Reviews

Here's a selection of reviews from education publishers and customers.

Teach Secondary Review — African Drumming Set
Reviewed by: John Dabell
The impressive 'African Drumming – Secondary – 15 Player Class Set' from Drums for Schools consists of five high quality wooden Djembe drums and 10 items of hand percussion for creating a range of authentic African drumming sounds, allowing any secondary teacher to lead a group or class to performance level in just one term.

Teach Primary Review — World Percussion 30 Player Budget Set
Reviewed by: Mike Davies
I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest that, if you struggle with teaching music in primary school, your discomfort will fall into one of two categories. One is that you worry you are not particularly musical. The other is that you actually love music, which is why you finish each lesson with a sigh of relief and either a massive headache or a funny twitch.

Teach Primary Review — Gamelan Standard 10 Player Pack
Reviewed by: Emily Cotter
This resource offers the experience and expertise of a professional musician, Andy Gleadhill, and is able to support even those teachers who profess to minimal musical abilities. The package includes three gongs; Ageng (large), Kempul (medium) and Kenong (small).

Teach Primary Review — Junior 8 Djembe African Drumming Package
Reviewed by: Marc Bowen
Does the prospect of teaching music fill you with dread? Is your inability to squeeze a tune out of a recorder a closely guarded secret? Fear not, the Junior 8 Djembe African Drumming Package – which includes Andy Gleadhill's very useful African drumming guide – is here to lead you by the hand on a musical odyssey.

Havelock Academy — 30 Player Premium Gamelan Pack
Reviewed by: Music Department — Havelock Academy Faculty of Arts
We purchased our Gamelan from Drums for Schools in October 2010, with money very generously donated from some of our Academy Trustees. The project has had a significant impact from the very start.

King Edwards Junior — 30 Player Budget Gamelan Pack
Reviewed by: Mary Edwards, Director of Music — King Edward's Junior School — April 2010
The addition of the Gamelan in year 5 (and the Steel Pans in year 6) has now broadened the childrens' musical awareness of how music works and is experienced in and through 'non-western' cultures.

Wirral Music Service — 30 Player Premium Gamelan Pack
Reviewed by: Neil Watson, Wirral Music Service
The premium gamelan pack has allowed both secondary and primary school pupils to experience the culture of Bali not only through the medium of music but also through the physical medium of touching and playing authentic hand made instruments.

Bristol Music Service — African Drumming and Gamelan Packs
Reviewed by: Anita Silverston, Head of Teaching and Learning, Bristol Arts and Music Service
Drums for Schools has an impressive and unique product range that has obviously been developed in association with schools and teachers to provide music educators with the best in equipment and resources to deliver a diverse music curriculum.

Jessie's Fund — Special Educational Needs
Reviewed by: Lesley Schatzberger, Founder, Jessie's Fund
Drums for Schools has developed a wide range of excellent musical instruments suitable for both mainstream schools and those for children with special needs. By developing direct relationships with the craftsmen who make them they have been able to offer the instruments at very affordable prices.

Primary Teacher Update — Gold Award for Class Percussion Budget Pack — Sep 2012
Reviewed by: 2012 Primary Teacher Award Judges | Gold Winner
An absolutely fantastic selection of instruments, suitable for a range of ages. Our music coordinator was bowled over with the quality and durability of the instruments.

Practical PreSchool — Silver Award for the Dream Drum — Sep 2012
Reviewed by: 2012 Practical Preschool Award Judges | Silver Winner
This was a very appealing resource; both the staff and children were very excited to receive it. The children enjoyed listening to the different sounds and then producing them together as a group.

Practical PreSchool — Silver Award for the Musical Baby Bonding Kit — Sep 2012
Reviewed by: Practical Preschool Award Judges | Silver Winner
All the instruments come in a delightful little basket; they are well-made and featured a variety of sounds to keep your baby interested.

Nursery World Award — Best Resource for 3s to 5s — The Dream Drum — Sep 2012
Reviewed by: Nursery World Awards 2012 Judges | Equipment
The Dream Drum is a unique yet simple pitched percussion instrument with a soothing, meditative sound. It is easy and satisfying to play and offers a range of learning opportunities in early years settings.

Educational Resources Awards 2011 — Gamelan Teaching Pack
Reviewed by: Education Resources Awards 2011 Judges | Secondary Resources
The quality of entries this year has been consistently high, highlighting the tremendous vision of the resources industry and its commitment to education.

Educational Resources Awards 2011 — African Drumming & Gamelan Teaching Packs
Reviewed by: Education Resources Awards 2011 Judges | Secondary Resources
The quality of entries this year has been consistently high, highlighting the tremendous vision of the resources industry and its commitment to education. You are always competing against a great many others who may have made a stronger case.