♪♫I don't want to work, I want to bang on the drum all day♫♪

Title of the post is the song Bang the Drum sung by Todd Rundgren. One of those wonderful song gems of the 1980s that I remember my dad singing when I was little. Of course some of us are lucky enough to have a job where we really could bang on a drum all day, or at least part of the day. When I started my new job I was asked by the other active living (recreation) staff what my favorite groups to facilitate were, and one of them is Drum Circle. Now, I am not an extremely talented drummer. My drumming experience is typical of undergraduate methods courses. During my internship I was introduced to the world of hand drumming and leading drum circles as well as to basic drum kit because the MT led the rock band group from the drums. So, I have functional skills. Drum Circle wasn't something they had at my new job. So the other music therapist talked to me and together we decided to use my experience and our combined enthusiasm to get it going and see how it went. For some residents it is "too loud" and some staff run for the hills and office doors slam shut as soon as they see the drum cart. But for those who actively engage it's wonderful to see what transpires. For the facility newsletter I was asked to write a brief 250-350 word article about what Drum Circle is, how it got started, and what goals it targets. I thought it would be simple. However, it was actually quite complicated. You don't realize how short 350 words are until you try and describe a complex group like Drum Circle under that restriction. So, I feel that my article lacks the depth it could contain, but I touched on all the main points, and there's only so much you can do in that short a space. Feel free to comment.

What’s that Racket?!

Active Living is shaking up the Tuesday schedule with a new group: Drum Circle. I have experience facilitating drum circles in the past so when I began working here C, our other Music Therapist, approached me with the idea to add Drum Circle to the calendar. One of the first questions we had to address from residents was, “What is drum circle?” C and I joke about the overly simplistic answer I gave, “Well, we sit in a circle and play drums.” On the surface it is very noisy and a little chaotic, but there is much more happening than what is immediately visible. The goal areas and benefits of this group are numerous. There is always a lead drum that sets a stable rhythm to which everyone else adds.  Participants are required to listen to each other and respond appropriately i.e. if the lead gets quiet everyone has to listen and adapt their playing to match. In this respect, Drum Circle creates an instant community, which can help to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. Though initially the drums can be intimidating, in this setting we set the participants up for success. This in turn inspires feelings of accomplishment, and improves self-esteem. There are a variety of types of drums and simple percussion instruments to choose from.  C and I are able to choose instruments that are physically appropriate for each individual’s abilities but also those that can enhance physical dexterity or address range of motion goals specific to the individual. Drumming is a great way to alleviate stress and provide a distraction from pain. There is research to suggest group drumming promotes the production of endorphins, which improve mood and work as natural painkillers. Personally I always feel an increase in my own energy level after Drum Circle, and witness the same reaction in other participants. So far the response has been positive. As one resident stated following this week’s circle, “I’m not sure I know what I’m doing, but it’s just so much fun! It makes me so happy!”