Bringing Unbeatable Energy into your school is about bringing excitement, team work and a sense of great achievement to the finger tips of young children.

It opens up brand new horizons in self-expression, confidence and communication skills while introducing the children to cultures they are unlikely to have experienced.

Unbeatable Energy has a successful track record of working with schools as part of the national curriculum being studied by children of all ages. The impact on children, teachers and parents is incredible: read some of the testimonials to see what teachers and students think of Unbeatable Energy. Also see our client list.

Unbeatable Energy also provide staff training and education events.

Unbeatable Energy in schools provides accessible and exhilarating music workshops for children of all ages. It offers a special way to learn about African culture and discover the vitality of music in village and tribal life while presenting a rare opportunity to build confidence through self expression. We create a fantastic, hands-on opportunity for children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to experience the thrill and excitement of hand drumming in groups.

We can help your students to:

· Explore working with timbre, pitch   and rhythm in line with National   Curriculum guidelines

· Develop key skills in performance,   composition and listening

· Increase effective group-work   through understanding

· Widen their awareness of various   musical cultures

· Develop self-motivation

· Enhancing communication

· Build self-confidence

· Break down barriers and inhibitions

Principal facilitator and skilled percussionist Steve Rivers has a refreshing, vibrant and open style that puts young people at ease in his workshops. Having visited West Africa on a number of occasions to study Gambian, Guinean and Senegalese rhythm and dance he draws on these influences to make a session with Unbeatable Energy an unforgettable musical experience for everyone involved.

African Drumming and Drum Circles
Unbeatable Energy offers two alternative styles of drumming which can be used individually or connected. Usually a combination of the two is implemented, a Drum Circle being used to establish confidence within the group before moving on to more specific work with African Drumming methods.

Drum Circle
This is a way of creating freedom, spontaneity and self-expression in rhythm. Children become involved in the simple thrill of drumming and create their own natural rhythms in a free, un-pressurized atmosphere of improvisation. In order to tune into the children's abilities and their needs within the group, facilitation techniques of body communication, games, pacing, and orchestration are used, enabling them to reach a place where they effortlessly become musically sensitive and at one with the beat. This creates a fantastic atmosphere of teamwork which allows all children to feel included, giving them a strong sense of achievement.

African Drumming
This offers a unique insight into traditional, ethnic village music and culture from Africa. Children learn simple techniques, rhythms and songs from West Africa and discover the names of the different African drums and percussion instruments. They learn what a "talking drum" is and that this is literally its purpose. The children can interpret dances and songs and they discover the functions of rhythms in West African village life.

Equipment
A wide variety of hand drums and percussion instruments are provided including djembes, congas, bugaraboos, dunduns, bells, shakers, cabassas, boomwackers, wood blocks, even squeaky toys! Unbeatable Energy encourages resourcefulness and demonstrates to the children that many things besides drums can be utilised for drumming effects, i.e Pots, pans, Tupperware, plastic buckets, water containers, in short they learn that almost anything can make music.

Group Dynamics
Workshops are designed to suit all age groups. A full class of 30 - 35 children can easily be catered for at any given time. We usually recommend booking a full day at a school but are flexible with time and duration of the workshops. We will tailor the duration of each session to suit the needs of your pupils and your school. We also provide an assembly performance at the end of the day, which can include a showcase of the children's achievements and a chance to stimulate interest from other classes, teachers and parents.

Venue Requirements
A large sized room is essential; usually the school hall is a good choice. We require PE mats or failing this, a carpeted room to ensure that the drums are protected if they should be knocked over. We need standard, adult-sized, stackable chairs for a full class plus extra chairs for staff, the workshop leader and the assistant. The room set-up time is approximately 30 mins, which must be allowed for prior to commencement of the workshop. We often enlist the help of willing children in setting up the circle. Easy access to parking is appreciated.

Health & Safety
To protect the hands it is essential the children do not wear rings, bracelets or watches during the workshop. A fully qualified member of the teaching staff must also be present for the full duration of the workshop.

It is inevitable that there will be some discomfort in the hands as playing drums is an unaccustomed activity for the children and it is advisable that the children and perhaps the parents are informed. If this is not acceptable for some children soft beaters or flip-flops will be made available. Some children will be using drumsticks, bells and bass drums. To minimise any danger from children accidentally hitting each other we make sure they are arms-length apart and supervised well to ensure correct usage. We have a 100% safety record at Unbeatable Energy. Unbeatable Energy is fully covered by Public Liability Insurance up to £10 million.

Please contact us for a current price list.