THAT IS WONDERFUL. I attended a drumming workshop with Sufi master Adnan Sarhan a few years ago, but did not pursue drumming or dancing at the time. We have to forget about the diagnosis, and what the disability is. Drum making workshops last one to four days, depending on how much of the work has already been done for you. Any hand held type of drum, such as frame drums, the djembe, tubano work fine. Okay, so Yoyoka Soma took off in popularity a couple of years ago. My name is Martin, I have been playing drums since I was 16 years old. Allison Gemmel Laframboise is a cofounder of the KDZ Drummers and Handsdown Productions. For people with larger hands or a larger frame, Id go with a drum with a 14 head. There are way to many benefits of drum therapy to mention. ~Lonnie L. Jones Boosted immune system and more positive emotions. I wouldnt be surprised if others will soon be joining in at the coffee house. It turned out he didnt like it because of the tone, but I took it to a local jemba drumming circle that was being held in the community. The fills. The good news is there are two primary issues that are usually found here, jaw pain and upper neck (c1,c2) pain. The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments.In the Hornbostel-Sachs classification system, it is a membranophone. TM and Copyright @ 20012023 Christiane Northrup, Inc. All rights reserved. The basic rock beat is 4/4, so you count 1-2-3-4. Blessings, Julie. I love what I do!! I dont have the scientific vocabulary to have said a lot of what youve written but have always believed that music, for me drumming, and the performing arts in general are far more important to society than is generally realised. Our community of drummers & dancers have grown now to crowds of up to 200 over the 10 years of existence. God bless you and the other people that also wrote in this column that they drum with the people who REALLY could use this. Im so grateful to have found my passion! Ive been a fan of yours Dr. Northrup for some time and am so thankful to have found this article. Even metronomes do it. So moving reading your story ,many blessings ..Im so happy to have drumming in my life. Kripalu is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The drums speaking heart to heart has created such a bond with these people, they are like family. Its can only be good. riskylogic, Sep 11, 2017. I always feel energized during (and afterr) the spiritual drummimg groups I attend! Hi Martin. In their 1980 hit song, "Don't Stand So Close . Neck. registration@kripalu.org Im a drum student and a drum teacher. I am writing a dissertation on the experience of live music and its therapeutic effects. In fact, many professionals with a little bit of training can use drum and percussion experiences to help children with . Required fields are marked *. It makes me happy to see percussion sounds being used in music therapy programs. We used drums to welcome folks and as a background to prayers as we scattered his ashes on the mountain and into the river. So, when my husband, Shaun Laframboise, and I teach people to drum, we arent actually teaching them anything new, as much as we are helping them to remember an innate ability that is our birthright. Performing drummers and dancers recognize how music and changes in music effect each other. Thanks! A-game playing. I would like to hear more of your success. I live in St. Louis and would like more info on your retreat. The connection you feel to others in the drumming circle must also be good for mental health. Dr. Zakir Naik, a renowned Islamic scholar and President of the Islamic Research Foundation, also shared his views on the subject in an interview (source). We integrate some African rhythms with a lot of improvisation and creative expression through the drums and dancing. Many who listened to his . And now, after a 15 year hiatus after a fruitless 6 year stint at community college, I have returned to finish for my BS in Alternative Medicine! It is honored and held to be scared. My wife and I have been thinking of getting our son into a new hobby while he is in high school so he doesnt get into any worse habits. Thank you! Some people may learn these things faster than others thanks to their natural sense of rhythm. I will cover the types of injuries, how we can deal with them, and how we can prevent them as best we can.. By the end of this article you'll know things like how to spot a hand injury coming up, how we can cure them, how we can play drums with them, and how they can even be a good thing for our drumming. The powerful and compelling rhythm of drums can still and focus the mind the quick path to mindfulness. 2. I am about to release a set of workshops I have developed focused on using hand drumming circles to help kids with ASD. I have been playing the djembe since around 2010. The main role of the drummer is to provide the backbone of the music, and he or she is required to play with assertiveness and authority. I love my work and the opportunities I am given to serve. An underlying force in life. Get fit. There is a health insurer in Pennsylvania that also bought drums as part of a getting healthy program for seniors. I am proud to say that Rhythm Kids is now being offered worldwide through Music Together, an internationally acclaimed early-childhood music development company. Thank you for the excellent article. I absolutely LOVE this article and the comments Im reading. That was a confirmation to me that I was also doing a good job. Your email address will not be published. Hopefully, that will erode the stigma of a hippy culture that drumming seems to conjure up (my Mom could never understand my love of drumming). We have drum circles on my 70 acre nature retreat an hour outside St. Louis around a fire and it completely restores the soul. Sounds like a life changing service. I was planning a mother-daughter trip for the weekend and your article gave me an idea. My latest videos feature a mindfulness on natarajas dance of creation to the rhythm of our human heart beat. And listening to drum sounds regularly can have the same effect as drumming itself. As your article highlights a drumming program also beneficial for