Pulsewave Percussion

... Kim breaks these rhythms down in every way possible and keeps your attention, while making listening and playing along to the different parts less like practice and more like fun.  He then builds the rhythms back up again in ...

"You make drumming fun: your competence is inspiring, your knowledge reassuring, and your energy infectious. Just playing – playing, being encouraged, and having fun what a great way to learn! You are a superb teacher."

"Kim has presented on West African Drumming to my Santa Rosa Junior College World History Classes twice a year for the past 10 years” …He brings expertise, knowledge and respect for West African traditions and he traces those influences in ...

"I consider you a master and am honored I was able to be in your presence to learn what I could. Your skills, determination and the serious degree of respect you have for the music is inspiring to me. You ...

It's a great bateria CD with lots of different rhythms. It's the next best thing to being in Brazilian dance class. The music is clear and it's easy to hear the instruments to practice playing along.

"Kim is a creative an open teacher, he meets you where you're at, incorporates your concept with his, making it work for you.  Kim is good to be around, he is there with you, playing music with you, sharing what he ...

"You are a gifted musician and teacher which is rare... you have a gift for being able to call up the memory of the way it feels to be drumming for the first time. You make your students feel comfortable, ...

"Kim is a born teacher with a tireless enthusiasm and deep conceptual understanding… Whether your a beginner or advanced drummers, he has that rare ability to challenge and usher you to your next level. I never felt judged or negatively ...

"... I am learning things on many more levels than I ever thought.  It truly is the highlight of my week.  You are a gifted teacher Kim, and it is very cool you have found your calling."  

I have been looking for a c.d. with music that i can use for dance classes when i don't use drummers and it is often hard to find stuff without a lot of vocals. so, your c.d, was perfect for ...

"I learned so much in Kim's drum classes that I attended, wow - now over 30 years ago! He was patient, generous, and skilled in teaching me beginning and complex African rhythms that I was having a hard time learning ...

"I never cease to marvel at how much brightness and enthusiasm you bring to each class - the energy you bring and the obvious love of the music is a great turn on and encouragement to really get to the ...

"Kim is is very enthusiastic about drumming and equally talented in all types of drumming and related instruments. Every class leaves me smiling and a feeling of wanting to learn more."  

"It's a great video - very helpful and easy to follow. Thanks!"

" Yesterday I heard thunder and saw lightning when you were talking about clave... Your teaching inspires stuff like this. This a way beyond normal teaching-learning. This a becoming spiritual exchange. It's big time and I'm ready."

"I have already noticed that simply tapping that three part rhythm on my body brings about a greater sense of calm, centeredness. So I just do it for a few minutes at work all throughout the day when I am ...

"I really like your presentation because you include the history and the various learning methods, along with the booklet AND you talk about your teachers. I think that's very well done."

"I want to thank you for all you've shared with me. Before I studied with you I could barely clap my hands consistently....."  

"Thanks so much for the terrific DVD and CD's. I'm already learning a lot and look forward to continuing study with them. All the best to you."

"I cherish the drum classes I have had with Kim. I am constantly impressed with his teaching style(s) -- if someone doesn't catch on from one perspective, he will present another, and another, until you can literally see it click ...

"...the greatest benefit of your classes and CDs came to me as a salsa dancer, by improving my ability to hear and understand the Clave. ... this has made my enjoyment of salsa music and dancing that much better. Thank ...

"... your CD Clave Consciousness - Volume 2 is superb! I really enjoyed the learning experience. In fact, it led me to a greater appreciation for "Clave Consciousness - Volume 1" - Super material and instruction."

"Your CD is excellent. I'm beginning to understand Clave after all these years. Thanks!"

"Experiencing Kim working with members of the One Heart Choir is like watching the earth reach inside the body of 65 singers, grab their feet and root them into rich soil. His ability to teach others how to embody rhythm ...

"Thanks so much for the terrific DVD and CD's. I'm already learning a lot and look forward to continuing study with them."

"Kim brings in sounds from the other world. It helps tune us to the larger sphere".

"I have been using Clave Consciousness for over two years with my conga students, and I highly recommend these CDs. By counting different ways and using the voice to make the accents, my students are able to both understand the ...

