bangalore taxi ride is the way to enlightenment? Forget India's temples and Holy cities. This is the most profound manifestation of the mystical divine in operation that you can experience. Read on dear seeker, read on 😉 This morning I took an Uber across Bangalore...

ARFC#4

I had a wee break after the pre-conference workshops and was invited to a picnic by Charlene and Kit, two of the graduates from my ERS program. Charlene arrived to pick me up on the morning of the trip along with her mum and two of her mum's sisters. We drove up to FRIM and...

ARFC…pre conference workshops

The beginning of this incredible rhythmical journey here in Malaysia commenced with two days of hand drumming with the wonderful Steve Thornton. Steve is a New York native who now lives in Malaysia and has a list of who he has played with that would turn your head. He is an incredible player and a...