Facilitating Drum and Rhythm Circles
A Project Supported by the
Colorado Culture Change
Accountability Grant-an Overview
For LTC Advisory May 3, 2011
“Rhythms of Wellness”
This is what feeling better
sounds like!
Marcia Brenowitz NHA
North Star Rehabilitation and Care Community
What we will cover during our time
together:
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An overview of the CCC Accountability
Grant request
The benefits of drum and rhythm circles
Who can participate in circles
Equipment for a drum and rhythm circle
Tips for conducting a rhythm circle
Question…..?
How many people
are already
facilitating or
have staff
facilitating
drum and
rhythm circles
in their homes?
The 2010 CCC Accountability Grant
Provides and opportunity for
homes to start or enhance a
drum and rhythm circle in
their home through the loan
of equipment, books,
and an invitation to share a
circle at North Star
Rehabilitation and Care
Community.
CCCC Accountability Grant :
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Based on a grant I was able to receive through the
Colorado Culture Change Accountability Board, I
was able to be trained as a Remo HealthRHYTHMS
facilitator and purchase drum and rhythm circle
equipment. Following this I had the opportunity to
present on facilitating circles to activity staff and
students . In January of 2011, activity staff who
attended the CAPA conference were able to sign up
to try out instruments for a month at a time. They
will be collecting some simple data during the
month.
The benefits of the program is being
measured in 3 areas
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Stress reduction
Pain reduction
And sense of connectedness with self and
others
Why I asked for the grant to incorporate drumming
and rhythms into therapeutic programming:
Building Community –the primary goal!
Drumming and participation in group rhythm sharing
is a fun, natural and effective tool in building and
supporting a sense of community. From the earliest
times in man’s history, people have gathered
together among clans and tribes to make sounds and
use rhythms to celebrate, build unity and enjoy
leisure time.
And….
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There is an ever increasing amount of
research which points to the many
physical and psychological benefits
of drumming and participating in
rhythm activity. Some of these
include:
a sense of belonging
a reduction in stress
an opportunity to experience self
expression and creativity
range of motion exercise in a fun
mode
relaxation
Documented Medical Benefits of
Drumming
Stress
Blood samples from participants of an hour-long drumming
session revealed a reversal of the hormonal stress response
and an increase in natural killer cell activity (Bittman, Berk,
Felten, Westengard, Simonton, Pappas, Ninehouser, 2001,
Alternative Therapies, vol. 7, no. 1).
Depression
Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study
with 30 depressed people over 80 years of age and found that
participants in a weekly music therapy group were less
anxious, less distressed and had higher self-esteem
(Friedman, Healing Power of the Drum, 1994).
Cont….
Cancer
Subjects who participated in a clinical trial using the
HealthRHYTHMS protocol showed an increase in natural
killer cell activity and an enhanced immune system. While
this does not indicate a cure for cancer, such results may be of
benefit for those facing this disease. (Bittman, Berk, Felten,
Westengard, Simonton, Pappas, Ninehouser, 2001,
Alternative Therapies, vol. 7, no. 1).
Alzheimer’s Disease
According to Clair, Bernstein and Johnson (1995),
Alzheimer’s patients who drum can connect better with loved
ones. The predictability of rhythm may provide the
framework for repetitive responses that make few cognitive
demands on people with dementia.
Cont….
Parkinson’s Diseases and Stroke
Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or
other neurological impairment, according to Michael Thaurt,
director of Colorado State University’s Center of Biomedical
Research in Music. Researchers have also discovered that
hearing slow, steady rhythms, such as drumbeats, helps
Parkinson patients move more steadily (Friedman, Healing
Power of the Drum, 1994).
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain has a devastating propensity for progressively
draining quality of life. Technology and pharmacology are
falling short of the mark needed to improve quality of life and
reduce pain, according to Dr. Barry Bittman in the Pain
Practitioner. (Lingerman, H. 1995, Music and You. In the
Healing Energies of Music. Wheaton, Ill.: Theosophical
Publishing House).
