Research shows that group drumming improves the condition of those with Parkinson’s disease, a condition considered 'irreversible' by conventional medicine.
Drumming circles | Drum Circle Benefits About Drum CirclesSo, here's my history with drum circles. When me and my husband were engaged, we met this really cool guy outside a coffee shop with an oddly-shaped case beside him. I recognize the shape of the case and asked him, "Is that a sitar case?" He was shocked that I guessed correctly because that's not something you see where we live; you don't just stumble across random guys with sitar cases here. But it happened and a great friendship began
I love doing drum circles with my students in the spring. The students are so motivated by the instruments, and having a different formation (sitting in a circle) is a great way to break out of the normal routine and keep things interesting as the end of the year approaches. I am planning to share some of my favorite drum circle activities in a future post (update: see that post, with all of my favorite lesson ideas and activities for drum circles, here), but today I wanted to talk about the logistics and organizational side of things for those who would like to try a drum circle in your own elementary music classes. 1. Set up enough chairs for each student, you, and one extra in one big circle. Part of the point of a drum circle is that everyone is looking at everyone else and there is no one person leading. Having an extra chair next to you will serve 3 important purposes: it gives you a place to set down the things you might normally keep on your music stand or nearby desk (like your clipboard, keys, clock etc), it gives a little space between you and the students so they are facing you a bit more without taking you out of the circle, and it gives a nice spot for any troublesome students to move to if they need some extra reminders. 2. Have the drums already set up (bigger ones in front of the chairs, smaller instruments under the chairs) before the students come in. One of the most magical moments is when the class comes in and gasps at the sight of a drum circle set up and waiting for them. Don't waste a chance for magic like that (not to mention all the headaches you will save yourself). If you have students assigned to smaller groups in your normal setup (like the color teams I use), you may want to think about finding a way to assign spots by those smaller groups. In my case, I have djembes in each of the 6 colors I have for the groups of students in my classes, so I have students go to a chair that has their team color's djembe. That way I can plan for any assigned seats I need for specific students but also give students a sense of choice. 3. You don't have to have a class set of drums to have a drum circle! If you don't have enough drums, add small percussion to the mix. Shakers, scrapers, cowbells, and whistles are all great and still fit with the genre. Make sure you alternate instruments when you set them up around the circle, and then have students rotate through the instruments by switching chairs throughout the class period. 4. Always establish ground rules before you start Before they even go sit down in the circle, I always have the class sit off to the side while I give them the first rule: don't touch the instruments, even by mistake, until I give you permission. After we are all seated quietly, I go over the rest of my rules: Because we are in a circle, it is very important that we not only think about what we say and do but also about what we show on our faces. Your facial expressions need to communicate appreciation and respect for each other when others are playing. When you are playing yourself, your facial expressions need to communicate confidence. Knowing that every person in the circle is being held to a high standard of respect, it is important for each participant to be creative and take risks. Don't just play what you already know you can do. Try something new. If you play your instrument when it is not your turn, even if it is by mistake, you will be asked to put your instrument down for a few minutes. If it happens repeatedly, you will be asked to leave the circle. In order to be able to play together as a united group, we need to be able to listen to each other even more keenly than we usually do. 5. Don't talk too much Demonstrate and have them copy back (just point to them and they'll get it). You'll have to explain some things but most cultures that incorporate drum circles regularly practice a master-apprentice style of learning anyway. The less time they have to sit and listen to you talk without playing their instruments, the better :) I think that's it from me! I'd love to hear other tips you may have to share as well- leave a comment!
Benefits Of Drum Circles. What is the purpose of a drum circle? What is a Drum Circle? Drumming circle benefits. What is a community drum circle? Healing Power of the Drum Circle.
Drum circles are universal. A drum circle is a free/amateur/and communicative gathering of people who come together to make spontaneous music. Anyone can join in, and even share instruments. Every person has a natural human-beat, its just...
Benefits Of Drum Circles. What is the purpose of a drum circle? What is a Drum Circle? Drumming circle benefits. What is a community drum circle? Healing Power of the Drum Circle.
Using drums is one of my favorite things to do! Students can't get enough and see it as a special treat and we cover so much content!
