If you think about it, the word “drumming” conjures up activity. We “drum up” business…we “bang the drum” for a cause we believe in…and we say that people who are creative and individualistic “march to the beat of a different drummer.” Drumming is energizing. We’re not talking here about the drumming favored by rock stars and teenage boys (although that’s uplifting, too). We’re talking about the type of drumming that you can do on your own—or with others in increasingly popular “drum circles,” groups of people who come together to bang hand drums and create joyful noise. What’s more, you won’t believe how good drumming feels—and how it can improve your health—yes, really.
To learn more, we banged on the door, so to speak, of an expert who has studied and taught drumming in the context of health and well-being—Christine Stevens, a music therapist and author of several drumming books, including Music Medicine (Sounds True). She explains what drumming can do for you and how to get started…
Drumming is something that you don’t want to just watch or listen to—there are much greater benefits when you do it. And you can try it right now with this easy exercise. Begin in silence with your hand over your heart. Feel your heartbeat. It might sound like, “Lub dub—lub dub—lub dub.” Now remove your hand from your chest and tap out your heartbeat with both hands on a table in front of you. Feels good, doesn’t it? There’s something about connecting to the rhythm that takes over. The energy of drumming draws you in, and you feel the beat pulsing throughout your body. You start concentrating on that rhythm and forget about everything else temporarily.
That’s why drumming has been found to be associated with several health benefits, such as strengthening the immune system…reducing stress…and boosting energy and creativity. Participation in social drumming groups provides the additional benefit of community building, teamwork, releasing emotional trauma…and helping people feel more connected to themselves and others. You don’t need any music training and you don’t need to know how to read music.
You can drum on a table or countertop—but you might like drumming even more if you do it on a real drum, which has a far more resonant and satisfying response. Today’s most popular drums fall into two categories—frame drums, handheld drums that look something like tambourines, and larger drums (called full-body drums) that are about three feet high and include the African djembe, Egyptian doumbek, bongos and congas. All types are easy to find online at prices ranging from less than $20 to several hundred dollars. To help get you started, you can try a drumming kit, such as Stevens’ Healing Drum Kit (about $40 on www.Amazon.com). It includes a frame drum, rhythm cards, two CDs and a drumming guidebook that includes playing tips and resources about starting your own drum circle.
Here are some ways to get started…
Drumming with other people fosters a sense of community and cooperation with others. Many people find that drumming enables them to very easily connect with and get to know people. To find a drum circle near you, go to www.Drumcircles.net.
