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A Senior Citizens Drumming
for Wellness Program This program was created through the research studies of Dr. Barry Bittman, a neurologist who studied the effects of therapeutic drumming as a health and wellness tool. As a result of the study some interesting things were discovered. Group drumming is more than just making music. Potential benefits of group drumming sessions can be considered on many levels. Group drumming boosts elements of our body’s natural defense mechanisms.
During this exercise everyone is allowed to pick and play a number of different instruments during the one hour session. A basic instruction for each of the available instruments, which are provided by Inner Rhythm, is given to the participants. Everyone is invited to participate in a number of rhythm music making exercises and games. During these games, they can begin to explore and express their own inner rhythm by interacting with each other in a safe group environment. As they begin to find their rhythm in the group, they begin to find the freedom of making music and the joy of community.
Benefits:
This happens with little or no music training or talent. During a facilitated drum circle the responsibility of the facilitator is to make this easy. By naturally allowing the participants the freedom to explore and express, they are encouraged to realize there is no right way to do it other than not doing it all. The facilitator is there to serve the needs of the circle. Sometimes this involves just letting them play.
The Health Rhythm Protocol
Special consideration is taken with the elderly by opening the session with a simple drum beat and encouraging the natural responses of foot tapping, knee stomping, and feeling the beat. Each person is invited to play their own beat on a buffalo drum with a mallet. Mallets are often used to avoid hand pain. A balance of play time with moments of rest is used for people to catch their breaths if need be. A gentle approach is applied, maintaining social support and interaction. In many cases songs for their era can be incorporated in the music making to trigger pleasant memories.
Many surprises happen when you do not pre-judge someone’s capacity and abilities. By successfully engaging everyone in recreational music making the individual finds comfort to explore and express something that becomes more then just drumming.
The Health Rhythms Program: 60 to 90 minutes
Introducing the program This introduction encourages an open mind and open heart about what will happen in the next hour. An overview of the research and benefits is given at this time. A sense of comfort is created by dispelling myths. You do not have to have talent and training to make music. We all have rhythm; it is in all of us. This a great place to let it out. The discussion of healing metaphors is introduced.
Wellness Exercise By using a relaxing soundscape, participants are invited to begin to focus on their breathing. Gentle movement exercises are preformed to activate a range of motion and to get the blood flowing through the body. This will enhance relaxation and begin to heightened awareness. Participants are encouraged to express how they feel after this exercise.
Breaking the Ice This exercise uses shakers or rattles to create interplay within the circle. As they pass the shakers around the circle they begin to connect with each other in a fun and playful way. Taking a shaker and getting a shaker expresses the ideal, to give you have to receive. By speeding it up you increase the laughter. Inviting them share their experience afterwards helps to create community.
The healing metaphor: The circle is a complete circuit of giving and taking.
The A-B-Cs of Drumming At this point, very simple instructions on how to make basic tones on a drum are explained. Other percussion instruments are also introduced at this time. Safety issues are discussed. Rings should be taken off if they can. Participants are encouraged to pick up other percussion instruments to play if their hands bring to hurt Questions can be asked and answered at this time.
The healing metaphor: The drum extends your inner rhythm.
Rhythmic
Naming Participants learn rhythmically to say
their name. This introduces, in a friendly manner, the actual playing of
the drums and percussion instruments. Everyone is given an opportunity to
say their name and then everyone else drums their name together. This
creates a lesson in listening as well as validation when they hear the
group drumming back their name. Discussion is encouraged after this
exercise. The healing metaphor: A successful journey begins with one deliberate step.
Entrainment Building Begins with a simple foundation beat everyone can follow. There are a group of exercises that can be applied during this portion of the program. One exercise asks the participants to close their eyes and follow the rhythm of a new and slightly more complex rhythm. Discussion is opened at the end of this exercise.
The healing metaphor: Community is achieved naturally by listening, sharing, expressing and releasing.
Inspirational Beats This is a call and response exercise on drums and percussion instruments. It is about creating drumming responses for individuals with challenges. Examples are; getting old, chronic illness or something brothering them. Subjects of discussion are carefully adapted to meet the needs of the group. For example, what do you want to say about your illness and what do you want to say to your support group or friends. They can then express it on a drum. Everyone listens and then repeats it. Listening and being heard in this exercise without saying a word has amazing effects on participants. Discussion is opened and encouraged at this time.
The healing metaphor is: The unspoken need not be left unexpressed.
Guided Imagery Drumming This is a story telling experience, beginning with everyone focusing on their breath while moving through a progression of muscle relaxing exercises. Everyone is invited to follow along by listening to the story being told. A story begins with the soft rhythmical beat of the bass drum. The group can join by drumming, modulating the volume and tempo with the changes of the story. There are several guided imagery stories that can be used.
The healing metaphor: The body cannot discern reality from imagination.
The Wellness Exercise You first wellness exercise is repeated the group is allowed the opportunity to comment on their experience as well as any emotional/physical changes noted in comparison to the initial wellness exercise.
The Finale An open atmosphere is created for refection and expression. Discussion is encouraged, describing verbally or rhythmically what the drum circle meant to them.
The healing metaphor: Know your collective sound lives on in your soul.
At the end of the program an evaluations form is handed out to all participates. They are asked to take a moment to fill it out and return it before leaving.
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