Workshops are every Wednesday night starting at 7 p.m. at the Windham Art Center. The cost for each class is $5.00. For more information contact Frank at the Bench Shop: 860-423-8331

Owner of the Bench Shop Frank Annatti has been following the path of the Djembe since 2000, and studied for 2 1/2 years with Abdoulaye Sylla, formerly with "Les Ballets African".

For the past 5 years he has been studying intensively with master teaching artists Paul Assegai Babaolni'lu. He travels regularly to Guinea, West Africa to attend drumming workshops. He also hosts and attends numerous workshops with master Guinean drummer Tonton Sylla in the United States.  Frank is a member of the professional Mandeng drumming ensemble "Soli Soma - the Magicians of Transformation" Djembe Orchestra. 

Frank's relaxed teaching style makes learning dynamic and complex rhythms fun.  Dundun, sangban, and kenkni are taught, as well as djembe, along with their corresponding bells.