On Monday 3 October, a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the LARGEST DRUMMING LESSON was set by 1,827 school children, aged 7 – 11, and their teachers from 25 London schools at the Copper Box Arena today in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. A further 10,000 participants joined us via live stream in 32 countries.
The event was part of our term-long Arts Council England funded Bang the Drum 2016 project and was held in support of Street Child United. The world record music was created by Inspire-works facilitators working with former street children at the Street Child Games in in Rio de Janeiro in March 2016.
The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS official attempt was led by world music facilitators Inspire-works, and streamed live on YouTube throughout the UK to up to 10,000 drummers of all ages and abilities. Street-connected children in Chennai, India also participated via the live stream.
“It has been incredible to see thousands of school children across the UK banging their drums in support of the millions of street children around the world.”
The event also included performances from Inspire-works facilitators, Royal College of Music Percussion Department, the Young Drummer of the Year and beatbox legends Tyte & Mr Phormula.
Bang the Drum 2016 has broken the previous GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Drumming Lesson set in 2012 with 1,651 participants by World Arts & Multi-culture Inc, in Brisbane, Australia.
The drummers performed a unique piece of music that was developed by Inspire-works facilitators, local community drummers and 35 former street children from 9 countries at the 2016 Street Child Games held earlier this year ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“What really excites me about this project is that in a former Olympic venue, and via live stream, thousands of children and teachers were banging the drum for street children’s rights by playing music created by former street children at the Street Child Games! Also, over 50 teachers were trained as Arts Award Advisers and this project equips the workforce to design and deliver their own future projects so the legacy keeps on going.”
Bang the Drum 2016 follows on from the successful ‘Road To Rio Samba’ project in 2014, when 1,675 London school children broke the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Largest Samba Band at the Royal Albert Hall, London.
Inspire-works wishes to thank all the incredible children, schools, drumming hubs, production crew, facilitators, musicians, guests, volunteers, supporters and of course our partners Street Child United for making Bang the Drum 2016 possible and raising awareness and support for street children worldwide.
The Evening Standard, First News and Guinness World Records reported on the event.
