Rhythm Playshop
Presented by Inner Rhythm

Inner Rhythm provides an effective educational tool to introduce the appreciation of music and the magic of rhythm. By inviting children to explore their own sense of rhythm through the Recreational Music Making of drums and percussion instruments children find their own connection to world of music. They create a connection that is truly they very own to keep.

Making music has a new approach it is call "Recreational Music Making". This is based on the Latin word "recreatio" which means to restore to health. Rather then focus on the performance, it is centered on the wellness along with exercise, and nurturing fun. All children are invited to participate and share in the enjoyment regardless of experience and at their own level of comfort.

As a group exercise everyone is allowed to pick and play a number of different instruments during the one hour session. A basic instruction for each instrument available is given to all the children. Everyone is invited to participate in a number of rhythm music making exercises and games. During these games their can begin to explore and express their own musical talent by interacting with each other in a safe group environment. They experience the joy of making music on their own as well as hearing and feeling what it is like to be put of a group making something bigger then themselves.

Promoting self-expression, camaraderie, creativity, better eye-hand coronation, better understanding of the relationship to numbers, sense of rhythm, improved communication and listening skills, learning to work together with others better, self empowerment and self awareness.

This happens in percussion music making events with little or no previous musical background or training, making this accessible to all children and adults.

The protocols used for children may vary but the results are very similar. Nothing short of amazing fun and magic happens.

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The Health Rhythm Recreational Music Making Program

The Health RHYTHM Recreational Music Making program is an evidenced base protocol.

With little or no musical training, participates in a facilitated drum circle start to feel the benefits. The benefits in the body’s chemistry are reduced stress. Exploring self expression and awareness, empowerment, better eye/hand coordination, improved neuromuscular function, and the creation of community are other benefits. With group drumming music therapy these changes in the body’s chemistry are now documented as a result of studies by Dr. Barry B. Bittman, MD. 

Dr. Barry B. Bittman, MD, CEO and Medical Director of Meadville Medical Centers Mind-Body Wellness Center of Meadville Pa. set out to determine the role of group-drumming music therapy as a composite activity with potential for alternation of stress-related hormones and enhancement of specific immunologic measures associated with natural killer cell activity and cell-mediated immunity.

Six preliminary supervised groups were studied using various control and experimental paradigms designed to separate drumming components for the ultimate determination of a single experimental model. This included 2 control groups of resting and listening to drum music as well as four groups drumming four experimental models: basic drumming, impact drumming, shamanic drumming, and composite drumming.

A total of 111 normal age and sex matched volunteer subjects (55 men and 56 women, with a mean age of 31.4 years) were recruited through the local newspaper. Subjects were told they would be paid $25 and that venous blood samples would occur on 2 occasions.

Subjects were excluded who reported active medical problems or infections or having missed the last menstrual period also precluded participation. In addition, volunteers were eliminated who used prescription medications other than aspirin or birth control pills. Illicit drug use, cigarette or cigar smoking, tobacco chewing, and routine consumption of more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day within the last month served as criteria for exclusion. Subjects were asked to refrain from eating for a minimum of 2 hours before the study.

To avoid conditioning effects, subjects were also eliminated if they had drummed in the past, listened to drumming music on a regular basis, or participated in drumming within the past 3 months. Fear of blood drawing also was an exclusionary criterion. 

Each subject was asked to fill out 2 surveys, the Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory before and after the experiment as well as blood samples before and after.  Subjects listened to drumming music recorded from an experimental session; the basic drumming -- group drumming facilitated by a community-based drumming instructor (approximately 50% instruction and 50% activity); impact drumming—group drumming facilitated by a community-based drumming instructor (approximately 20% instruction and 80% activity); shamanic drumming -- roup drumming facilitated using a shamanic approach; and composite drumming -- group drumming facilitated by a music therapist (ultimately chosen as the treatment model based on statistical analysis).

The composite group drumming music therapy intervention resulted in the increase DHEA-to-cortisol ratios in the experimental group compared to the other control groups. NK cell activity was elevated by group drumming, as well(IL-2 and IFN-y) LAK cell activity Thus, group drumming elevated an important ratio of immunomodulatory adrenal steroids (DHEA-to-cortisol) NK cells activity, and LAK cell activity, immunologic markers of innate and cell-mediated immunity.

This study is the first known clinical intervention using group-drumming music therapy as a modulator of biological variables in normal subjects. Both neuroendocrine and immunologic alterations were found in drumming subjects following this composite drumming intervention compared with controls. These changes appear to be immunoenhancing (increased DHEA-to-cortisol ratios, increased NK cell activity, and increased LAK cell activity). Group-drumming music therapy, carried out according to this protocol and using a specific approach for facilitating sessions that emphasizes camaraderie, group acceptance, lighthearted participation, and nonjudgmental performance, appears to attenuate and/or reverse specific neuroendocrine and neuroimmune patterns of modulation associated with the classic stress response..

Composite drumming is the Health RHYTHM protocol used by Inner Rhythm. Group drumming has deep historical roots in culture for thousands of years. With an increase in interest to revisit group drumming as a component of modern day wellness is a natural path. Up until now there has been limited  scientific data documenting biological benefits of group drumming. With Dr B. Bittman’s research and his continue commitment group drumming is becoming an effective element in wellness program across the country. It is also a cost effective program to incorporate as a year round wellness activity.

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