You can also read feedback from participants describing in detail the full impact OVM and Ravin’s tuition has had on their personal & professional lives.
“It was brilliant! Wow, your guys were amazing and the end results were incredible! The workshops were all fantastic! Please pass on our thanks again to them all. I know it was a busy and tricky schedule but they were so good at knowing what they were doing and where to go which is incredibly helpful on these busy days!! Awesome – many thanks!” Daisy Sunda, Music Teacher/Event Organiser (African Drumming)
“Your team were absolutely amazing! They arrived very early to set up and were extremely friendly and enthusiastic. The children loved being ‘drummed in’ to the introductory assembly. The body percussion session by Ollie was so full of energy and a sense of fun; that he had the children captivated within moments. This continued to be the theme for the day. Well focused sessions full of information: the region of Africa where the drums were from, the different drum names, how they could be played to create different sounds etc. The team were a huge success and perhaps some of the children’s own word best reflect this. “Thank you for teaching me how to play the drum. It was 100% the best thing I had done that week” – Grace “I absolutely loved playing all the different instruments! Thank you so much for coming to our school.” – Louie After the half term holiday when telling the nursery children we were going to the hall a little boy asked “Are we having the drums today?”. He is a really quiet 4 year old who doesn’t really chat very much so obviously the day made a huge impact on him. Just to say a very big thank you for making our festival of culture so special and a most memorable day for all the children
“Thank you for your email. Yes we were VERY pleased. The workshop was amazing and ran wonderfully. It was just what I wanted and a super end to the end of the year. Raz and Ella were amazing and I would like to pass on my thanks and apologies for not offering them more refreshments- it was a busy day! I will definitely use your company again! Thank you so much for all your help.” Sarah Chitty (percussion & dance)
“All the sessions were very well received and I had lots of positive feedback – the tutors prepared well for special needs, they listened to and worked with the pupils well and the children really enjoyed all the sessions! Thank you again for all three wonderful sessions!” Elizabeth Passingham (percussion, dance & visual arts)
“I would just like to say a big thank you to you. You were very helpful on the day, especially considering the ‘come as you like’ feel of the day. All of the parents and children loved the event and quite a few have said it was the best activity of the programme, which is great!” Ryan Lowder (African Drumming)
“We had a fabulous day with Raz and Marcia who were wonderful. The children and adults got so much out of the day. The performance to the parents and other children at the end was a real celebration of all the hard work and fun we had had throughout the day. I have shared our day with other staff and we will definitely come back to you for future days. Thanks again.” Cath Williams, Yr 2 teacher (percussion & dance)
“Many thanks. The staff and pupils thoroughly enjoyed your team’s workshops. Next year sounds good for some more of your sessions – I’ll be in contact.” Andy Chauhan, Head of Arts Faculty (percussion, dance & visual arts)
“It has been brilliant – the performance [at the end of the course] was an experience I wouldn’t have missed for the world.”
“I’ve had a fantastic weekend. I am extremely impressed by the level and style of the tuition. The friendliness and enthusiasm of all the teachers and participants made for a highly enjoyable weekend.”
“Everything about the course was absolutely wonderful. A striking feature was that people of widely different experience were taught together and apparantly fulfilled. I began 5 months ago, others had over 10 years experience”.
“Learned so much & how much more I want to do. Thanks – it’s been fantastic, helped me beyond all expectations. This is only the start!”
I enjoy the way Raz teaches; he is always encouraging and very approachable.
I loved Ravin’s gentle encouragement & energy that got all of us playing his amazing music. The lst piece we played on Saturday night I shall never forget. Thank you.
I really enjoyed the workshop- it now seems a long time ago. The best parts for me were that Raz managed to get a random group of people of all ages to come together and to make something out of it in one day. I liked the history of samba that he talked about and the chance to find out more about the differing instruments. I am struggling to think of anything I did not like about the day.
A superb course. Ravin is a patient, compassionate, informative & exciting teacher. Seemingly effortless learning in a relaxed atmosphere.
Excellent teaching, outstanding depth of knowledge of subject. Ravin is a patient and thorough teacher/leader and exceptionally good. Enjoyed the course very much – a gentle but tough approach.
Ravin has identified stick technique as one of the big problem areas for samba drummers and he is quite right to focus on this basic method of learning to let the stick do the work. Snare drum and Repinique players get yourselves on to one of these great one day courses.
The tuition was excellent. Ravin understood everyone’s level & lack of experience so was able to impart information in an appropriate manner and at a suitable pace. Consequently I learned a lot & felt like I’d made real progress. Ravin was patient & very encouraging, an excellent workshop.
Tutor has a very good delivery manner, calm, clear & precise. I believe a similar course should be provided and promoted by every Samba Group to all members. Invaluable.
I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and learnt new rhythms, sounds & techniques. I enjoyed the concentrated learning experience and would have liked longer.
I have always enjoyed these rhythms, but now I believe that you & Bocao have shown us the real heart of the matter, what the rhythms represent. Thinking about this whilst I was playing, celebrating freedom and watching the dancers, really boosted my energy and I was extremely moved.
We all enjoy Raz’s workshops very much. He is thoroughly professional and has a style of teaching that puts everyone at ease. We have enjoyed his repertoire and on our last course he recommended Bocau to teach dance-he was a superb teacher too.
Just wanted to thank you for a great time – we all really enjoyed the music and your gentle, encouraging teaching (I hope I learnt from that too).
It’s still early days for me in the drum playing stakes so I’m really glad that I came to your workshops. They’ve definitely started me out on the right foot. You are a very good teacher: methodical and perceptive with a nice manner, going at the right pace and teaching good material. (You can quote me on that!). Thanks very much.
