Testimonials
Image: Whitchurch Primary School
“Thank you for coming to Carnegie Girls WI’s monthly meeting to demonstrate the African drums…We had a fabulous night, all credit to you. You have got a wonderful nature for teaching music…Thank you for giving our ladies a chance to do something new. And for some, a chance to step out of their comfort zone…A truly wonderful night filled with lots of laughter (and perseverance)”
“In my role as Marketing Director at JCP Solicitors, we used Dan’s services for a workshop that we helped to run- He did a 30-minute drumming session for 50 participants and it was faultless. Everybody loved it and it really broke the day up. The workshop made everyone feel more connected and it really re-energised the room. Dan is enthusiastic and an excellent group leader. I would highly recommend his services.”
“Children were enthralled – engaged totally…Well paced, exciting and fun – all children had access to instruments. Good to see the progression from Nursery to Year 2. Adults & children said ‘it was awesome! Lots of Fun! Bendigedig!’…Dan has carried out a series of workshops with year 2. Next time he visits, we will be involving parents/performing. They have had a ball! And learnt lots of musical skills/elements along the way. All fitting in with our ‘African’ project linked with staff visit to our partner school in Uganda”
“What started out as a short pilot scheme to gauge interest in African drumming classes has under Dan’s tutorage, turned into a long term venture. Class members enjoyed it so much they wanted to continue.
The interest in drumming has grown because of Dan’s expert teaching methods (together with the fact that drummers can make as much noise as they like in our sound proofed cinema). The sessions are structured so that drummers can develop their repertoire and, at the same time involve any new comers, who are able to join in without feeling left behind. The age of those taking part ranges from toddlers to pensioners, and Dan somehow manages to engage all age groups at the same time. His gentle encouragement and enthusiasm soon has everyone participating fully and any trepidation soon disappears.
The class is emotionally and physically uplifting; therapeutic and refreshing – an hour well spent”
“Dan ensured that all our participating individuals were able to express themselves through the use of instruments and had amazing patience with our residents who are living with dementia. Fantastic afternoon! Thank you”
“Our African drumming workshop was just great. It was well paced and informative and appropriate for the age group. Having said that, the adults in the room were delighted to have a go and were sorry to see the session end. Dan is a great teacher, pleasant and encouraging. His direction is really clear enabling all involved from as young as 4 years old to feel involved. We all came away with new knowledge about the different rhythms and how they work together and the great set of drums provided made it a pleasure to try the skills out. We look forward to inviting Dan back later this year.”
“A fun & entertaining evening for our WI ladies. Wonderful that all in the room were able to take part. So enjoyable. Thank you”
“Very helpful, completely professional. Enjoyed by all age groups and created a great atmosphere”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the whole session…It was good that all members were given an instrument to play so no one waited for their turn, we all played together”
“It was great to have the expertise of someone who could give the pupils (and staff) an authentic African drum/music lesson…all teachers commented that the workshop was appropriate and all pupils benefited and learnt something…Organising the workshop was very easy. Dan was very prompt replying to emails and very accomodating to what we wanted to achieve from the workshop for our pupils”
“The whole morning was very worthwhile. Dan was well informed and popular with the groups…Thank you and please ring next year for re-booking. Diolch”
“Thank you very much for your work and enthusiasm. Looking forward to booking you again when we re-do the theme…will ask Phelps Music back next time again as was so good”
“The group thoroughly enjoyed the session & we look forward to booking another soon”
“Just wanted to thank you Dan for the African drumming workshop at Heartbeats this week. We all throughly enjoyed, the children were very enthusiastic and had a brilliant time. You were very patient, encouraging and fun with them so thank you very much. We would definitely like to have you back again and would also recommend you to others”
“The workshops were professionally run and Dan’s manner with the students was lovely – positive and engaging. All students enjoyed the day immensely and found the workshops to be the right balance of fun yet appropriately challenging”
“Children were engaged and enjoyed throughout…Dan was very enthusiastic and got a lot out of them in a short time”
“The session was fantastic”
“The girls thoroughly enjoyed the session and would like to book you again”
“Our kids had a fantastic day and learned a lot of new skills with Dan! Thank you for coming to visit Afon Taf”
“Thanks again for a brilliant workshop and we hope to see you again in the future”
“Very professional and excellent teaching and musical experience…entertaining, educational, musical, enjoyable”
“Thank you for a great afternoon. The children had a great time – lots of fun and learning”
“Fantastic workshops – the children were really engaged and loved playing the different instruments. An interactive workshop appropriate to the ages of the children”
“The workshop could not have been better…our group wholeheartedly enjoyed the session – thank you”
“Very Pleased – children thoroughly enjoyed the workshop”
“Thank you very much for yet another excellent day of African drumming!”
