JanJan Drumming

17/03/2026

Looking forward to being part of this wonderful event 😊 💜

17/03/2026

Show yourself some love 💜💜💜

10/03/2026

An unforgettable and beautiful weekend 💜 A drumming workshop with Shannon & Simply Sound on Saturday. Then the stunning Liane Carroll at The Garibaldi (saw her Saturday too, had to go back for more on Sunday ), rounded off at The Lab with a collaboration for International Womens Day 😊

05/03/2026

It’s shaping up to be quite a weekend…

On Friday night I’ll be sleeping out to raise money for the homeless, supporting an important cause and raising awareness for those without a safe place to sleep. Many people experiencing homelessness are also living with serious mental health challenges, which can make everyday life incredibly difficult. It’s so important that we continue to raise both awareness and support for this. (see previous post for details )

On Saturday I’ll be at the Integration of Elements retreat with Simply Sound where I’ll be running a drumming workshop exploring rhythm and the elements — connecting with earth, air, fire and water through the drum. Later that afternoon I’ll be heading to Northampton for the Foster Carers Awards, where I’ve been invited to share some rhythm as part of the celebration.

Then on Sunday I’ll be performing for International Women’s Day The Lab in Northampton with my daughter Sian and a group of wonderful artists. It’s been such a joyful collaboration, bringing different creative voices together for the occasion — and I’ve loved every minute of it. I really hope it’s the start of more collaborations to come. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1534033268489760&set=a.547601267132970

A full weekend ahead… fuelled by rhythm, good people, plenty of tea and an early night at the end of it!

This evening we've started working on our exciting collaboration which will finish off this gig. In celebration of women everywhere and raising money for and

Featuring very special musicians , , and
It's going to be a very special evening. 6-9pm
❤️❤️❤️

05/03/2026

This week I had the joy of running two very different drumming workshops, which reminded me how the djembe can reach people (even very little people ) wherever they are and however they choose to show up.

Earlier in the week I was at Wellington Primary and worked with two groups of 33 four-year-olds — 66 tiny drummers discovering rhythm together! At that age, drumming is such a wonderful way to build listening, coordination, confidence and joyful self-expression.

At Swanbourne, we played a simple rhythm with everyone keeping the beat and playing in time together.

Each child was invited to create their own rhythm, and the group played it back to them in a game we called “You Play, We Play.” Belonging, confidence, collaboration and listening - all in action.

Moments like that are wonderfully affirming — every child is seen, heard and valued, and their contribution becomes part of the music.

When a whole group listens to each other and locks into the same rhythm, you can feel the focus, teamwork and connection in the room — wonderful transferable skills that reach far beyond the drum. 🥁

I always love sharing rhythm with schools and young people — it’s amazing what can happen when a group finds the same beat.

22/02/2026

Thank you for such a thoughtful reflection — it was a really meaningful session to be part of, and I’m grateful to have shared it with such a reflective group in a safe space provided by the Never Alone Project. This is something I’m continuing to develop further so it can be shared in a range of supportive settings. More to come soon 💛

What a powerful session we had at Stanwick Lakes on Thursday with our young people hosted by JanJan Drumming

Together we explored how to beat the stress, looking at how our bodies feel when we’re anxious, under pressure or overwhelmed. Through steady, grounding rhythms and intentional breathing with the drum, we discovered how sound can help us regulate, reset and reconnect.

It was amazing to see everyone finding their flow and building awareness of how rhythm can calm and ground us.

We were so pleased to welcome new faces to the group, who were met with warmth and encouragement. Managing emotions isn’t always easy and that’s okay.

Today we added a new tool to our toolbox, thank you to all that attended and we will see you at the next group.

22/02/2026

Thank you so much for these kind words — it really does mean a lot. The idea of bringing story and rhythm together to help children see that we can have lots of different emotions, and that they’re all OK, has been with me for a while, so it was very special to see it come to life at Stanwick Lakes with the The Never Alone Project Knowing the children were going through such a vulnerable time, it felt important to offer something gentle, creative and safe for them to express themselves. I’m also writing an adult version, which I’m looking forward to sharing soon 💛

17/02/2026

https://www.justgiving.com/page/janice-essam-1?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL Hey folks, I'm sleeping out for the homeless, it's so much more than not having a home. Any donations would be appreciated. Thank you.

Help Janice Essam raise money to support Northampton Hope Centre

16/02/2026

I am looking forward to sharing this story-led session with the The Never Alone Project — using rhythm and storytelling to explore feelings in a safe and creative way.

🎶 Feel the beat. Tell your story. 🎶

At our next Children’s Group, children will explore African drumming through stories, where every drumbeat becomes their voice.

Through rhythm, children:
• Shine with confidence and self-expression
• Feel proud of every sound they make
• Connect with others in a joyful, shared experience 💛

📍 Stanwick Lakes
🕙 10am, Thursday 19th Feb