Every Friday night in the rounded outdoor amphitheater of downtown's Pritchard Park people join together to play thundering sounds on the drums, dance to the powerful rhythms, or just sit back and enjoy the show of individuality and diverse community. The Drum Circle is a free event all about creating harmony, both in music and with one another. The weekly ritual draws hundreds of people together outside during the warm weather months (generally April through October). It’s a tradition that began in Asheville in 2001 with just about 10
Image Credit Last night I was talking with a lovely friend who is finishing up her senior year in the Music Therapy program at the University […]
If you missed it, make sure you check out my previous post on the logistics of setting up, organizing, and running a drumming circle in your classroom. Today's post is focused on my favorite lesson ideas and activities to use in the drumming circle. These basic ideas have worked well for me with students in first grade all the way up to eighth grade (and I'm pretty sure they would work with high schoolers too!). I'm listing them here in the order that I usually introduce them to my students. 1. Basic techniques and vocabulary I intentionally start the drum circle with an activity that requires the students to hold the drum without playing it, just to make sure everyone is focused and understands that I really mean it when I tell them they will sit out if they play their drum, even by mistake, when it is not their turn! We start off by going over how to hold the drum, and the names of the different parts of the drum (rim, head, body etc). I also go over the parts of the hand (heel, finger, knuckle, palm, side) that we will be using to play the drum. From this point on, I try to only use the specific vocabulary when I am describing what to do. I introduce each playing technique by giving a brief description (1 sentence max!) and then demonstrating. I then use that one technique to play different 4-beat patterns and have them copy it back. Here is a demonstration of some basic playing techniques you can use on most drums (I wouldn't use this video with students- too much verbal explanation etc- but it is a good model if you are working on it yourself before leading the group): 2. "Let's All Play Our Drum" This is a great way to really get students to focus on listening, and also get some practice on the basic playing techniques. Basically you say the phrase, "let's all play our drum", and everyone plays their drum on the word "drum". I usually specify which playing technique they should use so they can practice different ones throughout the exercise. Say the sentence at different speeds and see if they can play at the right time. Then start taking words away and have them use inner hearing to know when to play- you say "Let's all...", they hear "play our" in their heads, and play on the word "drum". There are other variations of this as well, which you can see in the video below: 3. Pass the Pattern I start this by having them echo some 4-beat rhythms after me again, then having each person take turns playing that pattern all the way around the circle. Focus on keeping the beat steady and having no gaps between each person. Then explain that you are going to start passing a new pattern around the circle while the first is still circling. Have each student point to the person before them, to whom they should listen. The people across the circle will be doing a different pattern so they should NOT listen to them! My older students have been able to get up to 4 patterns going at a time. Everybody loves the challenge of this one! 4. Longer Patterns While we're in the echoing mood, I teach the students a more complex pattern, mixing some playing techniques and using more complex rhythms, with a mnemonic device- I match the rhythm to a phrase and have the students repeat the phrase after me several times so they internalize the rhythm. Our favorites have been, "yum, yum, tastes like chicken", "Mom, I'm home, and now I want to eat", and "come and get your ice cream! come and get it now!" (yes, I like to talk about food). Once they can say it correctly, I have them echo the pattern on the drum slowly while saying it, eventually speeding it up and taking away the words. 5. Improv Circle This time, instead of copying the pattern of the person before them, everyone is going to make up their own rhythm! Each person gets 4 beats to improvise. Go around the circle without stopping (like the beginning of the Pass the Pattern game). For younger students I usually count each person's 4 beats by holding up my fingers towards them. I tell them that if someone misses their turn, that is a 4-beat rest- we will not give you another turn or stop for you! This is also a good time to talk about the importance of respect for yourself and others and especially focus on facial expressions. I encourage them not to make a cringing face when they improv (a common defense mechanism), laugh, or react negatively to anyone else's playing. 