Category Archives: Percussion

Drum Circles bring Resilience, Wellness, and Creativity to the Workplace – Dolle Communications Blog

John Boone immigrated to the small New Zealand town of Katikati from The Netherlands with his family at the age of 12. Music and drama were his favourite subjects at school and by the time he was 15, he had joined all the school bands and theatre plays. His tertiary studies at Canterbury University were funded by playing in local bands during the weekends and his passion for music continued to grow stronger. When John returned to New Zealand in 2000 after his big OE, he had an exciting idea to set up an interactive percussion business mainly, connecting people through the power of music. John brought together his experience with theatre and music and in 2003 Rhythm Interactive was born. Rhythm Interactive has travelled throughout Australasia and Asia, delighting thousands of people of all ages. TEDx Talks. “Rhythm – the Pulse of Life: John Boone at TEDxQueenstown.” YouTube, YouTube Video, 1 May 2013, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F6czP42Lhw. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

>7 languages of collective flow – Rhythm Interactive

>Videos – Rhythm Interactive


>DRUMMING | DrumSoul

>Team Building DrumWork

>Hand Percussion

“There are a variety of ways that drum circles are used to bring positive change, increased productivity, and employee resiliency to the workplace. …These include:

Drumming for stress reduction/resiliency, where drum circles allow employees to engage and play/share during the middle of the work day in a fun environment. The benefits include increased productivity and employee health. Typical play times are 30 to 60 minutes.

Drumming for team-building, where drum circles are used to help employees better connect and improve working relationships, critical in team concentric operations. This type of drumming is also ideal at ice-breakers and retreats to get participants to come and and engage with others. The benefits include increased expression of thoughts & ideas, improvement in productivity, and fewer errors and mis-understandings thru improved communications. Typical play times are 60-90 minutes.

Drumming for creativity & problem solving in the workplace. This is an issue in the workplace that is not well understood, where strategies range between compartmentalizing challenges to brain storming sessions. Ultimately, there are two primary forms of problem solving: 1) analytical or comparative reasoning, and 2) free-thinking where methods are employed to free up worker’s minds. The benefits include increased problem solving ability thru retraining of the mind. Typical play times are 60 to 90 minutes.

Now for some remarkable brain science and workplace development. Employees tend to play much better when not instructed as to how or what to play. The reason is, when faced with unfamiliar circumstances and no punative consequences, employees will usually rely on their innate problem solving abilities, in which case here is the ability to play music and rhythm that is innate within all of us.

As such, most groups do very well. Group drumming in the workplace then builds trust and confidence in one’s innate abilities, where typically people have either been discouraged from trusting their judgment, or have been given strict instruction not to act on their initiatives.

It is in this latter regards that strict company structure can leave employees never learning to trust their judgment in leadership, problem solving, or managerial duties. Group drumming can be just what the doctor ordered, and help usher in change towards more healthy group dynamics. Not only is this good for productivity, it’s critical for stress-relief and mental health.”

Continue reading much more at >Drum Circles bring Resilience, Wellness, and Creativity to the Workplace – DolleCommunications Blog

“Drum Circles Bring Resilience, Wellness, and Creativity to the Workplace.” DolleCommunications Blog, DolleCommunications Blog, 6 May 2015, dollecommunicationsblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/06/drum-circles-aid-workplace-productivity-employee-engagement-and-inclusion/. Accessed 31 Mar. 2023.

Kawambe-Omowale: West African Drum and Dance for all ages in Phoenix, AZ

We are DANCING!! Our multi-age African (drum) and dance class is RESTARTING on SATURDAY 9-1030am every Saturday restarting Sept 9 2023

Location

Eastlake Park Community Center 1549 East Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85034

We are DANCING!! Our multi-age, multilevel African dance class at Eastlake Park Community Center. No fooling! Kawambe-Omowale African Drum and Dance Community Class – together again – a perfect pair! Come join us!

There are a couple of changes from our prior classes:

We’ve dropped the minimum age to 5 years old, although an adult must accompany a child under 8.

Preregistration is no longer required. Drop-ins are welcome at $2 for adults, $1 for children.

Registration links

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/phoenix/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=west%20african%20drum%20and%20dance&viewMode=list

Kawambe-Omowale

https://www.kawambeomowale.com/about

Join in the fun! Experience West African drumming and dancing for yourself.

We’re reaching out to the community through our community drum and

dance class.

