LA GRANDE — A new season of Community African Drumming starts this month as part of the community music program through Art Center East.

The first session is Tuesday, Sept. 27, 6-7 p.m. in Loso Hall room 123 on the campus of Eastern Oregon University.

Participants then meet every Tuesday, at the same time, through Dec. 6.

This opportunity is for ages 12 and older. No experience is necessary, and drums are provided.

“This fun and welcoming group is a great way to learn how to play the djembe (a goblet-shaped drum played with bare hands) or refine your djembe skills,” said Moira Madden, ACE outreach coordinator. “I encourage people to register soon for this popular class as it is filling up quickly.”

Community African Drumming is part of ACE’s community music program, which also includes private music lessons for children, teen and adults taught by experienced ACE music educators.

“ACE continues its strong commitment to bringing the joy of music to community members of all ages in group and individual settings,” Madden said.

Community African Drumming will be led by Celine Burke. She has a bachelor of music degree from EOU with a focus on percussion performance and is a long-time member of the group.

“I love that each person plays a short rhythm that interconnects with the short rhythms other group members are playing,” Burke said. “This fun interconnection creates something larger than each drummer can play alone.”

Burke was introduced to African drumming in 2007 at an EOU class led by John McKinnon and Luke McKern in 2007.

Register

The registration free is $45 for current ACE members, or $55 for nonmembers.

Youth scholarships are available for those ages 18 and younger.

Register online at artcentereast.org/calendar, by calling 541-624-2800, or at ACE, 1006 Penn Ave. during business hours (Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.).

For information about scholarships, visit artcentereast.org/ace-youth-scholarship.