6. Improv Circle 2 Once students are comfortable improvising, remind them of one of the longer patterns you practiced with a phrase. Practice everyone playing that pattern together, clapping for 4 beats, then repeating the pattern. Once they can do that, tell students that the 4 beats of clapping is when one person will be improvising. Everyone will play the pattern in between each person's turn to improv. 7. Drum Talk Everyone continues to improvise in this activity, but this time instead of going straight around the circle, you improvise in between each student's turn. Go all the way around the circle with this pattern once to make sure students understand the new order. Now tell them that if you play 3 notes (ti-ti ta or 1-&-2) at any time, everyone needs to copy it whether it is their turn or not. After that, the order will resume as before. Eventually of course I like to up the ante and have any students who miss the echo pattern put their drums down for the rest of the round. I also raise the level of difficulty with my older students by telling students they can also play the echo pattern on their turn (and they would improvise something else after everyone else echos). 8. Free For All If your group is focused and positive, it is great fun to get to the point where I can just tell students to watch me and play something appropriate, and just go to town jamming with the whole group. Here's an example, but you can see how if everyone is watching, listening, and comfortable in the circle, you can take this in many different ways and is a great way to culminate the drum circle time: You can find all of the sources linked here, plus many other great drum circle and world music ideas, on my Pinterest board called Music Teaching: World Music and Drum Circles. If you have other great resources for drumming circles, please share and I'll add them to the board!! Leave a comment here or share on my Facebook page! Looking for teaching ideas and tips for other instruments like recorder, xylophone, ukulele, keyboard, and more? Head to this post:
Drum circles are universal. A drum circle is a free/amateur/and communicative gathering of people who come together to make spontaneous music. Anyone can join in, and even share instruments. Every person has a natural human-beat, its just...
The song begins with a tap, then a tick-tock, then a thud, then a rattle and swish. The disjointed sounds somehow find each other and begin to dance. The...
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Experience the power of rhythm with our corporate drumming team building activities in Pune. Join unforgettable corporate drum circles.
A collection of 11 posters depicting drum types that are common in drum circles. Display these to teach students their proper names and help aid in student compositions. Includes tubano, conga, djembe, bongo, hand drum, floor tom, slit drum, log drum, cajon, timbau and ngoma. This product is also included as part of a bundled set here: More Bang for Your Book: Bundled Drum Lessons
A drum circle is a community cooperating together to make something greater than the sum of its parts. That’s why there’s more to a good drum circle than expert drumming. In music, as with all fo…
Drum circles are universal. A drum circle is a free/amateur/and communicative gathering of people who come together to make spontaneous music. Anyone can join in, and even share instruments. Every person has a natural human-beat, its just...
A Drum Circle, as the name suggests, is a circle of people, each with a drum or another percussion instrument and one facilitator. Most clients can drum even if they have never drummed before. We instinctively possess a sense of rhythm: we can tap our feet, our hearts beat, we use a rhythm to walk, we dance to a rhythm. The facilitator will guide the group to discover the rhythm that’s already within them. In this article we cover: Benefits of a Drum Circle What you need to start a Drum Circle How to Facilitate a Drum Circle Drum Circle Activity Plan Drum Patterns - Beats, Vocal, Sentences
From slowing fatal brain disease to generating a sense of oneness with the universe, drumming’s physical and spiritual health benefits are as old as time itself
The light and warmth of a fire, and a drum circle, create common bonds. Fire and drum are the first c
Experience the power of rhythm with our corporate drumming team building activities in Pune. Join unforgettable corporate drum circles.
Custom made shaman drum. We always make sketches to be seen and edited before painting the drum. Inspire from the spirit and the patterns your own shaman drum through the pictures of the sketches first. Every drum is unique, made with love and it´s future owner in our mind. prices include drumstick which is also unique and suitable with the drum. Ceremonial Drum. Handcrafted Ceremonial Drum. Handmade in Finland ~ Great for drum circles! This traditional, hand crafted drum has a natural reindeer leather drum head. All drum pictures at the site are examples of unique custom made shaman drums for an individual owners and it´s not possible to order exactly similar copies of these drums.
