Welcome to My Off-Grid Summer Drum Retreat
Join me at the beautiful Joy Oasis in Occidental, CA for an immersive drum retreat this summer. This experience is an opportunity to deepen your rhythm skills in a serene natural setting, expand your drumming alongside fellow musicians and unplug from media for a few days. (phones do work)
Retreat Details
Dates: Aug 1, 2, 3, 4
Focus: This retreat is specially designed for djembe and dun dun players.
We will do some jamming, and learn traditional West African rhythms with two djembe parts, dun duns, bells, call and response. We will draw from these rhythms and more:
- Yankadi
- Sorsonette
- Dansa
- Djole
- Kotedjuga
We will also explore rhythms like Afoxe’, Samba Reggae, Martillo, and Tumbao adapted to the djembe-dun dun orchestra, providing ample opportunity for improvisation and creativity.
Daily Schedule
- Thursday: Arrive between 4-5 PM, set up, explore the surroundings, and join me for a communal dinner followed by a jam session or a sound journey. We’ll wind down with quiet music after 9 PM.
- Friday – Saturday:
- Morning quiet time until 10 AM. Breakfast is on your own in the communal kitchen.
- 10 AM: Brisk walk with percussion sticks – polyrhythms with hands and feet.
- 11 AM – 12 PM: First drum class including technique, warmups, and rhythm challenges.
- 12 PM – 12:30 PM: Time for individual practice.
- 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Communal lunch.
- 1:30 PM – 3 PM: Second drum class of the day.
- 3 PM – 3:30 PM: Additional individual practice, private lessons or downtime
- 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Downtime for walks, naps, or quiet music.
- 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM: Afternoon jam session.
- Dinner at 6 or 6:30 PM followed by an evening jam or practice session until 9 PM.
- Sunday: Half-day with final sessions. We’ll pack up and leave by early afternoon
What’s Included
- Classes: Six classes with Kim learning traditional rhythms, basics of jamming, optional short private lesson, body rhythm walks.
- Sound journeys: I’ll play gongs, hand pan, chimes, bowls, flutes, drums and other evocative sounds for evening wind down.
- Deepen: Three jam sessions in a beautiful retreat space surrounded by nature, featuring a fire pit and community areas for relaxation and socializing.
Accommodations and Meals
- Camping: Camping and car camping included
*optional upgrades available - Meals: Breakfast and lunch are communal – please bring your favorite morning and mid-day items. We will have guest chefs create three dinners for us.
* Optional Upgraded Accommodations – pictures available on request. You will pay for these separately and directly to the venue, and not through this site. Please contact me for the links to pay for your upgrade
- Dorm room: $88 for 3 nights per queen bed.
- Barn loft: $99 for 3 nights.
- Master bedroom: $133 for 3 nights.
- Gypsy caravan (sleeps two): $222 for 3 nights.
Additional Information
- There is a full bathroom available as well as an outhouse.
- A small living room with a fireplace, and a communal kitchen and dinner table.
- A beautiful dome (with a fireplace) for quiet sounds.
- No pets, please.
What to Bring
- A drum seat, a board to put under your drum, and a strap for stability.
- Flashlights, a hat, layers of clothes, good walking shoes, earplugs, pillow, your favorite snacks, and teas.
- A cooler for keeping your breakfast and lunch items fresh. We can circulate cold packs from the freezer.