Katumba Beginners Sessions | 6-Week Drumming & Movement Experience
About this Event
Want to join the Katumba band? This is where you start! 🥁💚💛
Our 6-week Beginners Programme is the entry pathway into the Katumba Bloco, our community drumming and movement band. If you’re interested in joining Katumba, this programme will give you the foundations you need before moving into our regular rehearsals.
Absolutely no previous experience is needed. You don’t need to have played an instrument before, know how to read music, be a dancer, or think of yourself as particularly “musical”. We’ll teach you everything you need to know from the beginning.
Over six progressive weekly sessions, you’ll learn the foundations of Katumba’s unique approach to drumming, rhythm and movement, while experiencing the joy and energy of playing together as a group.
What to expect
Across the six weeks, you’ll:
- Learn the foundations of Katumba’s drumming and Movement
- Explore movement and rhythm in an accessible, supportive way
- Build confidence playing as part of a group
- Experience the energy of making music together
- Meet new people and become part of a welcoming community
- Learn some of the rhythms and material played by the Katumba Bloco
- Learn from experienced professional artists and facilitators – Katumba’s directors, Juliana and Ritchie, bring decades of combined experience in music, rhythm, movement, performance and community practice.
- Learn directly from Brazilian cultural experience – Juliana is originally from Recife, Northeast Brazil, and brings her lived cultural connection and knowledge of the Brazilian traditions that inspire Katumba into the way the rhythms, movement and their cultural context are shared.
All instruments are provided.
Your pathway into Katumba
The Beginners Programme is designed to prepare you to progress into the Katumba Bloco (our community band) once you complete the six weeks.
From there, you can continue developing your skills through our regular weekly rehearsals and become part of the wider Katumba community, with opportunities to take part in performances and events as you develop.
From your first beat to your first performance 🥁
And there’s something to work towards!
This Beginners Programme connects with our HOME programme, creating a pathway for new participants to move from learning the basics to becoming part of the Katumba Bloco.
After completing the six weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to join our regular rehearsals in November and continue developing what you’ve learned alongside the wider band.
We’ll then be working towards a special end-of-programme celebration: Windsor Street Festival on Sunday 6 December, where our new members will have the opportunity to experience performing with Katumba as part of the event.
So your journey could take you from picking up a drum for the first time in September to performing as part of Katumba in December! 💥💚
Who is it for?
Complete beginners are very welcome.
There is no audition and no previous drumming, musical or dance experience required. You don’t need to be able to read music either.
We welcome different bodies, backgrounds and levels of confidence, and we’ll support you to participate in a way that works for you.
The Sessions
This is a six-week progressive programme, rather than a series of individual drop-in sessions. Each week builds on the one before, so when you book, you’re reserving your place for the full programme.
Your booking also means we’re reserving a drum/instrument for you for the duration of the programme. As we have a limited number of instruments available, this helps us know how many people we can welcome and make sure everyone has the equipment they need.
Can’t make every single week? Don’t worry! We understand that life happens, and it’s absolutely fine if you need to miss a session. We just ask that when you book, you’re intending to take part in the programme as a whole and aim to attend as many of the six sessions as you can, rather than booking with the intention of attending just one or two.
That way, we can make the best use of our limited places and instruments, and you’ll get the most from the experience and feel ready to progress into the Katumba Bloco afterwards.
Live locally? There may be a supported place for you 💚
As part of our Home Through Time programme, we're particularly keen to welcome people living in the communities around the Katumba Culture Hub (Toxteth, Dingle, Princes Park and Arundel) who might not otherwise have the opportunity to take part
A limited number of fully supported places are available for eligible local residents*
We know that work, caring responsibilities, finances and life circumstances can sometimes make committing to something new difficult. You don't need to guarantee that you'll make every session. We simply ask that you join with the intention of taking part in the programme and come along as regularly as you're able.
*As HOME Supported Places are for local residents, we’ll just need to confirm your residency. Simply show us something with your name and current address, such as a driving licence, utility/Council Tax bill, bank statement or official letter – showing it on your phone is absolutely fine and we won’t keep a copy. If this is a barrier, just get in touch.
Dates: Tuesday 22nd September – Tuesday 27th October 2026
Time: 6:30-8.00pm
Location: Katumba Culture Hub, Liverpool
68 Upper Hill St. John Archer Hall, Toxteth L81YR
About Katumba
Katumba brings together drumming, movement, wellbeing and community, inspired by Afro-Indigenous Brazilian and wider diasporic rhythmic traditions.
Our sessions are energetic, inclusive and rooted in connection: connecting with rhythm, with our bodies and with each other.
If you’ve been watching Katumba and wondering how you can get involved, this is your starting point.
Come find your rhythm. 🥁💚💛
❓ FAQs
Are there age requirements?
This event is for ages 18+, 16-17-year olds accompanied by an adult.
Do I need any experience?
Not at all, this is completely beginner-friendly. Just come as you are.
Do I have to attend all the sessions?
Please aim to attend as many of the six sessions as you can, rather than booking with the intention of attending just one or two.
Do I need to bring anything?
We’ll provide everything you need (drums, sticks, hearing protection, etc.).
Please bring water (you can refill on-site)
What should I wear?
Comfortable clothing and shoes you can move in.
Is there parking?
Yes, our building John Archer Hall has on-site parking spaces, bike locks, and additional street parking nearby.
Please be mindful not to block neighbours’ driveways.
Do I need to bring a printed ticket?
No, digital tickets are absolutely fine.
Can I update my booking details?
Just email us and we’ll sort it for you.
Can someone else use my ticket?
Yes, that’s absolutely fine.
Will photos or videos be taken?
We may capture photos and videos during the session for use on our social media and marketing.
If you’d prefer not to be included, just let a member of the team know on the day.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00 to GBP 87.38
