Graham Dowdall (AKA Dids AKA Gagarin) is a very active and experienced community musician. Since gaining a Certif in MusicWorkshop skills in 1994, he has been running a wide range of workshops and projects in various parts of the country

He specializes in Music Technology based work, rhythm and drumming, creative composition & writing rock and pop. He has also done a lot of work combining music with other forms like dance, film, theatre, spoken word

Graham works in Youth Centres, Schools, Pupil Referral Units and Community Centres. He also has extensive experience of working with adults and young people with a variety of special needs - physical disabilities, learning disabilities, educational needs etc

His guiding principle in this work is a belief in the power of music as a force of positivity, change and empowerment for individuals and communities. He is committed to equal opportunity for all and the lesson that music can teach about greater respect for diversity

Music Technology

Working extensively in London and the South East he runsworkshops for young people with technology, teaching and encouraging the creative use of computers, samplers and other electronic instruments Students are encouraged to make their own compositions in a huge variety of styles. This work is undertaken in a variety of settings including; schools, Youth Centres, Pupil Referral Units and Community Centres



Special Needs

Graham has extensive experience of working with adults and young people with a variety of special needs - physical disabilities, mental health needs, educational needs etc. Recently he has been working extensively with young people with Autism both using technology to enable their creativity and also using various drumming styles as a way to encourage communication, teamwork and creativity.



Rock and Pop

Graham has run a hugely succesful programme of rock and pop workshops for Live and Direct in Surrey, working with large numbers of young musicians and bands getting them writing playing, recording and playing gigs



Soundtracks and Soundscapes

Graham has extensive experience in soundtrack and soundscape work including creating music for film with young deaf people and others, creating environmental sound art in Leith Hill, Surrey and recently composing and generating music using Soundbeam for Freewheelers disability dance group.



Drumming and Percussion

Using elements of Samba, African and other percussion styles Graham runs workshops around drumming and percussion for a wide range of groups. Drumming has the ability to engage large numbers of participants, to aid focus, co-ordination, teamwork, discipline, pride and creativity.



Community Musician Training

Graham is increasingly called upon as a trainer of Community Musicians. He has run programmes in N. Ireland, Hull, the South East and for national organisation Music Leader. He is the convenor and co-tutor on the highly regarded Goldsmiths College Cert. in Music Workshop Skills and is in the process of designing one of the first BA degrees in Community Music.



Community Workshop Teacher Training

Graham is involved in training of musicians to work in the community - running workshops - in Antrim Northern Ireland, Univ of Hull and especially at Goldsmiths College London where he teaches on the Certificate and MA course in combined arts.
Recently he has been working extensively with young people with Autism both using technology to enable their creativity and also using various drumming styles as a way to encourage communication, teamwork and creativity.



INSET Training

Graham runs INSET courses for teachers at all levels from nursery to sixth form helping to improve teachers skills in music education and has run a huge range of drum and rhythm based workshops in a wide variety of settings and styles



Legal Stuff

Graham has enhanced clearance from the CRB, full Public Liability Insurance, undertakes regular CPD training and has an enormous amount of his own musical equipment which he uses on workshop projects.