Soul Drumming Online
For Beginning Hand Drummers
For INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED Hand Drummers
ABOUT SOUL DRUMMING ONLINE
Hand drumming is one of the most effective tools I have personally found for expression, empowerment, joy, and connection. It is ancient. I want to support you in adding this tool to your repertoire! In “soul drumming,” we improve our skills and technique while learning to play with feeling, engaging the rich cultural origins of drums, rhythms, and songs, and connecting meaningfully both with a community of fellows and our own inner resources.
This is a 4-week class series with sessions that build upon each other. Includes weekly 1-hour sessions in a live teaching atmosphere and follow-up videos and materials to assist your practicing after each class. All classes will culminate in a final Zoom performance of the song we have learned over the course of the 4 weeks.
Soul Drumming Online class series always includes:
hand drumming technique, exercises, and meditative practice
cultural origins and world rhythms
relevant American groove patterns
opportunities to innovate, jam, and create rhythms in the moment
learning songs, practicing singing and playing together
Class Format
CONNECTION ~ Joining in community and intention
LESSON ~ Warmups, hand drumming technique and exercises for improvement
RHYTHM ~ Learn a world rhythm with multiple parts that build a complete song by the end of our series
JAM ~ Guided rhythm jams with opportunities to get creative
SONG ~ Learn fun, short songs with simple hand drum choreography to sing and play together
What's different about Level 2 from Level 1?
- We deepen our meditation practice with new approaches and understandings about how drumming affects consciousness
- We learn new tones that were not covered in Level 1 as well as next-level technique to increase our hand drum fluency
- We learn a slightly more challenging rhythm song that puts our new tones / technique to practice
- We work on increasing voice and hand independence when accompanying ourselves while singing
What You Need
• A hand drum with a large head surface that can be played with two hands, like a djembe, conga, cajón, or ashiko OR just a surface (like a box or a tabletop) that makes some sound
• A computer, phone, or tablet
• Optional: A notebook to take down notes
What You Gain
• Learning, growth, and joy in your mastery of hand drumming
• A powerful meditative tool that helps release tension, clear the mind, and open you to insight
• Deepened understanding of rhythm as it applies to any musical endeavor
• Knowledge and understanding of different cultures through their drums and rhythms
• Added grooves and songs in your back pocket for the right occasion
• The ability to improvise with more confidence
Testimonials
“In my life I’ve come up against judgmental drummers who left me feeling like there was a “right” and many “wrong” ways to drum. Shireen’s class was a balm of confidence and encouragement. She lays techniques out very clearly. She layers techniques so by the end we were playing some intricate and fun things. Not your average drumming class! So packed with content and varied approaches, I can’t imagine anyone not walking away with more skills.”
“I have gratefully attended 3 hand-drumming sessions with Shireen as well as her vocal jams and concerts. I never played any instrument before, but I now have an instrument of joy in my life! I like how each session is thoughtfully organized into a variety of segments like these: techniques, song with drumming only and song with both singing and drumming. The song choices are soulful. The pace is just right and if I miss something, Shireen always follows up with an email with videos and often visuals that I can practice indefinitely. I feel that Shireen creates an exciting and challenging space for me to grow!”
“Shireen is one of the best teacher’s I have encountered. I began hand drumming as another retirement challenge to undertake. In working with Shireen and her drum groups, I have grown to love this instrument, the fun and the opening it can elicit with Shireen’s guidance. She listens, has a plan, and patiently stretches me musically. Many thank yous to Shireen!!”
About the Instructor
Shireen Amini is a queer, Puerto Rican-Iranian, Earth-loving musician based in Portland, Oregon who performs conscious music as a solo artist and fronts the Latin dance rock band ¡Chiringa! She has over 13 years of experience as an accompanying percussionist and facilitating youth and adult drumming groups. She received her B.A. in Ethnomusicology at UCLA with a focus in Afro-Latin percussion and in 2005, studied abroad in Cusco, Perú where she learned how to play the Afro-Peruvian cajón. Since, Shireen has studied drum circle facilitation with Arthur Hull, the father of the drum circle movement, and received a certificate in Sound, Voice, and Music Healing from the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Most importantly, however, for 10 years, Shireen has developed and utilized her own experiential solo practice of drumming for deep wellness and guidance. She is honored to share her skills and this practice as it may assist others on their path toward healing and empowerment.
PURCHASE A CLASS SERIES!
CHECK OUT THE CULMINATING PERFORMANCE VIDEOs BELOW from previous level 1 + 2 soul drumming online SERIES!
All drummers except myself are on mute due to the limitations of Zoom, but if you watch our hands, we are drumming in time together from all along the West Coast. These videos demonstrate the rhythm songs we learn section-by-section over the course of 4 weeks, putting it all together for our final class! You can have access to all live class videos, documents, and play-along videos from any of these courses!