nearly everyone, but am hoping the communication and sensory aspects of my program will benefit people on the spectrum significantly. For some of them even their own families dont visit them and if they do it is far and few between. Jaw. I guess you could say that the drums saved my life. Others feel the rhythms penetrate through their bodies. Thank you so much for sharing this. And he was even more cautious about the repetition of his general life. Thank you for helping spread the word. I cant concentrate much but by playing the drum I can sit for 2 hrs almost everyday. I have tried massage, chiropractor, physio, just about everything, but I so want to get back playing. I actually linked back to this article from my blog, as I run a drumming website. Arthur Hull has training as well. Yours in Gratitude, Nadiya Nottingham We have gone way beyond the campfire drum circle! And thank you Dr. Northrup for writing about this! We met once a month in a book store. Surprisingly, the Kumi-daiko style was invented in 1950's by single person although taiko itself has a long history. I recently moved to the United States, between Detroit and Port Huron Michigan. Thank you Dr. Northrup for sharing your informed perspective! Just curious. 10 Health Reasons to Start Drumming. The issue is finding it; without a series of convoluted tests we can grab low hanging fruit (jaw and neck). Please can I ask a question on another subject: I have always been in synch with your teachings on age and do not allow my age to dictate to me at all. I have loved the drums for a very long time. You are quite an inspiration. I can be tired and cranky and after a drumming class feel renewed. The backrest would have to extend halfway into the seat to connect with the lumbar area, and it doesn't. Sitting that far back in the throne also changes your balance points as to how you connect to the pedals. My drumming partner, Diana Young (who is also a Certified Reiki Master Teacher and Certified Eden Energy Medicine practitioner who incorporates her focusing exercises to all our classes) and I created the Young Fish School of World Drumming in 1997 and have been conducting hands on educational and therapeutic global drumming programs for K-12, community centers, all populations with special needs, etc. A sure sign of truth. Christiane. Could you possibly work with a trainer to see what can be done to change this for you? So delighted to hear this ! I love seeing more people encouraging people and particularly women to drum. Since then, I have taken classes and workshops, and bought a drum to practice at home. Not having the room for a full drum kit, I started experimenting with a small drum pad keyboard sounds and sampled hits from my drum machine. Contact Heather or Deb at the Soulstice Wellness center. And you right. I have never played in a drum circle but I do have a rock drum kit and every time I play with my band I get all the same feelings you talk about. Regards Dont give up on the drums Martin. I had no idea that there were so many different kinds of benefits to drumming, especially that while drumming you have access to your entire brain. She also goes into residential facilities, assisted living and nursing homes and has drum circles for the elderly and those with dementia and Alzheimers and she and the staff of those places see results. As the building blocks were being put into place to form our new little community, a devastating storm hit the southern United States. Everyone who came felt the vibe of goodness. Do you happen to have any journal articles or references you could share with me regarding the information you have outlined in this article? I understand why virtually all the drumming/spiritual/therapy venues are oriented in a social format but as an asocial introvert for 90 years, Ive been practicing an innovated water drum meditation for the past seven years that might interest anyone exploring solo spiritual drum meditation. I have since explored many other styles of Drumming and in 1994 found myself entrenched in the Drumming of the Native American Healers in my region of Canada. The diversity of mammals that drum in varied contexts suggest independent evolution in different lineages. Please feel free to contact me and maybe we can talk about how I can assist your organization ! It was truly awe inspiring. (I know! Might only be in the US, though,). Thank you. It boosts brainpower and increases confidence levels. At times it feels like time slows down and Im much more in touch not just with the music but life itself. You could play a wind instrument and sing in sequence. I have added another dimension in using drum circles and their related culture dances to bring together people not only to drum & dance but to raise money for good causes. I use a Djembe with a 12 head (Thats the diameter measurement of the top of the drum.). Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Drumming and its effects on our whole being. Health is being physical social and mental well being while being free from illness specific fitness is performing specific activities at high level without becoming tired easily general fitness is performing everyday activities without becoming tired easily. Research for the Australian International . Thank you for your contributions, I am a fan. I am going to have my own home soon..I will hire a drumming guide..at least once a month..for the entire family.. After reading our article, I feel confident. David Day, Well said! Everyone's counting on you to set the tempo, drum guy. It possesses you. I forgot about it for years and one day I said I want to do this. You can go to your local music store or purchase a drum online at http://www.x8drums.com. I will be sure to tell my wife that we should get our son into drumming! RhythmU, who yoU are Beat by Beat. I turned 80 in September and try to stay active with exercises like spinning and yoga, so Im very interested in finding out what the Drumming Circle entails and hoping it doesnt include quick movements that will irritate my chronic painful sciatic nerve. Daihachi Oguchi, the founder of Osuwa Daiko, created the Kumi-Daiko style in 1951. Playing in real time I almost immediately