"The lessons on this disk will enable just about anyone to master son clave and the 12 bell pattern if they take enough time. I can think of lots of applications for this, i.e: learning clave and bell to be ...

"... the glimmer of understanding that there is something that I am wandering into - a profound place... thank you for teaching and showing me where the doors are."

"I just wanted to thank you for actually caring to develop a simple yet enormously powerful teaching method that has transformed my music playing, listening and also speaking ability. Coincidentally, its also helped me run further without being as tired....I ...

"I really appreciate the way you have broken it down and shown how all the parts interweave. It's a great way to get the whole rhythm into a non-left-brain part of my body."

"Kim's great gift to us is that he make what seems complex fun and accessible, One finds oneself suddenly doing the 'impossible', because the learning was like play."  

WOW... Kim!! I spent about two hours enjoying and learning from your CD.. I was TRULY impressed with the format and success it gave me and will give others... YOU DID IT!

"I've had some great fun and learning from Kim Atkinson's CD's. Bembe, Makuta, Nigerian Highlife and others are great sets of rhythms I was glad to add to my repertoire. It was helpful to really get inside clave rhythms too. ...

"The uses for this are vast. One thing that came to mind is how easy it would be to teach Afoxe' to an ensemble using this disk as a guide. Also this disk can be used by people of various ...

"I often teach my students that if you can "say it", you can "play it".  In his Speaking of Rhythm series, Kim takes this concept to the next level. Using spoken syllables and playing drums, each part is explored separately ...

"Everyone at the wedding was so lucky to hear and dance to your beautiful sounds, and for Lew and I it was BETTER THAN OUR WILDEST FANTASY. It was hilarious to get to dance away from our ceremony with two ...

"thank you for creating a lively and magical event at the plaza, your mastery and passion shines through you"

"You really added to the excitement of the event by kicking things off the way you did. I'm still hearing great comments about your group, how fun you were. Thanks for helping to make our even a success."

"Thank your the great work you did on my last recording. It was a lot of fun and the music came out beautifully. The work you did with congas, cymbals and shakers really gave the music a great beat."

"While I've learned so much about the technique and rhythm of music rooted in Brazil, what I often reflect back on is how you communicated and projected the feel of the music. You have a wonderful ability to break down ...

"I am so happy that you showed up in my world & my life! A truly wonderful transformation is taking place inside of my heart and our drum class, your perspective & energy & the rhythms are all magical influences, ...

"...what most inspired me and so many others was your open joyousness of what you are teaching. It's clear - you love making music, dancing and building community. As a teacher myself, you have provided a great inspiration and reminder ...

"I have been to a few other drum circles/classes and nothing even comes close to what you are trying to do in Drummunity. You and Kim are clearly coming in through the Spiritual Door and other people are not offering ...

"Drummunity: Kim Atkinson always delivers the grooves with his amazing ability to create a full drum circle that not just sounds like a "drum jam"; but an actual drum collage of beautiful musical textures that move the rhythmic soul. As a ...

"I cannot imagine more wondrous, enchanting, and fulfilling group experiences than your sacred Drum circles. Your gift of unifying hundreds of folk, most of them unknown to one another, in a cohesive, life-affirming exploration of community-through-rhythm is truly awe-inspiring. Your PulseWave ...

"I am very excited to have a group of students coming to the festival this year specifically to look for your class. My students all loved your class and I am certainly on my way to an even greater understanding ...

"Being there was such a soulful, heart-uplifting experience! Your playful, bright spirit and rhythmic skill and enthusiasm had us all tapping into the pulse of joy of making music together. Everyone was rockin! It was so much fun! And we sounded ...

"I very much appreciated both your immense skill in presenting the rhythms and historical context of music from the African Diaspora as well as your professionalism prior to, during and after the event. The participants gained immense insight into the ...

"I attended the New Year's Eve drum circle and was really quite amazed at the experience. When it first began it seemed like chaos and I was wondering just how this might unfold. This was my first participatory experience of ...

"Thank you again for a high level entre into the world of drumming! I very much appreciated having you as a teacher; your talent and expertise."

"Thanks for being an inspirational person, as well as having taught me allot of things that have stood the test of time."

