Education
Hand Drumming and percussion have a short learning curve – making drum circles an easy access route to music at a performance standard. When involved with rhythm, school and college students of all ages learn timing, co-operation, listening skills and self expression. This helps with core subjects and the rapport developed aids social interaction.
Hand drumming can be incorporated with Brain Gym as a cross-curricular activity and is also aerobic. The sights, sounds and physical activity of a drum circle form multi-sensory inputs that involve students in visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning. New connections built with whole brain learning activities must surely help with other subjects. There is no pressure to learn specific parts to play, so even those who are ‘musically challenged’ make a valuable contribution and gain a sense of achievement from taking part. Playing a short burst of rhythm and then having the whole class play it back is a great confidence booster for timid pupils. Depending on the format and time available, students can take turns at directing the proceedings with a variety of methods.