Working together to create abundance and possibility At this time of the year in the northern hemisphere where the season has changed to spring which is a time of prosperity, fertility and possibility. It is a good time to come together to do a sacred work of connection and manifestation by connecting with spirit, ourselves
I love doing drum circles with my students in the spring. The students are so motivated by the instruments, and having a different formation (sitting in a circle) is a great way to break out of the normal routine and keep things interesting as the end of the year approaches. I am planning to share some of my favorite drum circle activities in a future post (update: see that post, with all of my favorite lesson ideas and activities for drum circles, here), but today I wanted to talk about the logistics and organizational side of things for those who would like to try a drum circle in your own elementary music classes. 1. Set up enough chairs for each student, you, and one extra in one big circle. Part of the point of a drum circle is that everyone is looking at everyone else and there is no one person leading. Having an extra chair next to you will serve 3 important purposes: it gives you a place to set down the things you might normally keep on your music stand or nearby desk (like your clipboard, keys, clock etc), it gives a little space between you and the students so they are facing you a bit more without taking you out of the circle, and it gives a nice spot for any troublesome students to move to if they need some extra reminders. 2. Have the drums already set up (bigger ones in front of the chairs, smaller instruments under the chairs) before the students come in. One of the most magical moments is when the class comes in and gasps at the sight of a drum circle set up and waiting for them. Don't waste a chance for magic like that (not to mention all the headaches you will save yourself). If you have students assigned to smaller groups in your normal setup (like the color teams I use), you may want to think about finding a way to assign spots by those smaller groups. In my case, I have djembes in each of the 6 colors I have for the groups of students in my classes, so I have students go to a chair that has their team color's djembe. That way I can plan for any assigned seats I need for specific students but also give students a sense of choice. 3. You don't have to have a class set of drums to have a drum circle! If you don't have enough drums, add small percussion to the mix. Shakers, scrapers, cowbells, and whistles are all great and still fit with the genre. Make sure you alternate instruments when you set them up around the circle, and then have students rotate through the instruments by switching chairs throughout the class period. 4. Always establish ground rules before you start Before they even go sit down in the circle, I always have the class sit off to the side while I give them the first rule: don't touch the instruments, even by mistake, until I give you permission. After we are all seated quietly, I go over the rest of my rules: Because we are in a circle, it is very important that we not only think about what we say and do but also about what we show on our faces. Your facial expressions need to communicate appreciation and respect for each other when others are playing. When you are playing yourself, your facial expressions need to communicate confidence. Knowing that every person in the circle is being held to a high standard of respect, it is important for each participant to be creative and take risks. Don't just play what you already know you can do. Try something new. If you play your instrument when it is not your turn, even if it is by mistake, you will be asked to put your instrument down for a few minutes. If it happens repeatedly, you will be asked to leave the circle. In order to be able to play together as a united group, we need to be able to listen to each other even more keenly than we usually do. 5. Don't talk too much Demonstrate and have them copy back (just point to them and they'll get it). You'll have to explain some things but most cultures that incorporate drum circles regularly practice a master-apprentice style of learning anyway. The less time they have to sit and listen to you talk without playing their instruments, the better :) I think that's it from me! I'd love to hear other tips you may have to share as well- leave a comment!
Custom made shaman drum. We always make sketches to be seen and edited before painting the drum. Inspire from the spirit and the patterns your own shaman drum through the pictures of the sketches first. Every drum is unique, made with love and it´s future owner in our mind. prices include drumstick which is also unique and suitable with the drum. Ceremonial Drum. Handcrafted Ceremonial Drum. Handmade in Finland ~ Great for drum circles! This traditional, hand crafted drum has a natural reindeer leather drum head. All drum pictures at the site are examples of unique custom made shaman drums for an individual owners and it´s not possible to order exactly similar copies of these drums.
PostureMusicians tend to develop some pretty bad habits in the hours spent hunched over their instruments. Playing properly is hard enough without having to sit straight. I'd love to be able to tell you that it doesn't matter, but an awareness of the proper body position is invaluable. Yoga, Alexander Technique, Tai Chi Chuan and other forms of body awareness can help too.The bottom line is like your mother said, don't slouch. Whether you sit or stand to play, keep your back straight. Allow your shoulders to hang back and down and your chest to be open. Don't overdo the puffy
. andriushachigrin · Original audio
