Two decades ago, against the backdrop of the Edinburgh Music Festival, a pivotal moment unfolded for British entrepreneur Tony Webb and his wife Wang Xuezhang, affectionately known as Ningning. Amid the festival's melodic tapestry, an electrifying West African percussion performance ignited an unquenchable spark within their hearts and minds.

The resonance of rhythm, the surging energy and the unbridled force emanating from the drummers created an indelible imprint. Upon their return to China, they brought with them a determination to kindle the flames of percussion and music, and to share the profound delight they had experienced.

Over the ensuing two decades, their journey transcended mere performance, as they traversed the nation, leaving trails of rhythmic wonder in their wake. Amid this creative expedition, they conjured forth their brainchild — Toning Drum — a brand name that is a harmonious fusion of their own names.

Beyond the stage, their commitment blossomed into the realm of education, culminating in the inception of a tailored curriculum. This curriculum was meticulously crafted, nurturing the musical spirits of young children, fostering a profound connection to the world of melody.

Wang also observed that Latin-style percussion has been increasingly embraced by domestic pop singers in the music industry. "I believe we did something truly joyful," she says.

Upon their return to China in 2003, Webb embarked on a pivotal endeavor. Rallying a group of nine consummate drummers — a blend of three talented native Chinese musicians and six international virtuosos — he embarked on an intensive six-month journey of percussion mastery.

"It was not a normal band, which usually has a leader. We were doing it as a corporate event," says the 71-year-old.

Their inaugural performance in 2004 captivated audiences. " We never stopped traveling after that. We performed everywhere in China," Webb recalls, adding that the largest audience they performed to was over 30,000 people.

Their performances are always interactive. "At our shows, everybody in the audience has a drum," Webb says.

"What still excites me is, when we have a show, whether it's 200 people or 2,000 people, we get them playing drums with the same rhythm. Within three minutes we can get everybody working together," Webb says.

"You can't do it anywhere else. You can't do it with any other instrument," he says.

Ageless instrument

Wang started to learn violin as the age of 4. She was a professional guqin (the seven-stringed Chinese zither) player before getting interested in percussion music 20 years ago.

"I was attracted by the happiness it brought me when playing drums," says the 54-year-old. "The dynamism and passion of percussion music, as well as its interpretation of different musical styles, touched me. Each instrument is irreplaceable."

Hand drumming, according to her, is one of the easiest ways of playing music, suitable for people ranging from babies to the 99-year-old.

She thinks rhythm is the soul of all art, and that, in the realm of music, rhythm is the skeleton upon which all music is supported. It's the beauty of music that allows people to play drums in the same rhythm together within a couple of minutes, Wang says.

"Rhythm is omnipresent, including in our daily lives, work and even in our bodies. So, for young children, to learn how to play percussion instruments is especially important for their artistic enlightenment," she says.

Percussion education has always been an important part of the couple's focus, ever since they saw the limitations in Chinese musical education when they first brought African music to China in 2003.

In 2010, Webb collaborated with the Shanghai Percussion Association, a leading body for percussionists, to produce the African Drum Test Course, which still stands as China's only test material in that musical area.

Webb invited a local percussionist from Africa to record all of their rhythms. "He was just a natural player. He couldn't read music. So I gathered some professors of music from universities and we all sat down and listened. It took a year to transcribe it into Western notation," Webb recalls.

Two years later, Latin Percussion Tutorial was co-launched by Webb and the Shanghai Percussion Association, which catered to the growing demand for Latin percussion education in China, showcasing a comprehensive range of the main Latin percussion instruments with detailed illustrations.

In 2016, Toning Drum unveiled Rhythm for Well-being: Introducing the Drumming Health and Wellness Program for Chinese Communities and Seniors, which aims to promote the therapeutic benefits of drumming.

Wang has taught a group of over 30 senior students in Beijing's Sanlitun area since 2016. "They like playing with drums so much, and it makes them happy," she says.

Teacher training is also introduced, in which they invite renowned musicians and educators to conduct master classes and workshops in China, sharing their expertise and techniques with Chinese teachers, Webb says.

Child's play

Their current teaching team includes many part-time educators who are college students at, or graduates from, professional music universities in China, and who have finished their teacher training courses.

"I have always had an interest in young children learning about music. I've been studying children and children's music and how we can develop that," Webb says.

In 2018, Webb authored a children's book in both English and Chinese called Charlie's Musical Adventures: Brazil, and launched a music curriculum for early learners that helps the children to learn about percussion and culture through stories.

According to Wang, they have collaborated with the Central Academy of Fine Arts to teach the curriculum to kindergartners who study arts.

"The story unfolds in the Amazon rainforest, where we follow the Amazon River and encounter its associated wildlife. We embark on a mission to stop loggers and rescue the animals," she says.

During this journey, children not only grasp the essentials of Latin music, but are also introduced to the art of Brazilian jujitsu, enriching their learning experience with different cultural elements, Wang adds.

"We let the children play with percussion first and then give them a theme and ask them to create art," she explains. "The courses are taught through games and stories, so the children enjoy the classes a lot."

Wang has noticed that, while some parents are still looking for something that has a reward or certificate for their kids at the end, some younger parents have a different mindset, and choose whatever makes their children happy.

She reveals that they are also planning on working with the Central Academy of Drama to adapt the book's story into a musical show for children to perform.

"I feel that what's regrettable nowadays is the excessive fragmentation of information, which poses a significant threat to children. We are doing our best to enrich children's education, ensuring they gain more knowledge besides music," Wang says.

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