Drumbeat Practitioner

Yiss is a certified Drumbeat Practitioner and ABA therapist. He has spent the past decade working in a school for children with Autism as an aide, music teacher and Drumbeat Facilitator.

“I remember when I first learned about the Holyoake Drumbeat program, I was very excited as I could fuse my passion for helping people with my passion for sharing music.”

Yiss has utilised Drumbeat to help people with stress and anxiety, in schools helping children with extra needs and in community centres helping people at risk. He worked with Monkey Baa Theatre in 2014 to bring their program to schools including Soldier Settlement Public School, Darcey Road Public School, Kendle Hill Public School and Kensington Public School. He has collaborated with Mission Australia working with underprivileged schools such as Whalan Public School and Mount Druitt Public School.

Yiss ran a weekly DRUMBEAT session for Wayside Chapel’s Day to Day Living program in 2013.

 “Yiss is engaging and inclusive. Great communication skills. Genuine and non-judgemental. A great teacher and drummer.”
Rebecca Mckenna, Senior Worker, Day To Day Living

Yiss has been passionate about music since he could hum, and he has always loved to drum. As a child he sung with three choirs and as a teenager he played in three different bands. As a young adult, he studied the drumming of West Africa with Anthony Lewis for two years. He has since performed nationally alongside many local and international music acts and ensembles of many flavours and genres. His current projects are Chutney and Aljamia. In 2022, Chutney ran workshops at Bellingen High School and Winmalee High School.

Yiss brings a wealth of training and experience to his work. Coupled with his genuine care about individuals and the world, Yiss endeavours to make a real difference in people’s lives. Yiss’ sessions are enjoyable and focused. He provides a warm, safe, non-judgemental space for clients individually and in a group.