Kenne
Thomas teaches West
African, Middle Eastern, Latin, Asian
Percussion instrument peformance technique and rhythms. Scheduled Drum
Set
lessons are available for the modern drummer.
An
experienced
performer, teacher and author, with 30 years of percussion performance
and teaching experience Kenne teaches a wide variety of percussion
instruments at his studio in Minnesota: Jembe, Dun duns, Dumbek, Zills,
Daff, Riqq, Conga, Bongos, Clave and Shekere rhythms, Bodhran, Santoor
and more. Well grounded in drum set performance technique Kenne guides
aspiring drummers in the mechanics of drum set artistry.
Community Group Drumming Classes are held regularly.
Hand drum clinics
are held at music stores and schools. His "Drums
From A Small Planet"
programs and workshops enrich students understanding of our world's
cultures at schools, community centers and institutions. At Risk and
troubled youth programs are an integral component of the activities
Kenne espouses.
Nurturing
young players is an effort Kenne has an intuitive focus on. His
children's book "RhythmiKidz"
hs been well received. It is a fun manual on
rhythmic study for elementary kids with patterns and activities to
enrich young players performance skills and appreciation of drumming.
Kenne
conducts weekly group drumming
classes as well as private
lessons. He is the author of many instruction, technique and rhythm
books including the widely used teacher, music therapist and
facilitator's manual, "Drum
Circle Cookbook", his newest books on Middle
Eastern rhythms "ANTHOLOGIA"
a comprehensive guide on Dumbek, Zills and Riqq for ensemble and belly
dance, "Dumbek Dance"
for the dedicated dumbek player (ANTHOLOGIA Vol. one), and "ZILLIA"
a book on dance rhythms focusing on zills and riqq (ANTHOLOGIA Vol.
two). Also the hand drum group rhythms book "Drum Circles"
focusing on melodic drumming.