found things much more enjoyable and the results were also much more natural sounding to my ear. A little before 'Master of Puppets'. I am about your age and I have allowed my mind to tell me Im too old to try pole dancing. Keep us posted Jean. These are questions that have puzzled exercise scientists for some time, and studies have not confirmed one way or the other whether exercise will make your skin look younger. The instructor was very good and I soon found I was drumming along in the circle with a great sense of rhythm and feeling of accomplishment. I thought of different ways this can be used as a teaching tool also. Forward and/or rotated head posture is pain from the brainstem and above, or neuropathic pain. So, so true. Not only does Paramore speak to the apathy of the times without sweeping grief under the rug, but This Is Why finds a new . I am also a member of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild (www.dcfg.org). Several years ago I started Reiki drumming which proved to be a huge benefit for those who came in for reiki. Although very different, I love that too. I visit peoples horses and drum fro them in the UK. Playing to a backing track with a click is perhaps the simplest way to improve your playing. What I love about the djembe is that at this point I dont have to think or concentrate. I am studying to be a teacher and i am currently doing an assignment. A virus 3 years prior left me deaf in my right ear. Thanks !! I havnt drank since then. This is called coherence. I felt like I had discovered the roots of all music learning and healing! It also has many social benefits, as our regular participants have become like family. Again, this is extremely rare. Christiane. I swear I went into a trance after listening to the drumming for about 1 hour. Maybe you can consider starting up a drumming circle in your area-benefiting yourself & others. When I bust out on the practice pad my hands get super quick. And to create the rock rhythm, you have to place the emphasis on the off-beats, which 2 and 4. Drumming can have positive effects on your health and may help with many conditions from stress, fatigue, and anxiety, to hypertension, asthma, chronic pain, arthritis, mental illness, addiction, and even cancer. I discovered drumming (specifically, the djembe, a hand drum from West Africa) in 2009 at a caregivers conference and immediately signed up for classes. It lowers blood pressure. An introduction to the Drumming Circle is being offered at my local Senior Center. Answer (1 of 19): I'm not sure, but I think it may have something to do with his energy, without which, The Who's music wouldn't have had nearly the same impact it did, neither live or on record. How / Where can I receive some training in how to actually lead Drum Therapy sessions? Drumming has helped me, makes me happy. Drumming isn't an experience that "only" music therapists can use. WONDERFUL. After an hour or so, my neck feels like its burning, and goes tight and into a spasm. My work had morphed into therapeutic drumming and I agree with your 10 benefits. After only 15 minutes of drumming your mind will start to quieten and your body will start to feel release. It has everything to do with core strength. Its very valuable and I will use it as a link. The difficulty here is this info is driven by a few pathways; pain & neuro reflexes being the primary ones. Amazing about that health insurer. I believe this is a most wonderful idea. Dr. Marcus Smith, from Chichester University, recently concluded that an hour of vigorous drumming could burn between 400 and 600 calories. We are doing more good for ourselves then just burning calories! Its important to get the right size drum and there are videos on the X8 Drums site to help you with that. Very accurate and well written article. The musician, who is 70, appeared on BBC Breakfast with his Genesis band members to promote the group's . I would think some people might get stimulated, and so this might not be a sleep remedy. The drums can be both musical instruments and works of art, sculptural forms that are often decorated in a resplendent manner suited to their . Hi Martin, I just read your comment and thought maybe its time to change the type of your drum Im no specialist at all, but I started joining occasional drum-meditation-evenings, and up until then I thought drum is drum but the lady who leads the evenings explained that there are fire drums, that are mor about whats going on outside like the african drums that are very common and the shamanic drums she uses, they take you back to yourself so you are centered within yourself. "Some days I feel so over it, almost to the point of apathy," Williams told The Guardian, "but that's the struggle that you have to fight." I go once a week but if they offered more I would be there. Ive been a drummer for my entire life, only up until three years ago, I had never actually played them. If you know of some Grant Money available for me to acquire Drums to volunteer at our local Jouvenile Detention Center, Hospital and Nursing Homes, I would appreciate any info you have. In fact this is my only form of income. So interesting. At least that I was taught. Women's Health Expert, Visionary Health Pioneer, Wellness Speaker, and New York Times Best-Selling Author Read More, Yes, I understand that by completing this form I am agreeing to receive email messages from Dr. Northrup & can unsubscribe at any time. Hi, off topic, but is this Doris Staelhe who used to tutor me in high school? I am delighted the benefits of drumming have come to light, my drum has hung on the wall far too long and I would love to start a circle. Your article is a fantastic exposure of the healing power of this modality! We were able to raise $1500. There was also a period of time I think when Lars wasn't practicing. As a tongue drummer and djembe enthusiast, I especially like the part where you call out the neural connections and the way the brainwaves sort of sync with the rhythm. Thank you for posting this article on your sight. Any drum, in my humble opinion, will do. It's important because it's the only exercise that will make you a smarter person as you get better at it.