Kawambe-Omowale offers a West African drum and dance class for the

community on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Eastlake Park

Recreation Center. Eastlake Park is located on the southwest corner of 16th

Street and Jefferson in downtown Phoenix, less than 10 minutes from Sky

Harbor Airport (physical address: 1549 East Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ

85034). Generally, our class is postponed during major holiday weekends

and other days as needed. Please call Eastlake Park at 602-262-6759 for

upcoming class postponements.

Classes are held in the gymnasium where there’s plenty of room for all.

Participants of all ages and from a variety of cultural backgrounds attend

our classes. EVERYONE is invited – children and adults, males and females.

Dress comfortably and bring your energy! No experience is necessary.

Drummers are invited to participate in our community class as well. Bring

your drum and arrive promptly at 9:00 a.m. Drums and hand-held

instruments most frequently used are the djembe, dun dun, kenkeni,

sangba, brekate, sabar with galan (stick), soruba, talking drum (dono),

shakere and cow bell. If you don’t have a drum but would like to take part in

our drum circle, a limited number of drums are available for use during

class. Please call us in advance to make arrangements…602-252-6204

(leave a message).

Come and be a part of our Saturday morning community class. We would

love to have you join us as a participant on the dance floor or as a spectator

in the bleachers!

Class Format

● Warm-up dancers and drummers

● Brief explanation of rhythm’s purpose and history

● Dance and drum instruction

● Community circle with drummers and dancers

● Cool-down dancers and drummers

Rhythms of Radiance – Virtual Drum Circle – Soul of Yoga


“It is easy to fall into fear, doubt, and worry these days. How are you staying awake and alive? How are you handling isolation and on-screen exhaustion?Join us for a special drum circle for healing with internationally acclaimed author, music therapist, and Soul of Yoga Sound Institute faculty member, Christine Stevens.

Full story and registration at Source: >Rhythms of Radiance – Virtual Drum Circle – Soul of Yoga

Join us for a special drum circle for healing with internationally acclaimed author, music therapist, and Soul of Yoga Sound Institute faculty member, Christine Stevens.

This is a live, ONLINE event to uplift your energy, boost your immune system, and shift your mind into the present moment. Please have your drum or a percussion instrument available. *No drums necessary! Find instruments in your own home! For example, two wooden spoons or a spoon and a bucket or plastic bowl works great.

Cost: $15

Stay after class for a special online drum circle facilitator meeting with Christine. Students are able to ask questions and practice advanced techniques. $5 additional

Please preregister in advance, make sure to have a Zoom.us account. Link will be emailed & in your enrollment confirmation email.

Continue at source link above to register.

Healing Drum Kit by Christine Stevens

“With a venerable history as a healing art, it’s no surprise that scientists are now finding measurable positive immune-system changes following one-hour drumming sessions.

“With The Healing Drum Kit, internationally acclaimed music therapist Christine Stevens shows you how to use the art of drumming to ignite your creativity, release tension and anxiety, exercise the body, and communicate with a power beyond words.

The Healing Drum Kit includes:

  • A quality 10″ REMOT frame drum
  • 24 Rhythm Cards featuring World Rhythms from Africa to Japan; Life Rhythms for whole-body healing; and Spirit Rhythms that liberate creative energy
  • 2 CDs of music for solo play or “drum circle jams”
  • Spiral-bound study guide with scientific evidence on drumming for wellness, drum blessings from various traditions, playing tips, resources for starting a drum circle, and more

“Whether relaxing to the gentle lub-dub of a heartbeat, exploring sacred rhythms from around the globe, or simply drumming away stress, people of all ages will experience and enjoy the full spectrum of this ancient art, with The Healing Drum Kit.

Source: >Amazon Healing Drum Kit

 

Online Upbeat Drum Circles Faciliation Training | UpBeat Drum Circles

About this Course Taken by facilitators, drummers, coaches and therapists from over 14 countries

Filmed at a LIVE Training at REMO Recreational Music Center in Hollywood.

Native American-informed, honoring indigenous roots of drumming for healing

Unlimited viewing for unlimited time

Course Goals1. Learn to lead healing drum circles for personal growth, spirituality and health 2 Bring drumming into your personal practice for self-care 3. Chant, drum, and awaken the sacred within you 4. Learn the science and spirit of orchestrating healing rhythms 5. Discover Native-informed drumming practices for ceremony and prayerCourse

Description

Ten engaging video segments filmed at a LIVE training event.The 16-page workbook includes how to set up a healing drum circle, bless your drum, and run a group circle. Recommended instrument resources are also included and MORE!

