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Q & A: About Drum Circles
by Christine Stevens & Arthur Hull
A Drum Circle IS
- A community music-making event where people sit or stand in a circle while playing world percussion instruments.
- People play improvised rhythms. Music is created in the moment.
- Instead of a teacher, there is a facilitator – someone with musical experience and facilitation training who leads from the center of the circle.
- In the Drum Circle, there is no audience. Everyone is part of the performance.
A Drum Circle is NOT
- According to Mickey Hart: “The Drum Circle is not a professional ensemble, nor is it really about music, but rather a group of friends having a rhythm party.
- A clinic where students sit in theatre-style facing a stage and watch a high-profile player demonstrate and teach one tradition of drumming on one specific instrument.
- A culturally specific (i.e. African or Cuban) drum class.
- In the Drum Circle, there is no audience. Everyone is part of the performance.
Types of Drum Circles
- Thunder Drummers – unfacilitated free form jams
- Facilitated community drum circles.
- Rhythm events for kid’s programs at schools and boys and girls clubs.
- Drum Circles for at-risk kids at alternative satellite schools.
- Rhythm based events at adult day centers and nursing homes for the well elderly.
- Special needs population circles facilitated by music therapists.
Why do people go to Drum Circles?
- For fun.
- Sense of community.
- Introduction to rhythm and percussion technique.
- Musical expression.
- Health benefits: stress-reduction, creative expression, and feeling better.
- Experience of unity.
(See the HealthRhythms section for more information on the medical benefits of empowerment group drumming).
Why do Drum Circles work?
- Because people entrain to a dominant rhythm.
- Because rhythm is innate and drumming just brings it out of people
- Because it’s a quick and easy way for people to get involved in music making.
- Because a facilitator assists the group in working together to create a groove.
Who attends Drum Circles?
- Everyone!
- Young or old.
- Physically challenged.
- Beginners to advanced players.
- Wellness consumers.
Where do Drum Circles take place?
- Music stores.
- Schools.
- Community centers.
- Nursing homes.
- Corporations.
- Spiritual Centers.
- Parks.
When do Drum Circles take place?
- Evenings and weekends.
- Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
- Special events.
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