FAQ about African Beats camp

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are questions that we thought you might ask / questions that people have asked. We'll keep this updated.

Why is the capacity of each workshop limited?
Why are workshop spaces booked in advance?
Why are you only offering the "full event" tickets to intermediate and above level?
How do I know what level I am?
I am booked onto the Djembe course, why do I need to be put into a level?
I am booked onto the Djembe course, how will I be assessed?
I am booked onto the Djembe course and I would like a specific teacher.
What drums / instruments are provided at ABC?
What are the performance times and who is performing on each day?
Will you be providing a crèche?
Can I bring a dog?
Are there any concessionary tickets for low-waged, students, pensioners etc?
Can I arrive earlier than 4pm on 27th May or leave later than midday on 31st?
Can come to ABC and do workshops for one day? (like last year's ABCD event)

Why is the capacity of each workshop limited?

Workshops will be limited in size to 25-30 participants depending on the type of workshop. The marquees have a maximum capacity and also limiting the numbers makes it easier for participants to learn, hear themselves, teachers to engage with everyone and of course reduce the noise (v. important for drumming!).

Why are workshop spaces booked in advance?

Your main course will be booked before ABC via the ABC Booking Form. Your remaining afternoon workshops will be booked when you are at ABC. This means that no workshops will be overcrowded. If you attend a course on Saturday it will continue on Sunday, so everyone will learn together instead of the teacher having to start again if new people arrive on the second day.

Why are you only offering the "full event" tickets to intermediate level and above?

This may seem unfair to those who are beginners. There are only 175 workshop spaces. We know that there are probably over 1000 experienced drummers or dancers in the UK alone who are eager and experienced enough to participate in an intensive 3 days of workshops. Therefore we have chosen to provide ABC for them.

The three-day courses in either djembe with dundun, sabar or dance are long sessions. If you have not built up the muscles, you will find it difficult to keep up.

How do I know what level I am?

If you are not sure if you are a beginner or intermediate level do contact us. How long you have been drumming or dancing will be a factor and although we would recommend a minimum of 6 months weekly practise, this can vary from person to person and for the majority of people it would be longer than 6 months. For those who have had previous musical / percussion or similar dancing experience, they will probably move to intermediate level quicker than someone with no experience. How much you have practised on your own and natural ability also affects what level you have reached. Your own self-assessment will depend on who you play with. If all the drummers and dancers you practise with are very advanced you might think you are beginner when in actual fact you are intermediate.

I am booked onto the Djembe course, why do I need to be put into a level?

1. We're going to have over 125 djembe players. If 70 of them assess themselves as level 3 and there are only 25 spaces per workshop, how do we know who should go up or down a level?
2. The level you consider yourself to be is often relative to those you regularly drum with i.e. an advanced player at home might be intermediate/advanced at a camp. So you might assess yourself as level 3, when actually you are level 2 relative to everyone at ABC.
3. Drumming in classes with others of a similar level means that the whole group can enjoy learning together (instead of struggling to keep up / finding it too easy or being in a class slowed down by too many mixed levels).
4. All the African Beats organisers are regular workshop / camp attendees with over 12 years of experience. We have sat in workshops from being beginners to becoming more advanced and know what the problems are e.g. 100 djembe players of mixed ability in one workshop!
5. Although there were some problems with the process when we first did this at ABC 2009, the comments we received on the feedback forms was extremely positive.

I am booked onto the Djembe course, how will I be assessed?

If you came to ABC 2009, this was the first time we did this (and as far as we know, no other camps / events have done it before either). We've worked out a plan for Saturday morning with one of the teachers to ensure that the process is efficient and easy to participate in.

1. You will be given a card telling you when to come for your assessment.
2. The more advanced players will be assessed first and 25 of them will be allocated into level 5.
3. The next level will join the remaining players and 25 of them will be allocated into level 4.
4. The process will continue until all have been allocated.
5. It's likely that those who assessed themselves as level 1, will not need to do this.

I am booked onto the Djembe course and I would like a specific teacher.

Sorry we cannot guarantee this as it depends on which group you are put into. You will have the opportunity to learn from two different teachers however.

What drums / instruments are provided at ABC?

For the sabar (Int / Adv level) and djembe (5 levels) courses we expect drummers to bring own drums. There are stalls at ABC offering djembe hire at £5 per day.

For all other workshops, drums / instruments will be provided. However if you have your own, please bring it. Some workshop numbers are limited because of the number of instruments e.g. serouba.

What are the performance times and who is performing on each day?

We will publish the list of performers for each day on this website under the About page. This is subject to alteration. Performance times will not be listed.

Will you be providing a crèche?

Unfortunately not, providing a crèche at an event of this size is just not viable. If you are bringing any children, you will need to take responsibility for them.

Can I bring a dog?

Sorry no, unless you have a Guide Dog.

Are there any concessionary tickets for low-waged, students, pensioners etc?

We are a non-profit making organisation, run by volunteers and we can only afford to put the event on from the ticket sales at the prices we have set.

Can I arrive earlier than 4pm on 27th May or leave later than midday on 31st?

If you have a special reason for this (e.g. you are driving through the night from Scotland on 26th!), we can be flexible. However you must contact us in advance.

Can I come to ABC and do workshops etc for one day (like last year's ABCD event)?

African Beats Camp Day was a one-day festival that included a couple of workshops and performances all day. African Beats Camp has workshops from 28th - 30th. The ticket options are listed in the Booking page and information on the About page.