Curriculum HighlightsDrum MassageCreating your own Healing Rhythms

3 Keys to Drumming for HealingCues to leading drum circlesRhythm rhythms of Life, Spirit & the World

Source: Upbeat Drum Circles Faciliation Training | UpBeat Drum Circles

Music and the Soul, Astral Fractals with a Beat

From:  >100 Famous and Inspirational Music Quotes

  1. “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato
  2. “A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
  3. “Music is to the soul what words are to the mind.” ― Modest Mouse
  4. “Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies.” ― Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  5. “Music in the soul can be heard by the universe.” ― Lao Tzu
  6. “Music is an outburst of the soul.” ― Frederick Delius
  7. “Music is the language of the Soul” – Musical Instrument Museum

Published on Feb 24, 2010

“A great song from The Shaman’s Heart set to fractals”

Hand Percussion by Kalani Das

Hand percussion is a creative and flexible addition to dance music, providing tempos , poly-rhythms and natural sounds for dancers and drummers alike. Dancers can play hand percussion integrated into choreography and dance movements they practice and perform.

Kalani is a great resource for hand percussion.

“Hand percussion instruments are used by a wide variety of people–far more than other group of instruments…Percussion instruments are some of the first instruments that given to children to help them explore music making at an early age, and as a result, represent the largest group of instruments in the elementary school classroom…many people use hand percussion for informal group music making, drum circles and other gatherings where accessible instruments provide more opportunities for successful participation than would most other types of instruments…Hand percussion instruments have long history of use…They are often used for generating energy and excitement, relaxation, meditation and calling people together. They have significance in a vast number of social occasions in many different cultures around the world.”

Read More at: >Hand Percussion

>Kalani Hand Percussion Training Videos

In the video list search for topics: hand percussion, scrapers, shakers and world percussion.

Brains synchronize as they collaborate to perform a motor task

Anyone in a great drum session or drum circle has experienced synchronization. Here’s what going in our brains:

“Though their purpose and function are still largely unknown, mirror neurons in the brain are believed by some neuroscientists to be central to how humans relate to each other. Deficiencies in mirror neurons might also play a role in autism and other disorders affecting social skills.

Scientists have previously shown that when one animal watches another performing a motor task, such as reaching for food, mirror neurons in the motor cortex of the observer’s brain start firing as though the observer were also reaching for food.

New Duke research appearing March 29 in the journal Scientific Reports suggests mirroring in monkeys is also influenced by social factors, such as proximity to other animals, social hierarchy and competition for food. The Duke team found that when pairs of monkeys interacted during a social task, the brains of both animals showed episodes of high synchronization, in which pools of neurons in each animal’s motor cortex tended to fire at the same time. This phenomenon is known as interbrain cortical synchronization.“We believe our study has the potential to open a complete new field of investigation in modern neuroscience by demonstrating that even the simplest functions of the motor cortex, such as creating body movements, are heavily influenced by the type of social relationships among the animals participating,” said senior author Miguel Nicolelis, M.D., Ph.D.”

View more at Source: Brains synchronize as they collaborate to perform a motor task

Exploring how science and technology affect music-making | ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact

>Science Activities at the Musical Instrument Museum

“Faculty, staff and alumni in Arizona State University’s School of Music in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts engaged students and community members of all ages at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix on Jan. 20-21, to demonstrate how science can bring music to life.

The School of Music presenters and performers pushed musical boundaries at the signature event and focused on how science and technology affect the way music is made and heard.

The transforming experience of ‘Metal Music’ took the audience inside the sounds of metal objects,” “The performance was a multifaceted experience of music and the science of resonance, featuring a wide range of custom-built instruments, including resonating cymbals, robots that played Tibetan singing bowls, metal percussion instruments, analog synthesizers and a digital re-synthesis process of live flute playing.

The music was about texture and about sound quality. It was an experimental music performance focusing on the rich timbre of the sounds that can be produced by metal objects.”

.Samuel Peña, community engagement coordinator in the School of Music, facilitated an AZ Beat Lab workshop where attendees participated in a “community music jam,” consisting of six 30-minute jam sessions that utilized electronic drum machines, synthesizers and an array of percussion folklore instruments from around the world.

