JonW

Classes start again tonight at 7pm at The Hub on Sharrow Lane! Looking forward to playing again with everyone after the Easter break

Thanks for that! I only just saw your comment so that was a nice surprise! I'm still running classes by the way, on Wednesday evenings at Connexions on Sharrow Lane (next to Rossi's restaurant), 7-8 beginners, 8-8.15 tea and biscuits, 8.15-9.30 intermediate / advanced. £5 for 1st session, £6 for 2nd or both! I have a Facebook group called 'African Drumming Sheffield' too, which is the best way to keep up to date with what's going on... ---------- Post added 13-03-2014 at 21:26 ---------- Hey I never saw this message last year and I've only just rediscovered SF. Thanks for the offer. Are you doing it again this year?

Hi all. I run weekly classes in West African drumming (djembe and dundun). For beginners I teach the principles of West African drumming using traditional material made accessible. The fun, friendly and informal atmosphere allows everyone to learn at an achievable level. The sessions are fully supported by a co-musician (Zoe Jeffryes) who plays tuned West African bass drums (dunduns) For intermediate / advanced students I teach traditional material collected over many years studying with top West African djembe masters. Having both lived in West Africa and trained in classical music I use my experience of both African and western music to convey the material in a clear and concise way. My classes are being held in the Connexions building next to the Hub on Sharrow Lane, next to Rosi's Italian restaurant on Wednesday evenings. Class starts at 7pm and we do a beginner-level session until 8pm before breaking for tea and biscuits (free of charge!). We reconvene at 7.15 (ish) and do an intermediate / advanced session until 9.30. It's just £5 for the first session or £6 for the second session (or both!). If you attend the first session you are very welcome to stay and watch some of the advanced lesson at no extra cost (it's good to see what you are aspiring to!) We've got a really nice group of beginners at the moment and the atmosphere is relaxed. Likewise we have a small but dedicated group of intermediate / advanced students who are capable of playing some of the harder rhythms that you don't get to hear very often outside of West Africa (because they are hard!) Hope to see some new faces soon Jon

Hi all. I run weekly classes in West African drumming (djembe and dundun). For beginners I teach the principles of West African drumming using traditional material made accessible. The fun, friendly and informal atmosphere allows everyone to learn at an achievable level. The sessions are fully supported by a co-musician (Zoe Jeffryes) who plays tuned West African bass drums (dunduns) For intermediate / advanced students I teach traditional material collected over many years studying with top West African djembe masters. Having both lived in West Africa and trained in classical music I use my experience of both African and western music to convey the material in a clear and concise way. My classes are being held in the Connexions building next to the Hub on Sharrow Lane, next to Rosi's Italian restaurant on Wednesday evenings. Class starts at 7pm and we do a beginner-level session until 8pm before breaking for tea and biscuits (free of charge!). We reconvene at 7.15 (ish) and do an intermediate / advanced session until 9.30. It's just £5 for the first session or £6 for the second session (or both!). If you attend the first session you are very welcome to stay and watch some of the advanced lesson at no extra cost (it's good to see what you are aspiring to!) We've got a really nice group of beginners at the moment and the atmosphere is relaxed. Likewise we have a small but dedicated group of intermediate / advanced students who are capable of playing some of the harder rhythms that you don't get to hear very often outside of West Africa (because they are hard!) Hope to see some new faces soon Jon

Don't know if this gets read but you never know! My classes are being held in the Connexions building next to the Hub on Sharrow Lane, next to Rosi's Italian restaurant on Wednesday evenings. Class starts at 7pm and we do a beginner-level session until 8pm before breaking for tea and biscuits (free of charge!). We reconvene at 7.15 (ish) and do an intermediate / advanced session until 9.30. It's just £5 for the first session or £6 for the second session (or both!). If you attend the first session you are very welcome to stay and watch some of the advanced lesson at no extra cost (it's good to see what you are aspiring to!) We've got a really nice group of beginners at the moment and the atmosphere is relaxed. Likewise we have a small but dedicated group of intermediate / advanced students who are capable of playing some of the harder rhythms that you don't get to hear very often outside of West Africa (because they are hard!) Hope to see some new faces soon Jon

If you wanted to try a class out I'd give you one taster session for free. Jon

Crikey that was a quick reply! I charge £7 a session, or £6 if you pay for a block in one go. Jon

Hi Guys. Just in case you're interested I run both beginner and intermediate classes in Sheffield. Check out my website for more info: http://www.africandrummingsheffield.co.uk Either way, good luck in your search for like minded people to play with (actually some of my students might be interested if you manage to get something going). Jon

If you want to have fun learning funky West African rhythms then this class is for you. Led by two passionate, experienced and patient teachers: Jon Weaver has been studying West African percussion for 12 years. He spent 3 years living and playing in West Africa and can’t wait to share his passion with you. Zoe Jeffryes is a singer and percussionist. She has been playing djembe for 6 years and will be providing accompaniment and support for the class ... Starts Monday 23rd April at Sharrow Community Hall, Sheffield United Football Ground, John Street. 7.30pm to 9.30pm. £7 per class or £60 for a 10 week term. Call Jon on 077880 821033 for more details.

Join us for a spectacular day of drum and dance! The day will kick off at 10am on Sunday 17th June with a 3 hour workshop by renowned Guinean djembe fola Iya Sako, fully supported by members of Sheffield-based percussion band Kassa. After lunch we will be reconvening for a high-energy dance class with West African dance teacher Sens Sagna. The dance class will be fully supported by a live band including blistering solo by Iya Sako. The workshops are priced as follows: 3 hour workshop with Iya Sako (previous djembe experience required): £20 2 hour workshop with Sens Sagna: £12 Special all day price for 2 workshops: £25 Location: Sharrow Community Hall, Sheffield United Football ground, John Street, S2 4QX Please contact Jon Weaver to book a place: Email: djembeweaver@gmail.com Tel: 07880 821033

A well argued point. Your powers of reason astound me.

Rubbish! What someone looks like and what they buy are two very important bits of information in determining their age. Shop keepers have based their decisions on this for years quite succesfully (until recently). Now you might reply that this sytem didn't work, which is why the 25 rule was implemented, to which I would say: When i was an underage drinker I knew exactly which shops would, and would not, serve alcohol to minors. The same is true now. If you are underage you don't go to Sainsburys. You go to Steers Beers on London Road where they regularly serve girls who are clearly teenagers. How do I know that they are teenagers? It's bloody obvious: I work with teenagers and I know what they look like.

This policy is specifically designed to remove discretion from the equation. The logic seems to be that if you allow people discretion they might apply it inappropriately. So instead let's make it idiot proof: If someone looks 25 ID them; if they don't have ID neither they, nor anyone else they are with, may make the purchase. There - job done; you have effectively taken the responsibility away from the member of staff. Implicit message: lowly shop floor staff cannot be trusted to make decisions. Do staff higher up the career ladder have to work with such rigidity? Er...no

Ha - I wish. I certainly don't look like a teenager and I've been buying alcohol from there on and off for 2 years. My friend doesn't look like a teenager either, just young enough to look under 25.

Sounds like a John le Carre novel, or maybe 1984. So what you are saying is that the staff are so paranoid about making a wrong decision they feel they can't use their own common sense. Great policy.