Percussion's Contribution to the
Wellness Movement
The drum plays a unique and key role in enabling
people to experience the health benefits of
recreational music-making. There is a reason why
drumming has been an ancient tool of community
health in cultures from Africa, Egypt, Brazil, and
Cuba. In the Native American culture of the United
States, the drum plays a significant role in spiritual
practice, ceremony, and ritual. In modern-day
language, these key aspects of group drumming that
serve both personal and community health and
wellness are as follows:
• Drumming is accessible - The drum is a userfriendly instrument that everyone can play.
• Drumming is immediate - It offers a unique
learning curve with fast results.
• Drumming is inclusive - It creates a
common ground for novices and experts,
young and old, disabled and able-bodied.
• Drumming allows self-expression - It is a
medium of non-verbal creativity.
• Drumming allows communication - across
cultures, ages, and disabilities.
• Drumming releases stress - Its unique
aesthetic enjoyment creates a palette for
physical and emotional release.
• Drumming is a social elixir - It brings
people together for an amazing experience in
inspiration and connection.
"Music health workshops" exist in every session of the Empower
Asthma Management Program for those children who get to
express their own rhythms while learning about their disease.
They exist in the music therapy sessions where Alzheimer's
patients play paddle drums and experience a quality of life
that is difficult to reach from their state of illness. And they
exist in the programs of rhythmical health facilitators who
understand how drum circles contribute to the lives of many
thirsty people looking to enhance their mind, body, and spirit
through music.
Should Drums be Sold in Pharmacies?
Christine Stevens. 2001. Percussive Notes.
The feedback from North Star’s residents
supports this!
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On January 3rd, 2011,
the participants of the
North Star morning
drum and rhythm
circles were asked to
provide subjective
feedback on their
drum circle
experience to share at
the upcoming CAPA
Activity conference:
Participants included males and females. They ranged in age from
24 to 83. Medical and cognitive challenges faced by participants
included: multiple sclerosis, stroke, traumatic brain injury,
chronic mental illness, developmental disability and dementia.
“Because drumming heals." It heals with energy”Geoffrey I.
“Rhythm circles are a way to promote interaction with
each other”-Loni J
“It is fun-tell them all it is fun” Janet C
“Tell them it is AWEsome fun” –Karen M
“It gets everyone involved” Joe B
“We learn to appreciate different music” Bea R
“ It is a fun way to play” Estella S
How benefits of the program is being
measured:
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The impact on stress reduction and sense of
connectedness is subjective and based on self
reporting by resident community members and
observations of care partners.
Pain reduction is evaluated through examination of
routine and prn pain medications usage prior to
incorporation of the drum and rhythm circles and
after it is a part of the home’s therapeutic
programming.
Sense of connectedness is based on self reporting
and care partner observations around changes in
interactions initiated in public areas with others and
participation at social events.
Facilities are using a Summary Form:
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CCCC Accountability Grant 2010 Drum and Rhythm Circle Facility
Assessment Summary Form
Facility:_____________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________
Designated Facilitator:_______________________________________________
Contact telephone # :____________________ e mail:_____________________
Period of assessment:________________________________________________
Overview:
The impact on stress reduction and sense of connectedness will be subjective and based on
self reporting by resident community members and observations of care partners.
Pain reduction will be evaluated through examination of routine and prn pain medications
usage prior to incorporation of the drum and rhythm circles and after it is a part of the
home’s therapeutic programming.
Sense of connectedness will be based on self reporting and care partner observations around
changes in interactions initiated in public areas with others and participation at social events.
OPTIONAL – (but very interesting!) Lowered blood pressure is a frequently cited benefit of
drum and rhythm circles. Homes are invited to measure blood pressure prior to and
following drum and rhythm circle participation and track this data.
Submit summary page along with individual assessment forms to:
And individual participant pages:
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CCCC Accountability Grant 2010 Drum and Rhythm Circle Facility Individual Participant
Assessment Form
Facility:___________________________________________________________
Address:__________________________________________________________
Designated Facilitator:_______________________________________________
Contact telephone # :____________________ e mail:_____________________
Period of assessment:________________________________________________
Participant: (first name, last initial______________________________________
Participant’s age:______________________
The impact on stress reduction and sense of connectedness will be subjective and based on self reporting
by resident community members and observations of care partners. ( Check one)
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No change was observed
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Changes in stress and/or connectedness were reported and observed. These included
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Pain reduction will be evaluated through examination of routine and prn pain medications usage prior to
incorporation of the drum and rhythm circles and after it is a part of the home’s therapeutic programming.