Peña said the workshop was about creativity, connecting with one another and exploring how electronic and world instruments can fit together with a group of people from all levels of experience.

“Through creating community, people build confidence within themselves and also confidence in their ability to connect with others,” said Peña. “One of my goals is to find ways for people to discover how the power of creating music in a community can help build relationships in a way that goes beyond the relationships that just words can do.”

Peña also participated in a collaborative session with Higher Octave Healing (HOH) and AZ Beat Lab that utilized the Ableton Live software program with a small group of pre-selected students. The session was part of a pilot program to explore ways in which music and technology can serve the sensory needs of students on the autistic spectrum.”

Source: Exploring how science and technology affect music-making | ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact

Rhythm on the brain, and why we can’t stop dancing

Music and dance are far from idle pastimes. They are universal forms of expression and deeply rewarding activities that fulfil diverse social functions. Both feature in all the world’s cultures and throughout history. A common feature of music and dance is rhythmic movement, which is often timed with a regular pulse-like beat.

But the human capacity for rhythm presents something of a puzzle.Even though rhythmic coordination seems fundamental to human nature, people vary widely in ability. Some have the machine-like precision of Michael Jackson, others are closer to the case of “beat-deaf” Mathieu.What are the underlying causes of these individual differences? By looking at the way the brain responds to rhythm, we can begin to understand why many of us can’t help but to move to a beat.

Results indicated that the strength of neural entrainment was related to people’s ability to move in synchrony with the beat. Individuals with strong neural responses were more accurate at tapping a finger in time with the beat of the two rhythms.

We also found individual differences in brain responses to the two rhythms. While some individuals showed a large difference between strength of entrainment for the regular rhythm versus the syncopated rhythm, others showed only a small difference.

In other words: some people required external physical stimulation to perceive the beat, whereas others were able to generate the beat internally.

Remarkably, people who were good at internally generating beats also performed well on a synchronisation task that required them to predict tempo changes in musical sequences.

So the capacity for internal beat generation turns out to be a reliable marker of rhythmic skill. This adds new meaning to Miles Davis’ reported maxim that “in , silence is more important than sound”.

But we still don’t know why individual differences in the strength of neural entrainment occur in the first place. They may reflect the efficiency of neural responses at early levels of auditory processing, such as brainstem responses. Or the degree of connectivity between higher-level auditory and motor cortical regions.

Continue reading at Source: Rhythm on the brain, and why we can’t stop dancing

How to Build a Blue Man Group PVC Tubulum – Cigar Box Nation

If you’ve ever seen the Blue Man Group, then you know all about the Tubulum.  This instrument is built from a series of PVC tubes that are whacked at the end with flat rubber slappers, similar to cheap flip flops.

We’ve come across several free plans online for Tubulums such as the eHow version, but nothing compares to the college physics report authored by John Johnson that is swimming around the internet.

Johnson’s plans gives precise measurements of the tubes for proper tuning, even noting the temperature and humidity of the area, which was affecting the tuning.  Download the plans and build your own!

Click here for the instructions:   how-to-build-a-blue-man-tubulum

Continue at Source: How to Build a Blue Man Group PVC Tubulum – Cigar Box Nation

Get Your Next ‘Natural High’ From Sound Healing Therapy | Observer

“Sound healing works primarily through the principles of entrainment and resonant frequency. Entrainment is the natural process of a rhythmic pattern, which induces other organisms to fall into the same rhythm.

In sound therapy, it may be used to entrain brainwaves to a slower rhythm, in order to bring about a state of deep relaxation.Every object is vibrating—the rate at which it vibrates is its resonant frequency.

Think of the body like a symphony orchestra with all parts (muscles, bones, organs, cells, etc.) having their own frequencies which, when healthy, are all in perfect rhythm and harmony. When the body systems become compromised due to physical or emotional causes, certain frequencies are affected and literally become out of tune.

Just as in an orchestra, when one instrument is out of tune, nothing sounds right! Everything is affected. With sound therapy, utilizing various instruments and tones, the body is gently brought back to its natural state of harmony.

How is sound therapy administered? There are many forms of sound therapy, including vocal toning and chanting, the use of mantra, individual and group sound baths using acoustic instruments such as gongs, flutes, and Himalayan and crystal singing bowls which may be used together or individually.

