Cornell Coley, M. Ed. 

African Diaspora

Teaching Artist, Producer, Performer

AFRO-LATIN CULTURAL CURRICULUM
USA, Caribbean, Brazil, West Africa, South & Central America

  • Lessons include drums and cultural information about West Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, Latin America and the US.
  • Includes prep time beforehand and follow up afterward.
  • Together, we determine your exact needs and develop a curriculum to match your academic goals.​​

MEMORY CAFES & ​​THERAPEUTIC DRUMMING

  • Drumming, movement, singing, therapeutic strategies and cultural contexts.
  • Access the healing power of drumming to challenge self-limiting beliefs and preconceptions about what is possible.
  • Mr. Coley is a favorite at Memory Cafes throughout greater Boston, servicing dozens per year.​
  • Drum therapy helps connect the brain hemispheres to restore muscle control, bring out social interaction, calm emotions and inspire hope.
  • Particularly helpful for people with stroke, Parkinson's, Altzheimers, brain injury, and trauma, PTSD and ADD.
  • Includes the well-documented HealthRhythms protocol.


The disabled, veterans, hospitals, senior centers, resident homes, clinics and hospices

RESIDENCIES AND WORKSHOPS: Drumming and Diversity 

  • Designed to fit the needs of each site.
  • A choice of African diaspora cultural area - drumming, cultural history and songs from Ghana, Brazil or the Caribbean.  
  • Suitable for high-functioning, gifted, at-risk or special needs.​
  • Cornell gives students extended time to play drums together. He demonstrates how the drums and percussion work in relation to each other, the evolution of drumming over time and from one culture to another.
  • He explores in-depth how technology has allowed innovations in instrument-making and playing techniques from traditional drums to the modern drum kit.


K- 12 school, after-school, colleges, community centers, hospitals and medical centers

                                          TESTIMONIALS
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Thank you for another amazing performance! Yet again, you were a wonderful addition to our lineup. By far you are the most engaging and active performer. I hope we can continue to work together in the future.
Ashley , The Revolving Museum, Lowell

   The kids who came into the library following your performance were still buzzing about it! Your energy and sense of rhythm are contagious and the way you move your body is a joy to watch.
Katie McCarron, Children's Librarian, Lunenberg Public Library

  Thank you so much for the wonderful show you put on for our Juneteenth Celebration! You have the gift... in no time you had the audience volunteers dancing like a professional troupe! Amazing!
Lucia Shannon, Brockton Public Library

THE "FASCINATING RHYTHM"  SHOW     Unlimited Audience
Interactive, solo performance -  drums, folkloric instruments, dance and songs 

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  • This interactive show begins with Cornell introducing the body as the first instrument.
  • Then, he plays on small instruments familiar to nomadic societies - the musical bow, dumbec, talking drum, families of bells, shakers and the human voice.
  • After this impressive display, he starts playing polyrhythms on larger drums connected to West African agricultural societies, accompanied by their dances. Audience members are then asked to play parts and move their bodies.
  • Everyone takes a breather while he introduces families of instruments from many lands. A few quick directions later, a youth ensemble is playing! Then we move further into the western hemisphere to experience the power and connection to the rhythms and songs of the Caribbean and Latin America! Soon, the audience is drumming, singing and dancing together! 
  • The finale is a SAMBA-STYLE jam session with solos and call-and-response playing - a boisterous carnival of drums!


60-minutes             All Ages: K - 12, Teen, Adult

DRUM CIRCLES     10 - 50 Participants

  • ​Accessible, challenging, culturally rich,  grounded, multi-level, spiritual, upbeat, funky and social.
  • Moves easily between "feeling the groove" and playing time-tested traditional rhythms.


Schools, hospitals, clinics, seniors, youth centers and in the community.