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No change in pain medication use occurred
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Changes in pain medication use included
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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Page 2
Sense of connectedness will be based on self reporting and care partner observations around changes in
interactions initiated in public areas with others and participation at social events.
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No change in connectedness /response to others/enhanced socialization occurred
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Changes in connectedness /response to others/enhanced socialization included:
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
OPTIONAL – (but very interesting!) Lowered blood pressure is a frequently cited benefit of drum and
rhythm circles.
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No change in Blood pressure was identified.
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Blood pressure changes identified were
Date_________ Starting BP__________ Post circle BP______
Date_________ Starting BP__________ Post circle BP______
Date_________ Starting BP__________ Post circle BP______
Date_________ Starting BP__________ Post circle BP______
Date_________ Starting BP__________ Post circle BP______
Date_________ Starting BP__________ Post circle BP______
Attach completed individual participant forms to the Facility Summary overview and mail or fax
Or e mail to :
Marcia Brenowitz NHA
North Star Community
3185 W Arkansas Ave
Denver, CO 80219
Fax 303 922 3494
mbrenowitz@pinonmgt.com
Cont.
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OPTIONAL – ( but very interesting!) Lowered blood
pressure is a frequently cited benefit of drum and rhythm
circles. I did not including this in the grant project - as, while
based on outcomes at North Star, blood pressure did decrease
10 to 18 points after the shared hour of rhythms, the clinical
atmosphere the blood pressure equipment and measurement
presented detracted from the experience for a number of
resident community members.
A coordinator in each home participating in implementing the
Rhythm circles is identified to gather the information and
forward it to me.
Homes that have or will be using the
grant equipment are:
Brookshire House-Denver
Berkley Manor Care Center –Denver
Serenity House Assisted Living –Denver
Loveland Good Samaritan –Loveland
Mountain View Care Center –Colorado Springs
Fitzsimmons Colorado State Veterans Home-Aurora
To Date: Training on facilitating a drum and
rhythm circle has been done with:
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4 Staff and 9 boys from Mt St. Vincent Home
Activity staff who attended the annual Activity
Professionals conference in January
Members of Pinon Management’s Wellness Project
Students in the current activity professionals course
at Arapahoe Community College
Attendees at the Colorado Culture Change Coalition
Meeting in March 2011
Overview of facilitating a drum and Rhythm Circle - it
is an activity for everyone!
There is a role in a Rhythm Circle for every resident
community member and staff member in your home!
****and this is where our LTC staff shine -they are
leaders in inclusion and accommodation!
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Some people will be physically capable of reaching out to
bang a table drum or a djembe type drum on the floor. Others
will be able to tap along using a smaller hoop type drum
which they hold in their lap. Some people will be able to
follow the rhythm pattern and others will add a creative flair
with their individual spontaneous playing.
There are a number of rhythm instruments which can be
enjoyed by people who cannot drum related to contractures,
spasticity, hemi paralysis which limits their mobility.
Rain sticks can be held with one hand, and the
smaller ones are not too heavy for most people to
turn over and play. Hand bells can be purchased in
groups and distributed individually are small,
lightweight and generally easy to slide into the hands
of people with even moderate contracture.
Tambourines can be held with one or two hands
and make sound with fairly limited movement on the
part of the player. Chimes can provide a wonderful
tool for ending the session with a meditation.
Those who do not wish to hold an
instrument can contribute by
clapping in time to the rhythms,
and of course there is always room
for people to join in as
“audience.” Often people who are
hesitant to try something new will
be willing to accept an instrument
after filling in for several weeks
first as an “audience” participant.
The drum and rhythm circle can also
provide a fun way for partners
in caring to spend time with
resident community members they
are providing services for. Hospice
staff, physical and occupational
therapy staff, restorative program
assistants and mental health
clinicians can accompany resident
community members to the drum
and rhythm circle and join in either
as a therapeutic exercise or just for
a fun shared experience. Family
members can add to the activity
too-either as participants or
enthusiastic audience.