Other sound therapies include drum therapy, re-patterning with tuning forks and VibroAcoustic Sound Therapy, in which music is introduced to the body through a massage table or reclining chair with speakers built into it. All of these forms of sound therapy can be used individually, or in any number of combinations.

What makes sound healing so special? Because the relaxation response is triggered so quickly, this modality offers the opportunity to go very deep, very fast and provides an opportunity to clear issues on many levels—physical, mental, and emotional. The only work the client really has to do is get clear about their intention.

After that, the natural processes of vibration, entrainment, and resonant frequency allow stuck energies and traumas to be released and the body reorganizes itself accordingly.

The reason sound is so healing is because we are sound, as is the world around us. We are resonating, pulsating, vibrating beings. Water is one of the best conductors of sound and we are 70 percent water. When we say we “resonate” with something, it’s not just a figure of speech.

Continue reading at Source: Get Your Next ‘Natural High’ From Sound Healing Therapy | Observer

Your Brain’s Got Rhythm, And Syncs When You Think : Shots – Health News : NPR

“Even if you can’t keep a beat, your brain can. “The brain absolutely has rhythm,” says Nathan Urban, a neuroscientist at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.When you concentrate, Urban says, your brain produces rapid, rhythmic electrical impulses called gamma waves. When you relax, it generates much slower alpha waves.Individual brain cells are little clocks. They have an intrinsic frequency.

NPR Interview

The internal cadences of the brain and nervous system appear to play an important role in everything from walking to thinking, Urban says. And abnormal rhythms, he says, have been associated with problems including schizophrenia, epilepsy, autism and Parkinson’s disease.The rhythms of the brain begin with the firing patterns of individual brain cells.

Video from: http://gazzaleylab.ucsf.edu/neuroscience-projects/rhythm-brain-project/
“Unlocking the power of rhythm to understand and enhance brain function” ABOUT THE PROJECT:
Rhythm is a fundamental aspect of the universe at every level, and serves as a critical foundation for life on this planet. As we now understand it, brain function itself is dependent on complex rhythms of activity, which guides interactions between brain regions to generate synchronized neural networks from which our minds emerge. The goal of this collaborative project, Rhythm and the Brain, is to advance our understanding of the role of rhythm in higher-order brain function and also how we can influence brain rhythms through novel interventions (e.g., neuromodulation, rhythm training, video game training, neurofeedback).

“Some types of cells tend to fire as slowly as once a second, while others tend to fire more than a hundred times as fast. “They’re little clocks,” Urban says. “They have an intrinsic frequency.” All those different beats in the brain could produce chaos. One reason they don’t is that groups of brain cells synchronize when they need to get something done.

So, when a mouse is exploring a new place, cells begin firing together in areas of the brain involved in navigation and memory. Urban has been studying how brain cells achieve this synchrony and has found evidence that it works a bit like a room full of people clapping their hands. At first, each person claps to his own beat. But if you ask them to clap together, they’ll start listening to their neighbors and adjusting their rhythms until the claps are synchronized.Brain cells appear to do something very similar, Urban says. There’s still debate about why this synchronization takes place. But many scientists believe it’s important, because they know that when any two cells fire together, the connections between them get stronger, a process that is critical to learning and memory.” …

“What’s interesting, Churchland says, is that the brain may be using this rhythmic shorthand for some motions that don’t appear rhythmic at all, like reaching. “You start with your hand in one place and you move your hand to another place. There’s nothing rhythmic about that,” he says.

But when Churchland took a closer look at reaching he found something really surprising. “That pattern of muscle activity is the sum of two rhythms,” he says.

Continue reading at Source: Your Brain’s Got Rhythm, And Syncs When You Think : Shots – Health News : NPR

Realizing the Yin and Yang of Drum Circles

The Drum Circle movement continues to evolve as it realizes more of the indigenous powers from the ancient past. I am now seeing circles of high energy balanced with quieter periods of meditative sound healing. This is akin to a “marriage” of cosmic masculine and feminine forces.

In Asia and Africa, “masculine” and “feminine” types of performers can be found segregated by gender. In the west we are realizing a balance in one drum circle event. The high energy drumming focuses the mind like none other on the rhythm which is then ready to be directed to exploring the depths of meditative music.

The below is an excerpt from the world famous Music Therapist Christine Stevens on her website (see source link following):

________________________________________________________________________

“Drumming may be the oldest form of active meditation known to humanity.” What could meditation and drumming possibly have in common? I’ve been asking myself this question ever since I heard world-famous sound healing expert Jill Purce say “The purpose of sound is silence.”