“Newbridge Park N Play have used Phelps Music for our open access summer provision this year to supply us with drumming workshops and we couldn’t be happier with Dan’s service. He is very professional and friendly, good with the children and patient. We will definitely be booking again and would highly recommend him”
“The workshop was very well attended on the day, thankfully there were plenty of instruments for all to use individually. It was perfectly pitched at a drop in session over a 2 hour period allowing children and adults/families to stay and participate for as long as they wished…The music appealed to people of all ages and everyone was able to participate to their own level of enjoyment”
“Loved how all girls were engaged and developed an enthusiasm for drumming”
“Thank you for your time and patience throughout workshop. Children thoroughly enjoyed themselves”
“Excellent evening, thoroughly enjoyed by all”
“Thank you for a fantastic music session the children learnt a lot”
“Dan Worked well with our pupils. He was very keen and tailored his workshops around our African module and programme of study”
“2nd Llandaff Beavers really enjoyed the session, and were engaged for the full hour. It was also very relaxing and calming”
“Thank you for an excellent workshop – all the children really enjoyed it”
“Great Workshop, the children enjoyed it and it was easy to arrange. Thank you!”
“Thank you for a fantastic evening of music. The explorers totally enjoyed, were focussed and we would love you to visit again!”
“Great workshop, pupils were enthusiastic and focussed. Very engaging and also stimulating”
“The children all really enjoyed and the other teachers thought it was a great workshop, well structured and resourced. They really liked the fact that you had more than enough instruments for all children to be involved all of the time”
“Thank you, both Brownies, Guides and all the leaders enjoyed the sessions”
“All the feedback from the young carers has been very positive and they have asked to do something similar again. A very fun and different activity to do with people of all ages”
“Absolutely Fabulous! Loved it!”
“An informative, enjoyable morning. The children and myself had a great time playing the different instruments. Thank you”
“All perfect. Just a brilliant workshop, Thank-you”
“Thank you for a fantastic opportunity. The children really benefitted from the pace and content and all pupils were engaged throughout”
“An excellent workshop – enjoyed by all”
“Every child was involved – all had an instrument and were able to participate. Dan had a lovely rapport with all our classes throughout Foundation Phase”
“Another fab workshop. Engaging and the pace kept the children focussed”
“Really enjoyed the workshop, the children were happy and a variety of age groups catered for”
“The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience”
“The children thoroughly enjoyed the session. The session leader was very friendly and lovely with the children. The session was valuable and would be considered when conducting topics that it is appropriate to (for example ‘Big Wide World’ etc) Thank you very much”
“The children thoroughly enjoyed and came out of the lesson wanting to learn the drums. Myself and Miss Jones also enjoyed having a go”
“It was a great activity that adults & children could do together. Everyone had lots of fun and feedback from carers and young people/children has ben excellent”
“Call and response work was excellent…The children really enjoyed the session, children thought it was fun and exciting”
“An Excellent Workshop. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Thank you!”
“4 classes participated and each one commented on how the children were so engaged and inspired – each session went so quickly and covered so much. Great fun, a brilliant learning experience”
“Very enjoyable and lots of fun for all age groups. Excellent”
“An enjoyable educational experience for both children and staff”
“All the children thoroughly enjoyed the workshop – Thank you!”
“Children all enjoyed trying the various instruments. Really brought something unique to our fete”
“Perfect for a staff team building/wellbeing session – we learned and laughed for the whole hour”
“The adults involved were full of praise & said how much the pupils had enjoyed the session…good feedback from the children”
“A thoroughly enjoyable experience”
“Many thanks for a great ‘African Drumming workshop’…The children had a really fun evening”
“Sessions were really good and were a good balance of pace and ensuring the young people could do what was needed”
“Thank you very much – enjoyable day!”
“The Young people enjoyed the session with positive feedback given to workers, so an overall success. Thank you”
“The pupils really enjoyed it – thank you for being so flexible with the timings”