Frank Thompson
Founder, AZRC
• Professional
Rhythm Facilitator
•Team Building Events Designer
• Drum Instructor
• Motivational and Keynote
Speaker

Closing
Keynote Address at ALA, Vegas Conference
Frank is the Founder of the AZ Rhythm Connection (AZRC) and has been
facilitating rhythm for over 25 years. Frank is a HealthRhythms
Trained Facilitator, "REMO U.S.
Drum Circle Facilitator" and a member of the of the Drum
Circle Facilitator's Guild. During a corporate career
of the same length, Frank has held regional and national marketing,
training and management positions with several Fortune 100 Firms. Frank
completed graduate and undergraduate programs at the University of Redlands
and is six-sigma certified.
U
of A, Cultural Festival
The Life Story...
Frank has been involved with Rhythm his entire life. Frank was born
into a musical family. Frank's initial foray into rhythm was as a singer
during his youth. Although he was singing, his eyes were always on the
drummers and percussion players in the band who kept the beat.
Frank founded "Classic Moment Entertainment" in San Diego
and spent 12 years running a successful mobile music and DJ business.
During this time he also became very involved in helping to bring Caribbean
music to the San Diego scene as a supporting member of Prophet Productions.
Frank's rhythm and drum circle facilitation took root with
Classic Moment Entertainment. Every event that he
was involved in turned into a facilitated full-blown percussion experience.

AZRC Facilitators:
Kirsten, Frank & Shannon
Frank's introduction to the Djembe, West African Drumming and Drum Circles was via Paulo Mattioli in 1991. He has been hooked since the first moment of seeing Paulo working the Groove at San Diego's Street Scene. Frank quickly purchased his first Djembe from Paulo and was on his way to hand drumming happiness.
Further introduction and mentoring into drum circles came
via John Yost, Remo
Facilitator, and founder of the exceptionally successful, Rhythm Revolution in Chicago. Frank
considers John to be his most important mentor. Through John, Frank
met and studied with Arthur Hull, the world's foremost practitioner
and leader of drum circle facilitation. Frank has attended the Hawaii
Playshop and weekend trainings with Arthur. The AZRC subsequently launched
drum classes and the offering of many workshops featuring some of the
best West African Drummers and Dancers in the world such as: Mamady
Keita, Abdoul Doumbia, Dibo, Moustapha Bangoura and others.
Frank continues to "Keep To His Beat" as a rhythm facilitator
by building the AZRC into one of the leading Rhythm Facilitation
organizations.

Just Relaxing at an Outdoor Festival

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• Roots of Rhythm Trainer/Facilitator





