FREE Drumming Circles

As part of our summer long Beats & Streets program, St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts (FoTA) will present community drumming circles led by Jeffrey Scroggins, co-Founder and Musical Director of Earth shake World Rhythm Ensemble, an urban based drum and dance group with a strong emphasis on traditional
West-African rhythm. 

Jeffrey has been studying West African drumming for the past five years and playing a lot longer. “I love the community aspect of this type of drumming- everyone has a part to play and layered together, the rhythms create harmony, unity and community,” he explained. “I also love that anyone regardless of musical ability can learn the
rhythm and participate,” he added.

Jeffrey typically brings two types of drums for the circles to use; dununs and djembes. The dununs are used
for accompanying rhythms (sometimes several at one time) and the djembes provide the basic melody. Jeffrey gives everyone a simple rhythm to play and
then everyone puts those rhythms together to create a polyrhythmic beat.

The drumming circles take place every Thursday in July
from 5:30-7PM in Wolfe Park and every Sunday from 5:30-7PM in August at Oak Hill Park. Drums will be provided and the circles are FREE of charge to anyone
who wants to participate.