"Older Americans are largely unfamiliar with this [drum circle] movement and yet these are the people who could benefit the most.

The formation of drum circles among the elderly should be an integral part of any music therapy program...[especially] among the older population now isolated in nursing homes and retirement communities." ~Mickey Hart~

 "Research conducted in 2002 and 2003 by the institutional review board for human studies at Meadville Medical Center concluded that recreational [drum circles] have more favorable effects than antidepressants and mood-stabilizing drugs."  (Drumatic)

We focus on populations who are generally isolated.  Many have busy working families who cannot visit regularly, or have no visitors at all.  They lack stress release, social interaction, physical exercise, and mental stimulation - all of which they experience through participation in our drum circles.  Our drum circles have a profound impact on long-term care residents, their families, the staff, students, and the community.

 "In my 25 years as a physical therapist this is the best activity I've ever seen."

Deborah Crea, MS, PT, Director of Rehabilitation, 

Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging

 One of the many valuable benefits of our drum circles is the opportunity for leadership experience as spotlight facilitators are invited from among the participants to lead their peers in rhythm.

The goal is to be inclusive, to 'bang' out stigma, and to make drumming available to those who may not have the opportunity or the enrichment of expressing themselves musically.

"I think this is a wonderful opportunity for girls and seniors to connect and it might be something that girls throughout the region may want to participate in."

 ~ Sandra Silva - Vice President, Membership & Regional Service Delivery, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles

  

"Healthy individuals can use music for stress reduction via active music making, such as drumming..." 

~ American Music Therapy Association 

EVERYONE CAN PLAY! 

• Musical ability not required
• Players are encouraged and engaged within their comfort level
• Our drum circle is accessible to all participants at all levels of ability
• Reinforcing equality during a shared experience 

IMPROVES QUALITY OF LIFE...

FOSTERS SOCIALIZATION

INSTILLS A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, EQUALITY, AND ACCEPTANCE

ENCOURAGES DIVERSITY

DIMINISHES STRESS, ANXIETY, AND DEPRESSION

CALMS APPREHENSION AND FEAR

ENHANCES CONCENTRATION, FOCUS, AND COGNITION

ENRICHES COMMUNICATION SKILLS 

IMPROVES COORDINATION, MOBILITY AND MOTOR SKILLS

BUILDS SELF-ESTEEM AND CONFIDENCE

PROMOTES FEELINGS OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AND EMPOWERMENT

FACILITATES SELF-EXPRESSION

INCREASES AWARENESS OF, AND EXPRESSION OF, EMOTIONS

ENCOURAGES MODULATION & INCREASES FEELINGS OF CONTROL

LOWERS HYPER-VIGILANCE 

SPARKS CREATIVITY & LAUGHTER

CREATES POSITIVE INTERACTIONS FOR FAMILY MEMBERS & FRIENDS

"Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson's patients... The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become."   (Thaut)

 

"Rhythmic drumming induces altered states, which have a wide range of therapeutic applications.  A recent study... demonstrates that even a brief drumming session can double Alpha brain wave activity, dramatically reducing stress.  The brain changes from Beta waves (focused concentration and activity) to Alpha waves (calm and relaxed), producing feelings of euphoria and well-being."  (Drake)

"Systematic inquiry into the relationship between music and brain function is one of the most rapidly developing fields of human research.  Music making offers extensive exercise for brain cells and their synapses (connections).  It would be difficult to find another activity that engages so many of the brain's systems." 

(Weinberger, N., 1998)

Joint drumming: Social context facilitates synchronization in preschool children

"...children would spontaneously synchronize their body movements to an external beat at earlier ages and with higher accuracy if the stimulus was presented in a social context.

...three age groups (2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 years) were invited to drum along with either a human partner, a drumming machine, or a drum sound coming from a speaker."

Guess which way was most successful?

"...children of all ages synchronized their drumming with higher accuracy in the social condition."

from: Journal of Experimental Child Psychology

doi: 10.1016/j.jecp.2008.07.005

Drumming techniques help clients with the stresses of mental illness and behavioral disorders… clients have opportunities to experience success and connect with others and share experiences on a nonverbal level, which may be less threatening.

Group drumming creates focus and assists in stabilizing clients. 

Our goal is to be inclusive and to make drumming available to those who do not have the opportunity or enrichment of expressing themselves musically!

For information and assistance with understanding mental illness, we suggest visiting the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) website @ www.nami.org

Some of the Special Needs Communities we serve:

New Horizons-SFV - "Ohana Rhythms" Community Integration Program

"Serving Adults with Developmental Disabilities since 1954" - North Hills

BCR, "a place to grow" - Serving children and adults with developmental disabilities - Burbank

Valley Village - Serving adults with developmental challenges - Winnetka

The Help Group Autism Center - Sherman Oaks & Culver City

Braille Institute - "Envision Rhythms" Program - Los Angeles



Fragile X Association of Southern California - "FRAXSOCAL"

  

ANGELMAN Syndrome Foundation, Inc. - Los Angeles



Simi Valley High School - Special Education Dept. - Simi Valley

  

  Pomeroy Recreation & Rehabilitation Center  (formerly The Janet Pomeroy Center) -                   San Francisco

BENEFITS FOR LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS

 One of our favorite nurses taking her break to shake and dance with Chris...



We are often joined by nursing staff, who also benefit from our drum circles. Studies conclude that Long-Term Care workers who participate in drum circles show a marked reduction in tension and anxiety, and show significantly improved mood states, which reduces burnout and, therefore, reduces employee turnover.

 

A similar study was conducted for Nursing Students, and the study concluded that music making "reduces burnout and improves mood states in First Year Associate Degree Nursing Students."