  • First, both meditation and drumming help us get out of our heads and into our hearts. They just go about it in different ways. In meditation, placing our attention on the breath occupies the mind. In drumming, the rhythm becomes a mantra that captures our attention. You can’t drum while thinking. Both act as mind sweepers; to clear the mental space of worries and negative thought patterns.
  • Second, both meditation and drumming are practices that focus on remembering rather than learning. Meditative states are quite natural and simple, but not easy.

Drumming is similar. Within the rhythm, we encounter remembering of heartbeats in the womb and rhythms our bodies long to express.

  • Third, both meditation and drumming are tools to connect with spiritual realms and the non-physical. We travel along both the silence and rhythm paths as portals into the spiritual space where we breathe deeply, relax and re-connect with the heart and soul. But there is one difference. Drumming just may get you there quicker.”

Christine then gives 7 excellent steps “on how to drum your way into silence” which can be adapted for drum circles.

Christine Stevens is a music therapist, social worker, and author of the Healing Drum Kit. She has appeared on NBC, CBS and Living Better TV.

Read more and discover her resources at Source: UpBeat Drum Circles

Sound Healing: How Drumming Improves Mental And Physical Health – Reset.me

“Anthropological evidence makes it apparent that rhythm, drumming and percussion are closely and abundantly intertwined with human culture and also seem to produce quite a profound effect upon consciousness when used in ceremony and with intention.

Sayer Ji, a researcher, author and advisory board member of the National Health Federation, in reference to drumming, remarks: “The experience is so hard-wired into our biological, social and spiritual DNA that even preschool children as young as 2.5 years appear to be born with the ability to synchronize body movements to external acoustic beats when presented in a social context, revealing that drumming is an inborn capability and archetypal social activity.”

Best-selling author, researcher and lecturer, Lynne McTaggart, notes in her book The Intention Experiment: “Although the use of hallucinogenic drugs such as ayahausca is common, many cultures use a strong repetitive rhythm or beat to create that state; the Native American Ojibwe wanbeno, for instance, use drumming, rattling, chanting, naked dancing, and handling of live coals.

Drumming is particularly effective in producing a highly concentrated focus; a number of studies have shown that listening to the beat of a drum causes the brain to slow down into a trance-like state.” Evidently drumming has been implemented by our ancestors over epochs for a variety of reasons in a variety of settings. But what uses does this archaic medium serve for modern day Westerners? Does it still deserve a place in society and, if so, what science is in place to support such claims?

Science has made it quite clear that drumming has some profound and holistic uses to enhance physical, mental and emotional health, as demonstrated in a series of studies and research papers.”

Continue reading at Source: Sound Healing: How Drumming Improves Mental And Physical Health – Reset.me

Djembe and African Rhythms – Wikipedia

lenke_djembe_from_mali

Click Rhythms of Africa for an excellent discussion on the unity and character of Sub-Saharan African Rhythms.

“A djembe or jembe  is a rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands, originally from West Africa. According to the Bambara people in Mali, the name of the djembe comes from the saying “Anke djé, anke bé” which translates to “everyone gather together in peace” and defines the drum’s purpose. In the Bambara language, “djé” is the verb for “gather” and “bé” translates as “peace.”The djembe has a body (or shell) carved of hardwood and a drumhead made of untreated (not limed) rawhide, most commonly made from goatskin…

The djembe can produce a wide variety of sounds, making it a most versatile drum. The drum is very loud, allowing it to be heard clearly as a solo instrument over a large percussion ensemble. The Malinké people say that a skilled drummer is one who “can make the djembe talk”, meaning that the player can tell an emotional story.”…

In the United States, Ladji Camara, a member of Ballets Africains in the 1950s, started teaching djembe in the 1960s and continued to teach into the 1990s. Camara performed extensively with Babatunde Olatunji during the 1970s, greatly raising awareness of the instrument in the US.

Djembe players use three basic sounds: bass, tone, and slap, which have low, medium, and high pitch, respectively. These sounds are achieved by varying the striking technique and position. Other sounds are possible (masters achieve as many as twenty-five distinctly different sounds), but these additional sounds are used rarely, mainly for special effects during a solo performance (djembe kan, literally, “the sound of the djembe”). A skilled player can use the sounds to create very complex rhythmic patterns; the combination of rhythm and the differently pitched sounds often leads an inexpert listener to believe that more than one drum is being played.

