Newfield Park Primary Academy welcomed Dudley Performing Arts (DPA) for an engaging West African drumming workshop with reception and year 2 pupils. Children explored the djembe, learning to produce a variety of different sounds, including bass and tone, and practised rhythms using both hands with control and coordination.
The workshop complemented Reception’s learning about Africa and Year 2’s recent geography topic on Serekunda, giving pupils a hands-on, offering pupils a hands-on experience that connected music with culture and history.
Dudley Performing Arts is a leading provider of arts opportunities for young people across the Dudley borough, working in partnership with schools and community organisations. Their team of instrumental, dance and vocal teachers support schools in delivering high-quality arts education, from nursery through to sixth form. DPA has a long history of running projects such as vocal workshops, African drumming and curriculum-linked dance sessions, and is the lead partner in the Dudley Music Education Hub.
Steve Payne, Principal at Newfield Park Primary Academy, said: “It was fantastic to see our pupils so engaged with the drumming. Many had never played an instrument before, and by the end they were confidently keeping a rhythm together. Experiences like this help our children develop coordination, creativity and confidence, while also giving them a real understanding of different cultures. Workshops like these bring our music curriculum to life and make learning unforgettable.”
Music is a key part of life at the Academy. The school provides an ambitious and relevant music curriculum designed to inspire creativity and excellence, offering pupils opportunities to perform, compose and explore music across genres, styles and historic periods. Pupils are further supported by the Academy’s collaboration with organisations including DPA and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. In 2025, the school was recognised with the Music Mark Award for its commitment to music education.
The West African drumming workshop formed part of the Academy’s ongoing commitment to provide pupils with enriching, hands-on experiences that foster a love of learning, creativity and cultural understanding.
