There is something especially immediate about sitting down at a drum and starting to play. You do not need to read music, to have studied it or to have mastered an instrument to discover that your own rhythm can meet other people's and become part of something much bigger. That shared experience is the starting point for the new beginner-level percussion groups that percussionist and teacher Karina Lacourtois is launching in Costa Teguise from September.
The course is aimed at anyone wanting to explore the world of percussion for the first time, but also at anyone looking for a different kind of activity in which to learn, release energy, improve coordination and enjoy making music in a group. No previous musical experience is needed, as learning is progressive, hands-on and tailored to people starting from scratch.
There will be two beginner-level groups, one on Mondays at 6:00 pm and another on Thursdays at 7:30 pm. Both will start in September, once each group is full. Places are limited and groups will be kept small.
Anyone interested can ask for information or book a place by email at karinapercusion@gmail.com, or by phone or WhatsApp on 619 363 073.
A journey through the rhythms and instruments of the world
Djembes, congas, cajón, surdos, dununs, shakers, claves and other instruments will serve as a gateway to different sounds and ways of understanding rhythm. Over the sessions, participants will work on technique, coordination, hand independence, listening, tempo and groove, always through practice and collective experience.
The method of Karina Lacourtois rests on a simple idea: rhythm can be learned naturally, by playing. Classes combine a progressive grounding in the different instruments with exercises that develop coordination and an understanding of how rhythmic language works, while putting it into practice alongside the other participants.
The variety of instruments also makes it possible to discover the different roles each person can take on within a piece. Not everyone has to do the same thing or play at the same time. One pattern can support another, different timbres can complement each other, and several seemingly simple lines can end up forming a much richer rhythmic structure.
Learning to listen thus becomes as important as learning to play. Each participant brings their own sound, but needs to pay attention to everyone else for the whole to work. It is precisely there that percussion stops being merely the learning of a technique and becomes a collective experience.
That shared dimension is central to the way Karina understands music. As one of the principles behind her project puts it, “rhythm unites us even before words exist”.
Music, wellbeing and community
The course goes beyond strictly musical learning. Playing percussion demands being present: listening, keeping tempo, coordinating movements and constantly responding to what others are doing. That concentration allows you to step away from everyday worries for a while, and turns making music into an activity also linked to switching off and to wellbeing.
Then there is the social dimension. Playing in a group means listening to the person next to you, respecting shared timing and finding your own place within the ensemble. The music is built by everyone together, and a single polyrhythm can bring together completely different voices, timbres and patterns that need one another to work.
This idea underpins the teaching of Karina Lacourtois, who structures her work around three interconnected dimensions: personal development, community building and cultural outreach.
The first uses rhythm as a tool to develop coordination, concentration and mindful presence. The second grows out of the experience of playing with other people and everything that listening, coordinating and being part of a group involves. The third broadens the focus to the instruments themselves and the cultures they come from.
Because getting to know a djembe, a conga or any of the instruments used in class is not only about learning how to produce a particular sound. The course also seeks to explore, step by step, their context, their tonal richness and the musical cultures that have kept them alive. In this way, learning how to play can also become a chance to understand what you are playing and where it comes from.
Karina Lacourtois's experience
Leading the new groups is Karina Lacourtois, a Lanzarote-based percussionist and teacher with a long track record in rhythm teaching, folk music research and community engagement.
Her work combines the academic rigour of musicology with an approachable, practical and participatory method. Throughout her career she has placed traditional instruments and collective percussion at the centre of an approach that seeks to bring music to people of very different backgrounds, ages and experiences.
That approach now continues with the new beginner-level groups starting in September in Costa Teguise. An opportunity for those who have always been curious about percussion but never dared to start, and also for those looking for an activity where music, learning and collective experience share the same beat.
New percussion groups – Beginner level Mondays: 6:00 pm Thursdays: 7:30 pm Venue: Costa Teguise Start: September, once each group is full Places: limited, small groups Information and registration: karinapercusion@gmail.com | 619 363 073