POST FALLS - The World Music Drumming Workshop came to Post Falls last week, bringing laughter and happiness to educators with the sounds of the world.

Nearly 50 educators from three countries and 38 school districts took part in the workshop, which took place July 27-31 at Post Falls High School.

The workshop was led by three instructors from Washington. Instructors taught multiple music styles and concepts focused on world music. The workshop included music from Africa, South America, Hawaii and other locations around the globe.

The instruction was broken into three sections where participants learned at different levels, with different styles of instruments exploring rhythm-based music.

Teachers and educators took part in the workshop to learn a curriculum and new practices to take back to their students.

Patty Bourne was one of the workshop instructors. She said she found World Music Drumming when she was searching for an approach to teaching music that she could believe in.

"I was looking for a particular approach to teaching music that involved student creativity, ownership and responsibility," Bourne said, adding that she found that combination in World Music Drumming.

One of the people who attended was Marilyn Griffitts, a music teacher from Hayden Meadows Elementary School. This was her second time attending the World Music Drumming Workshop. Griffitts said she has a passion for music and education. She said although she believes that students at the elementary level won't retain much music theory, grade school is the only time music theory instruction is required learning.

She said her concern is that without an interest in music at a young age, students will not explore music during middle and high school when it becomes an elective course.

"If they learn to love music now, they are going to keep going at it," Griffitts said.

Griffitts said she uses these kinds of workshops to gather material and knowledge to help open her students' minds and ears to the art of music and show them the fun side of learning music.

The workshop is held in 16 locations across the nation through the summer. Griffitts said that having Post Falls as a location for this workshop for a second time in three years is notable.

"I was just so thrilled they came here," she said. "They are usually held in places like Chicago, Philadelphia and New York."

Bourne said that it's the teachers and people of Post Falls and surrounding communities that really make the workshop happen here.

"We couldn't do it here without the people of Post Falls and their support," Bourne said.

Info: www.worldmusicdrumming.com