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Drumming Weekend 23-26 March 2007 With Sebastian Potts Sebastian and Catherine Rose would like to invite you to join them in a weekend of African drumming in the Loire Valley, France Sebastian Potts: He was born in 1967 and at the age of 15 started playing drums by experimenting alone with Brazilian styles and rhythms. After leaving school in 1986 and having by this time become fascinated with African drumming, he travelled to Ghana to discover as much as he could about the instrument. Sebastian then went on to study Latin-American percussion from 1988 to 1990 at Music Academies in the Netherlands and Cuba. In 1993 he discovered his love for the Zimbabwean mbira and started to both make and play this instrument. In 1995 on returning to Ghana, Sebastian continued to make and play mbira, along side teaching the instrument to many visitors from all over the world and playing drums with local Ghanaian groups. He also pursued his studies in ritual drumming styles for the ten years that he was living there. During this time Sebastian visited Zimbabwe twice in order to learn more about the mbira and to study with Tirivangani Chongotere, Chris Mhlanga and Luken Pasipamire. In 1998 he was invited by the University of Ghana to give a course in mbira playing and then later that year to play mbira in some concerts with Chris Mhlanga. Sebastian has been back living in Germany since 2006 working as an mbira maker and drum teacher. He also has the honour to participate in projects with Chartwell Dutiro a Gwenyambira (Master of the mbira), musician and singer from Zimbabwe who is based in the UK, along with his mbira playing German friend, Elmar Pohl. Drumming Weekend Workshop: Sebastian intends to work with us on some African Drum techniques, which means learning to bring out a good sound from the drum which is essential for a pleasant feel of the rhythm and the music. He also wants to combine this with rhythmical accuracy and to show us ways in which we can begin to accompany the mbira. Sebastian has 10 ‘kpanlogo’ drums which we will be able to use. Accommodation: The weekend will be spent in and around the home of Catherine Rose at 45 Coteau de Seuilly, 37500 Seuilly, France. You will be sleeping in shared bedrooms and eating meals in the old farmhouse and drumming in the caves which border the property. Booking and Cost: You are welcome to arrive from midday on Friday 23 March and must depart by midday Monday 26 March 2007. The number of participants will be restricted to eight so if you are interested then please ring or email Catherine as soon as possible in order to ensure a place. The inclusive cost of the weekend will be 150 Euros or £100. Please Contact: Catherine Rose on: 0033 247958815 or Email to: catherine.rose3@wanadoo.fr |