Calendar of Events

Fall In-Person and Online Hand Drumming Classes

Happy Fall! Look below for details about our In-Person and Online classes. We're excited to have Michael Marsolek joining us in Missoula this fall to teach a New Beginning Hand Drumming series covering all the fundamentals from-the-ground-up. 

Usually in our fall newsletter, we'll include a mention about our November Fall Gathering at Boulder Hot Springs. But this year, the event reached capacity in just over a week after we went public with the details. Wow! This has got us mulling over the idea of offering another gathering in the early part of the year to ease those winter blues. We'd love to get your feedback about this. In the meantime, hold June 24 - 27 of 2027 on your calendar for the Boulder River Rhythm Retreat south of Big Timber, Montana. To get a taste of a rhythm gathering, check out this reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/930903135101831

Fall Classes

Are you ready to get your groove on?
On September 29th & October 6th & 13th, Matthew, Tracy, and Michael will be starting Online and In-Person hand drumming classes on alternating Tuesday nights.

Click Here to fill out the Online Class Registration Form (Take classes live in your own home, or watch the videos whenever you like)
Click Here to fill out the Missoula Class Registration Form (Classes held at Free Cycles in Missoula)

Feel free to contact us with questions about class levels, drums, or anything rhythm related: matthew@drumbrothers.com, 406-531-8109.
If you have a heartbeat, you have rhythm!

A 6-class series of classes on alternating Tuesday nights from 6:30 pm - 7:45 pm MST. (Matthew and Tracy will be teaching in-person classes in Missoula every other Tuesday)
SCHEDULE: The classes will run on the following Tuesday nights: Oct 6 & 20, Nov 3 & 17, and Dec 1 & 15.
This will be an ongoing level 1 to Level 2 series . If you've done two or more beginning series in the past and want to take it further, this is a great opportunity to learn new rhythms and increase your drumming ability. We'll cover techniques and the tones of the drum, rhythm awareness, drum language, and beginning to intermediate rhythms in the West African style. These classes feature live Dundun and Djembe accompaniment and 3 camera angles to show hand positions. Participants will receive video and mp3 links and simple charts of the rhythms covered in class. You can join the class live and/or watch the recorded videos afterward.
Learn more about how Zoom classes work here: https://drumbrothers.com/Zoom.htm 

If you're new to online classes, drop us a line and we'll send you an example class video you can drum along with to see how they work! (If you're at a more beginning level and want to catch up, we also have past series available to get you up to speed.)

MISSOULA CLASSES (4 Class Levels)
($16-20/class sliding scale) at Free Cycles in Missoula

~NEW BEGINNING SERIES
A 5-class series taught by Michael Marsolek on alternating Tuesday nights from 6:15 - 7:30 pm in the Streetside Room at Free Cycles in Missoula (734 S 1st St W). The classes will run on Oct 13 & 27, and Nov 10 & 24, and Dec, 1. (On Dec 8th, we'll gather for a holiday potluck/drumming celebration.) Please note, that because of scheduling conflicts, the last two classes of this series will be a week a part.
This class will cover all the fundamentals of West African drumming from-the-ground-up: rhythm awareness, tones and technique, and traditional and contemporary rhythms in the West African style. Participants will receive video and mp3 links and simple charts of the rhythms covered in class.
We don't start new beginning series that often, so now is a great time to jump in! Plenty of drums will be available.

~Level 1 Ongoing
A 5-class series taught by Matthew Marsolek on alternating Tuesday nights from 7:45 - 9:00 pm at Free Cycles in Missoula (732 S 1st St W). The classes will run on Sept 29, Oct 13 & 27, and Nov 10 & 24. (On Dec 8th, we'll gather for a holiday potluck/drumming celebration.)
This series is for students who've taken at least two series of Level 1 classes. We'll continue reviewing the beginning repertoire and progressing into intermediate rhythms and techniques. We'll explore rhythm awareness, drum language, and rhythms in the West African style. Participants will receive video and mp3 links and simple charts of the rhythms covered in class. Plenty of extra drums will be available.

~LEVEL 2 Ongoing
Taught by Tracy Topp, this 5-class series will be on alternating Tuesday nights from 6:15 - 7:30 pm at Free Cycles in Missoula (732 S 1st St W). The classes will run on Sept 29, Oct 13 & 27, and Nov 10 & 24. (On Dec 8th, we'll gather for a holiday potluck/drumming celebration.)
This intermediate series is for those who've taken at least 3 series of level 1 classes. A familiarity with the tones and techniques of West African hand drumming is required. Classes will include: techniques and the tones of the drum, rhythm awareness, drum language, and intermediate rhythms and solo phrases. Participants will receive video and mp3 links and simple charts of the rhythms covered in class.

~LEVEL 3 Ongoing:
A 5-class series taught by Matthew Marsolek on alternating Tuesday nights from 6:00 - 7:15 pm at Free Cycles in Missoula (732 S 1st St W). The classes will run on Sept 29, Oct 13 & 27, and Nov 10 & 24. (On Dec 8th, we'll gather for a holiday potluck/drumming celebration.)
This advanced series will cover advanced patterns, arrangements, and solo phrases and techniques. Students should be very familiar with the tones and techniques of hand drumming, know a repertoire of West African rhythms, and be able to pick up new patterns and phrases quickly. Contact Matthew if you're interested in attending.