The bass sound is produced by striking the drum with the palm and flat fingers near the center of the skin. Tone and slap are produced by striking the drum closer to the edge; the contact area of the fingers determines whether the sound is a tone or a slap. For a tone, most of the area of the fingers and the edge of the palm contact the skin whereas, for a slap, the contact area is limited to the edge of the palm and the fingertips. The basic sounds are played “open”, meaning that the hands rebound immediately after a strike, so the contact time with the skin is as short as possible.”

Differently pitched slaps due to selective emphasis of different harmonics

Djembe. (2016, November 3). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:27, November 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Djembe&oldid=747672331

Continue reading at Source: Djembe – Wikipedia

 

Therapeutic Drumming Network – Health and Drumming Study

“In a recent study by the Royal College of Music in London, England, researches found measurable improvements in levels of anxiety, depression, social resilience and inflammatory immune response…

The drumming sessions included drumming instruction and basic rhythms, eventually leading to a culmination performance. Participants also improvised music and engaged in referential music making, creating music to emulate the sounds of water, the study states…

Benefits lasted for at least three months after the study was completed, making the results even more compelling with regard to the use of therapeutic drumming as a possible healthcare intervention for certain populations.”

Continue reading at Source: Therapeutic Drumming Network – Health and Drumming Study

YouTube Channel Created for DrumSoul

Hello, a DrumSoul Youtube Video Channel has been created for drum circles and classes from well-known facilitators and musicians in the hand drum, percussion and dance genre. Use the Youtube link provided under “Contact Form” on the right.

Good vibrations: Cancer Fighters in Music and Drum Circles

A sacred space

“For many patients music plays an important role in spiritual and emotional healing during cancer treatment. Whether it is singing in a choir or simply humming along to a favorite tune, listening to a relaxing melody during a treatment session or strumming a few chords on the guitar, patients often find spiritual solace in music.

Steve White, LCSW, a Mind-Body Therapist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) in Goodyear, Arizona, believes that music has a positive impact on many of his patients. For those who are having anxiety about an upcoming treatment or procedure, the hospital’s Mind-Body team has created a music CD of soothing melodies to help them relax.

The hospital also regularly hosts talented musicians, including a harpist and a violist, who move patients with not only their peaceful sounds but also the positive vibrations that are created by their live performances. “If you’re in a room with live music, your body starts to feel and absorb the vibrations of the music,” White explains. “There hasn’t been a lot of scientific study into it, but people have reported that they feel better afterward.”

A drum circle held three times a month at CTCA is another unique and powerful opportunity for patients and caregivers to share their emotions while connecting with others in a musical environment. Andrew Ecker, founder of Drumming Sounds and facilitator of the drum circle program at CTCA, explains that up to 30 participants come together each week to create a “sacred space” filled with a sense of camaraderie and empowerment.“

It is an opportunity to connect with our spirit. The spiritual nature of our existence is very apparent when we drum with intention,” Ecker explains. “It’s about being present with one’s own connection to their spirituality.”

Ecker says that music is perhaps the oldest mind-body therapy, practiced before yoga or tai chi or qigong. “Long before doing those exercises, people were singing, and soon after they were beating on drums,” he says. “When we beat on a drum today, we connect with the rhythm. We connect with our human spirit. That is very powerful.”

Because there is no technical musical knowledge or expertise required to participate, the drum circle breaks down many of the barriers that might otherwise prevent a patient or caregiver from experiencing the healing power of music. Ecker believes that healing begins with the soothing vibration that comes from the drums.”

Continue reading at Source: Good vibrations: Cancer Fighters Thrive Magazine

Universal Rhythms, Grounding, and Shaker | Kalani Music

There are rhythms that appear throughout the world, in different countries and styles of music. Learning how to recognize and reproduce these rhythms is something that percussionists do as part of their craft. Playing rhythms and music requires that we learn how to create grooves, and that requires that we tune in to micro-timing and the feel of the music. Even playing the shaker can be a deeply musical act. Learn how to get started and make progress in this episode. Kalani also talks about the Therapeutic Drumming Course and World Drum Club at YouTube and Patreon.

Continue at Source: Universal Rhythms, Grounding, and Shaker | Kalani Music