African Drumming for Primary Schools & Early Years
Drumming Experiences for Schools
We offer three core drumming experiences for schools in Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond:
- ✔︎ African drumming workshops for KS1 & KS2
- ✔︎ ‘Ready Steady Drum!’ training for Early Years practitioners
- ✔︎ Uplifting drumming sessions for staff wellbeing & teambuilding
We also deliver drumming sessions for colleges and universities →
African drumming is engaging, energising and wonderfully inclusive
— bringing arts, culture and wellbeing projects alive for Early Years and Primary pupils. Sessions build confidence, communication, coordination and musical awareness through shared rhythm and play.
Curriculum links: Music • Culture • Geography • Numeracy • Literacy
Ideal for
Africa Projects • Cultural Weeks • Arts & Music Enrichment • Whole-School Wellbeing
Multi-Cultural Days • Confidence Building • Creativity • Teamwork
Drumming Workshops for Primary Schools
Children always remember the day they played drums! Whether for an Africa topic, Arts Week or celebration, our workshops combine excitement with clear learning outcomes.
Pupils quickly experience success as they develop rhythm, listening skills and teamwork, while deepening their understanding of musical traditions and culture. Sessions are structured, inclusive and highly engaging — supporting Music, Geography, PSHE and wider personal development.
Sessions include:
- Introduction to instruments and culture
- Rhythm games & patterns
- Creating an exciting group performance
- Leadership, teamwork & positive contribution
“Sarah inspires maximum musical development in those she teaches. Her results are outstanding.”—Yardley Primary School
Ready Steady Drum! (Early Years & KS1 CPD)
“Ready Steady Drum!” gives children joyful rhythm-and-rhyme activities that strengthen early literacy, numeracy, coordination and social skills.
Created by Sarah Westwood for Birmingham Education Authority, the programme uses accessible instruments (washing-up bowls and drumsticks) to build staff confidence in leading rich musical experiences that support learning and wellbeing, including:
- Communication & language: focus, listening, rhythm & rhyme
- Mathematical awareness: counting, pattern & sequencing
- Physical development: motor skills & coordination
- Personal, social & emotional growth: confidence, cooperation & self-regulation
“In 20 years, I have never had such an advanced Nursery group to send up to Reception.”
— Hawkesley Nursery (after one year of RSD activities)
Ready Steady Drum! (Early Years & KS1 CPD)
“Ready Steady Drum!” gives children joyful rhythm-and-rhyme activities that strengthen early literacy, numeracy, coordination and social skills.
Created by Sarah Westwood for Birmingham Education Authority, the programme uses accessible instruments (washing-up bowls and drumsticks) to build staff confidence in leading rich musical experiences that support learning and wellbeing, including:
- Communication & language: focus, listening, rhythm & rhyme
- Mathematical awareness: counting, pattern & sequencing
- Physical development: motor skills & coordination
- Personal, social & emotional growth: confidence, cooperation & self-regulation
“In 20 years, I have never had such an advanced Nursery group to send up to Reception.”
— Hawkesley Nursery School (after one year of RSD activities)
Staff Wellbeing, Teambuilding & CPD
Give your staff a morale-boosting, energy-lifting experience next INSET day. Drumming relieves stress, builds motivation and creates a shared sense of achievement that lasts long after the session ends.
Sessions can be purely for wellbeing and team-building, or delivered as a hybrid training workshop — showing Primary staff how to use your school’s own instruments confidently with children, or using “Ready Steady Drum!” for EYFS and KS1 teams.
Benefits:
- Builds teamwork & connection
- Supports wellbeing & motivation
- Memorable, inclusive and great fun!
“Our staff team built morale more than I could have imagined… they even performed at the Christmas concert!”— Ark Tindal Primary School
SESSION OPTIONS…
Each programme is tailored to your setting. We work with schools across Birmingham and the West Midlands — please get in touch for full details and pricing.
African Drumming Workshops
Primary KS1 & KS2
- •Whole or half days
- • Single year-group focus, or up to five classes per day
- •Optional sharing at the end
Ready Steady Drum!
Early Years & KS1 CPD
- •Best delivered as a 3-hour INSET
- •Includes Ready Steady Drum! activity booklet
- •Follow-up or extended training options available
Staff Drumming Sessions
Wellbeing / Teambuilding / CPD
- •Ideal for INSET days or twilight sessions
- •1–2 hour sessions, or extended with skills training
- •No musical experience needed — inclusive and accessible
Why choose Sarah & Primal Sound
- ✔︎ 30 years’ experience of leading drumming workshops in schools
- ✔︎ Warm, welcoming & uplifting approach
- ✔︎ Sessions tailored to each group’s age and abilities
- ✔︎ Programme creator for Birmingham Education Authority
- ✔︎ Inclusive, structured and curriculum-aware delivery
“We look forward to our drumming workshops every year. The children love them. How can such fantastic music be composed in such a short time? Absolutely brilliant!”
“The best external activity brought into school. A thoroughly enjoyable day.“
“It was incredible to see how much the children could do after having only a very short session and fabulous to see the look of excitement and enthusiasm on the children’s faces.“
“The children had a fantastic time and learnt skills they now apply to composing their own music.“
“The workshops were absolutely brilliant — warm, engaging and highly collaborative. The students really enjoyed working in such a creative environment.”
“The skills the children learn in such a short space of time is phenomenal and the excitement on their faces is priceless.”