The first week, we were shown how to use the Salado and the tambarin in time to samba music. The Salado is cylinder-shaped and covered with a white skin. The sticks were wooden and quite thick, and looked like they had had the tips covered with a different-coloured wool. The tambarin uses sticks that are made of big long pieces of plastic that are separated into three parts.

During other lessons, we learned how to play the reperdic. The sticks are made of wood and they are shaped like a long cylinder. The reperdic comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The ones that we use are silver, covered with a white skin.

The agogos are Brazilian bells that are dark brown and divided into three sections, which gives three different pitches of sound: high, medium and low.

The drumming workshop is great fun and the whole class really likes this lesson because it teaches you about the different types of drums that are used by different countries. We are mainly looking at Brazil.

We have to concentrate hard to make sure we are picking up and playing the correct rhythm. The lessons make a nice change from the usual subjects.

by Charlie Parsons, Nonsuch Primary in Stoneleigh, Surrey