The basics for a drum and rhythm group
includes:
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a room or area to play which is easily accessible and has seating
an activity calendar which identifies the group with date and time
opportunities to let your residents and staff know about the group
and get them interested in participating such as morning community
meeting or Resident Council and Family Council.
instruments
a place to store instruments when not in use
a CD player and several music CDs to play along with
staff to help people get to and from the group
a record of participation form-
OUR HOMES HAVE MOST OF
THESE ITEMS ALREADY
Starting a drum and rhythm circle does not
have to be expensive:
Hoop drums –these can be purchased in music
stores as well as online. For residents who have
limited strength, children’s hoop drums are small,
lightweight and have the benefit of being less
expensive. You can also go to websites and view the
drum making instructions.
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Rain sticks –
these can be purchased for
between $12.00 and $30.00
depending upon the size and
decoration. An inexpensive
alternative is to make your own.
Instructions can be found online
at a variety of sites.
Tambourines –these can be
found in music stores, online and
also in toy stores.
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Maracas-are lightweight, fun and easy to play. You
may be able to find some in South American crafts
stores. You can also make your own using a balloon
and paper mache. Instructions can be found at
Instructions for making tube drums can be found
online..
There are many other percussion instruments which
can be purchased or made in activity crafts group.
Instructions are available online.
Everyone can participate!
AND: Anyone can facilitate!
You just share the information that a rhythm circle is a
“conversation” using the language of sound!
Some fun exercises
( Cooperation)
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Playing along to a CD
Or:
Starting with one participant and having the next
person join in until one by one –everyone is playing
the rhythm together
Asking participants to play to the rhythm of your
feet. Stand in the center and alternate walking,
hopping, slowly and quickly
A round ( Teamwork skills)
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Divide into 2 sides
of the group. Have 1
side play one rhythm
and the other play a
different rhythm.
Play rounds of "3
Blind Mice" and
Row Row Row Your
Boat
The rhythm of a story ( a chance to be
creative)
Have resident choose a word and write it on a dry
erase board or large piece of paper. Weave a story
from the words, when you use someone’s wordpoint to them and have them play their instrument.
Rhythms with intention( thinking of
the larger community)
Ask participants one at a
time
to name:
someone
or something
they wish to play for.
Have them start the
rhythms and then have the
rest of the group join in.
Rhythms for an audience (self esteem)
Play to practice. Participants
can enjoy the opportunity to
perform for a family night or
another home’s residents.
It can be great fun gathering to
practice for an opportunity to
share rhythms with others.
Concluding the circle
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You can end the group by asking everyone involved
to participate in heartbeat drumming. This is
drumming together to the natural heartbeat we all
experience even before we were born,
Alternatively, the people with soft melodious
instruments such as chimes may be asked to play
softly while participants close their eyes and breathe
quietly to their own imagery or an image provided
by the group facilitator.
Wellness exercise: consider gentle
stretching:
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Once all the instruments have been gathered
you may wish to lead participants in some
simple stretching exercises including:
Reaching arms forward an stretching fingers
out
Rotating wrists in circles in both directions
Shaking hands and fingers out
Taking several deep cleansing breathes.
Inspire alertness with a deep belly laugh!
( and raise those endorphins!)
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If your participants have been lulled to a dozing state by the
heartbeat drumming or soft chimes, you may find it helpful to
bring them to a state of alertness by sharing a “good bye belly
laugh”!
Approach each participant in the circle and tell them you will
share a healthy deep belly laugh.
Ask the participant to copy you. Take a deep breath and give
out a Ho Ho Ho. Smile or laugh to acknowledge your
participants response back to you.
Maintain eye contact and now laugh a nice deep Ha Ha Ha.
Acknowledge participants response back with a grin or smile.
Move around the circle until you have shared the laughter
exercise with all the participants. You may wish to shake the
hands of willing participants as you laugh back and forth.
Brookshire’s experience.
Debbie Ahrens,
Activity Director
was first to use the grant
shared instruments:
She reports residents
who had not participated
in other activities came
alive in rhythm circle
She shared her concern about
passing the equipment on at
the end of the month’s use.
When this was shared with
the residents of North Starthey agreed to send the drums
and maracas and tambourines
we had used before the grant
purchase to the people who
live at Brookshire-they knew
keeping the beat going is
important!
Can I answer any questions ?
Thank you for your attention.
And thank you to the
Culture Change
Accountability Board
for allowing us to enjoy
and share all the
benefits of this grant
project.