"I was in your rhythm and samba classes at Lark who couldn't keep her feet still. I wanted to say how very much I enjoyed your sessions, and how much I learned about rhythm from you, both intuitively and intellectually. ...

"... I like your direction, passion and energy. You bring out the best in people."

"I feel like I got a part of my life back. It was that community feeling, like an instant loving community that I immediately felt a part of."

"I"ve really been enjoying all that you've brought to our camp. Your talent and energy helped kick the week into high gear..."

"Your explanation of body dynamics and musculature is the clearest of anyone I've worked with or read. The advise on slaps has helped tremendously!!!"

"The students were were so engaged in you presentation and the effects of your teachings are far reaching. Your work is so necessary and important for the students". 

"Your teaching has helped the students develop pattern connections, and cross-hemispheric brain neural paths that have encouraged their abstract thinking to blossom. I have seen the kids taking off in their spelling and math skills since we began. I do ...

"I’ve been involved in music throughout my life, but there’s nothing quite like drumming—especially the way Kim teaches it. He brings so much knowledge, energy, and joy to our classes—meeting us where we are, but encouraging us to try new ...

Your enthusiasm radiates upon your students. We admire your love of music ....

Your class was the best music class I've ever been in. Thank you...

Thank you for all the rhythms you have taught me and all the wisdom you gave, I really appreciate it.

Thanks for teaching me to drum. It got me to reach my Zen.

"You're definitely a Gifted Teacher! … I've never been able to get any kind of music theory down when it comes to drumming, I've always just been able to pretty much play whatever rhythm you tossed at me. ... I ...

"I got to see part of your Clave workshop in Seattle and it totally changed how I hear and teach drumming. "

"I really appreciate the way you have broken it down and shown how all the parts interweave.  It's a great way to get the whole rhythm into a non-left-brain part of my body." - Kathy

"Thanks for such great percussion, everybody notices and mentions it"   regarding my work on her album "Light of this World"

"As some one who has played, studied, performed and recorded with Kim Atkinson for over 20 years, I can heartily recommend any thing that he puts out. His information is always impeccably clear and correct and he is one of ...

The drum circle made yesterday's special event even more special. Thanks so much for enhancing our Family Get-Together. It was a treat for me, and everyone agreed.

" Thank you for sharing your uplifting energy and inspiring work with with us. Our Conference is a richer experience because of you and your work. "  

" You joined my home with grace, kindness, work, comfort, trust, teaching and joy!, Thank you for having held so many people together. Thank you for your heart creating a circle of sound that moves everyone in many ways"  regarding ...

"You were the highlight of our party. Such life and energy! We were fortunate to have you."

"Thank you!  Great job at the Fashion Show, it was really fun and colorful!"

"I know that you are very sensitive to energy and that you pay attention. I appreciate your sensitivity. I am grateful to know people like you and to have the opportunity to move moods in a joyful way. Thank you ...

"Thank you for sharing your love, knowledge and enthusiasm in the realm of awaking the primitive soul through the rhythm of percussion."

"It was just fun playing and being in touch with our inner child.  I had a blast!"

"I enjoyed having fun with every one, I really enjoyed the drumming circle!"

"The drumming circle was amazing, communication without speaking.  Everyone was so in tune with each other, the rhythm just flowed!"

"Thanks! You're a continuing inspiration to me, and so is the music I've learned from you and from others who've learned from you! "

"...You were very professional and pleasant to work with, returning calls in a timely manner,  and stayed within our budget restraints. You provided an upbeat and energetic atmosphere perfect for our graduation night event, arrived on time and needed no ...

Kim Atkinson is a kind hearted and fantastic teacher. I had the honor of studying under him in 2005. He is extremely knowledgeable on many wonderful percussion instruments.  He taught me many traditional patterns, and how to understand Clave in a ...

"I want to thank you for helping me learn so many rhythms and patterns and introducing me to so many different ideas, which all helped me be a better teacher. I have treasured our time in class, getting to play ...

"My 9 year old son has been taking lessons with Kim Atkinson for the past two years.  What is so wonderful about Kim's teaching is that he brings not only his tremendous skill and so much experience to the lesson, ...