Team Profiles

Graeme Hare

Graeme Hare is the director and lead facilitator of Drumming Workshops. He began drumming at the age of 9 in his father's best friend's garage and knew even then, he had found something special!

After many years of music clubs, bands and youth workshops, Graeme eventually found himself at Newcastle Music College where he attained an honours degree in jazz and popular music, Bmus (hons). Shortly after graduating, Graeme was lucky enough to get a job as one of the hard working team of drummers at Northumberland county music service, delivering drum kit lessons and hand drumming lessons to children in schools in and around the Northumberland area.

This is when the idea of setting up his own company began. He founded his company, Drumming Workshops in 2007 and has been gradually building the company and his team of specialist drummers. He is proud to say that his team are some of the most experienced, professional workshop facilitators in the county and they are ready to bring their experience and positivity to your event.

Graeme covers the North of England including, The Borders, Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Justine Hart

Justine Hart runs African drumming workshops, classes and also leads performance ensembles. Her specialism is West African drumming playing traditional rhythms for the djembe (a goblet shaped hand drum) and dunduns (bass drums played with a stick).

Justine began by attending a course in Senegal in 1998 and it would not be an understatement to say that this was a life changing experience - it started her passion for this art form, the desire to share it and enable others to enjoy it.

Since that first trip she has regularly studied in West Africa and in the UK with many West African djembefolas including Mamady Keita, Iya Sako, Seckou Keita, Vieux Bakayoko, Nansady Keita and Malo Sonko. Justine also organises events and camps specialising in drumming, dancing, singing and other traditional instruments. By running these events she promotes and employs West African artists whilst giving students and professionals opportunity to learn and experience the art forms, as they would do if studying in West Africa.

Justine is recognised as one of Britain's leading female djembe players as well as a highly respected workshop leader. She has over 13 years of experience and skill in not just teaching the music and culture but also in using rhythmic drumming in groups as a tool for activities such as team building. Justine can also include African dance and songs in her workshops - which is particularly popular with children. Before becoming a drummer Justine was a singer, accompanying herself on guitar and she integrates this in her band, Africa Junction.

Justine is the Drumming Workshops main London based facilitator, covering The Home Counties and London, including Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Essex and Wiltshire.

Steve Rivers

Steve Rivers is likely to be one of the most vibrant, flamboyant, dynamic and inspirational people you will ever meet and never forget!

From beginnings in classical percussion, Steve turned to African drumming in 1995. He has visited West African countries Gambia and Senegal to research drumming history, culture and learn new rhythms, beats and dances that he brings to bear in his workshops.

Everywhere he goes he gets rave reviews about how he unlocks the creative drive in people. He brings to the fore how groups interact with each other and how they, if they are willing, can go much further that they allow themselves to do.

One of Steve Rivers career highlights was when he was one of the speakers at the 2006 Successful Selling Conference at the Birmingham ICC. The post-dinner energiser event involved all 1200 delegates taking part in a giant 'Boomwacker'™ percussion session! In the space of 10 minutes all delegates were playing a co-ordinated rhythm together. The entire auditorium was buzzing with people's enthusiasm, energy and creative inspiration.

More recently his corporate clients have included Google, Moneysupermarket, HSBC, Aurum Holdings, Allianz Commercial, Astra Zenica and Mid-Counties Cooperative. He also has over 15 years of experience of delivering hundreds of inspirational drumming workshops to thousands of people in schools and communities throughout the UK.

Steve is Drumming Workshops Midlands facilitator, covering the East and West Midlands, South Yorkshire and Lancashire.