What is percussion? Discover your inner rhythm!

Clap, tap, thump, rattle… Percussion is everywhere! From the first heartbeat you ever heard (your mother's!) to tapping your pen on the table during a boring meeting. Percussion is all about rhythm, making sounds together — with your hands, sticks or simply… anything that makes a sound. But what exactly is percussion? And why is it so much fun (and important)? We would love to explain!

Quotation

🥁 What does percussion mean?

Percussion literally means: playing percussion instruments. These are instruments that make sounds when struck, shaken or tapped. Think drums, tambourines, shakers, cajons, bongos or djembes. Percussion is essentially music in its earliest form: the oldest instrument is simply... something to hit.

While melodic instruments such as the piano or guitar produce notes, percussion is all about rhythm. It is the driving force of every band, every orchestra and, honestly... every good party.

Percussion is in our DNA

Rhythm is as old as humanity. Look at traditional societies around the world – from African drum circles to South American samba and Asian temple bells. Everywhere on earth, people use percussion to communicate, celebrate and connect.

And you know what? You really do not need to be a musician to understand percussion. Everyone has rhythm. Some people just need to wake theirs up a little 😉.

Percussion in practice – Drumming together by the sea

And that is exactly why, at Beleving aan Zee we offer a percussion workshop. What could be more fun than making a musical party with your colleagues, friends or family? Don't worry if you think “I have no sense of rhythm at all”: most participants thought that too. Until they had a djembe in front of them... and discovered that there was a rhythmic wonder inside them after all.

Under the guidance of a versatile musician, you learn the basics of drumming. How do you strike? What sounds can you make? And how do you listen to one another to find a shared groove? Before long, a wonderful flow of rhythm, teamwork and, above all, plenty of fun emerges.

Why percussion is so much more than music

Team building: Everyone is equal in the drum circle.
Focus: Percussion requires listening, responding and working together.
Fun: Expect plenty of laughter, missed beats and, eventually… magic!
Experience: Making music together by the sea? Unforgettable.

Practical information for the percussion workshop

We organise our percussion workshops at various locations, including Scheveningen, Kijkduin, Wassenaar and Hoek van Holland. We mainly use djembes, but other percussion instruments can also be included. The workshop combines a little explanation with plenty of hands-on practice.