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 2: Plena Breakbeat Song
(May 10-31, 2022)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Plena Breakbeat Song, an original arrangement of Afro-Puerto Rican plena rhythms combined with a rhythm inspired by sampled funk, jazz, and r&b beats used in electronic and hip hop music, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “Walking In Love” By Travis Johnson Jr., “Lay it All Down / Déjalo Ya” By Joanna Laws-Landis with Spanish translation by Leticia Nieto, and “The Sun Song” by Shireen Amini. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 1: Bomba Reggaetón Song
(april 6-27, 2022)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Bomba Reggaetón Song, an original arrangement of a Afro-Puerto Rican bomba rhythms combined with urban Latin reggaetón, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “Walk with Me” by Maggie Wheeler with Spanish translation by Leticia Nieto and Shireen Amini, and “From Now On” by Lu Aya, and “Let Me Be the Love” by Karly Loveling. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 1: Landó Blues Song
(february 2-23, 2022)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Landó Blues Song, an original arrangement of a traditional Afro-Peruvian landó rhythm combined with American blues, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “The Way” by Lyndsey Scott with Spanish translation by Leticia Nieto, and “Hold On (Just A Little While Longer” Traditional Gospel Song by Cleophus Robinson, and “Your Heart Knows the Way Home” by Te Martin with Spanish translation by Leticia Nieto & Shireen Amini. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 2: Bachata Classic R&B Song
(january 4-25, 2022)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Bachata Classic R&B Song, an original arrangement of bachata rhythms from the Dominican Republic combined with classic American r&b, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “May this Body Be A Bridge” By Te Martin with Spanish translation by Leticia Nieto & Shireen Amini, and “You Are Safe Now” By Shireen Amini. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 1: Cumbia Rock Song
(December 1-22, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Cumbia Rock Song, an original arrangement of traditional Cumbia rhythms combined with American rock, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “This is the Moment / Es El Momento” by the Peace Poets (translated by Leticia Nieto), and “Be Open” By Debbie Nargi-Brown, and “We Are the Ones” by Sweet Honey in the Rock. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 2: Rumba Flamenca Bolero Song
(november 9-30, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Rumba Flamenca Bolero Song, an original arrangement of a Nuevo Flamenco rhythm combined with a classic Cuban rhythm, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “The Neuroplasticity Song” by Ahlay Blakely and “I Am a Spirit” By Shireen Amini. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 1: Samba Hip Hop Song
(May 19-June 9, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Samba Hip Hop Song, an original arrangement of a popular Brazilian rhythm combined with a ubiquitous African-American rhythm, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “Grateful My Hands” by MaMuse, “The River” by Coco Love Alcorn, and “The Ship is Turnin’ Round” By Shireen Amini. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 2: Tango Surf Rock Song
(May 18-June 8, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Tango Surf Rock Song, an original arrangement of a traditional Argentinean rhythm combined with a popular American rock pattern from the 60s, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “We Let it Be” by Rickie Byars Beckwith, “I Am Free in my Body” by Shireen Amini, and “Get Up” By Barbara McAfee. I recommend taking one to two Level 1 series before moving to Level 2 or that you self-identify as an intermediate-advanced hand drummer. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 1: Rumba Calypso Song
(APRIL 15-MAY 6, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Rumba Calypso Song, an original arrangement of a traditional Cuban rhythm combined with a rhythm from Trinidad and Tobago, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “The River” by Coco Love Alcorn, “Woke Up This Mornin,’” Traditional gospel adapted by Reverend Robert Wesby during the Freedom Rides, “Earth My Body” a public domain chant, and “We Are The Ones” By Sweet Honey in the Rock. The cost of the archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 2: Rumba Columbia Reggae Song
(APRIL 13-MAY 4, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Rumba Columbia Reggae Song, an original arrangement of a traditional Cuban rhythm combined with a well-known rhythm from Jamaica, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “As I Relax” by Lyndsey Scott, and “Go Down Deep” By Laurence Cole. I recommend taking one to two Level 1 series before moving to Level 2 or that you self-identify as an intermediate-advanced hand drummer. The cost of this archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!
Soul Drumming Online LEVEL 1: Makru Funk Song
(FEBRUARY 16-MARCH 9, 2021)
If this compels you, it’s not too late to purchase the archived series! Complete with 4 live classes, Google docs, and Youtube practice videos to support your learning. This particular series includes exercises, week-by-week teaching of the Makru Funk Song, an original arrangement of a traditional West African rhythm combined with a touch of James Brown funk, and drumming patterns for the following singalong songs: “The River” by Coco Love Alcorn, “I Can’t Make This Journey” Traditional gospel song adapted by Vernon Bush, “When I Breathe In” By Sarah Dan Jones. The cost of the archived series is only $60.
If interested, please contact me!