PUPILS from Calne's John Bentley School turned up the tempo in a massive drumming workshop, which marked the start of a new project in African music.

The school's 230 year-eight students were armed with an African drum or percussion instrument and divided into two groups in the school hall on Tuesday last week.

Each group of pupils, aged between 12 and 13, formed a circle round workshop teacher Mike McEllya, from the Sunshine Drumming Company, in Radstock, who talked about drums and music in African culture.

He then taught each group some basic drum rhythms, songs and limbo dancing. In the afternoon the groups combined for a short performance in front of peers, teaching staff and some parents.