Transform your drum circle facilitation skills
As a drum circle facilitator, you might be working with youth at risk for engagement and social wellbeing, or in the corporate sector running team building events to bring groups and teams together for better communication and collaboration, maybe in the classroom for school music programs, or community building with groups for connection and inclusion.
One of the most empowering ways we can serve our community is to continue to grow our drum circle facilitation skills.
In a way drum circle facilitation can shape how we learn and value the uniqueness of who we are and everyone in the drum circle.
Just imagine for a moment … people come together from a wide scope of backgrounds from those who have never played a musical instrument to those who may have dabbled on piano keys as a kid. They come together in a circle with drums and percussion instruments in front of them, how is the facilitator going to get this group of individuals to connect enough to create music together in a short period of time?
It takes skill, right?
When we begin the journey of learning to facilitate groups, we embark on our personal journey of self-discovery. To facilitate improvised music-making, guiding individuals to become a united percussion orchestra takes experience, skill and personal reflection. There are always learning moments when facilitating a drum circle – no matter how much experience we have.
When we understand that facilitating a drum circle is more about the people in the circle, we can shift our mindset from a musical performance to the quality of human connection and collaboration. I teach this in Positive Music teacher trainings. It takes time to develop skills, technique, personal style and tools and the confidence to facilitate a drum circle. However, if you’re up for it the rewards are unlimited.
What is the most value to you in facilitating your own drum circles?
The following questions are insightful and will help clarify what you really want as a drum circle facilitator.
Before we begin set aside some time, with no external distraction, maybe one hour. Now grab a pen and paper, maybe make a cuppa… let’s begin.
What is your passion, what motivates you to facilitate your own drum circle?
Here are some suggestions for you to think about in this question. What gifts would like to give to others? What groups would you like to serve and why is this important to you?
What are your strengths?
Once again this is a thought-provoking question and one that can help determine what groups you would like to serve, your talents and experiences you bring to the drum circle. This can include a combination of the following four.
Here are a few things to think about: musician skills, speaking skills, presentations skills, leadership skills, etc…
- Musician (play a musical instrument, composer, song writer etc?)
- Healer (reiki, sound healing, meditation, yoga, spiritual guide, shaman etc?)
- Teacher (classroom, teacher trainer, 1-1 lessons, kids and adults etc?)
- Performer (spotlight, stage, presence, engaging etc?)
The above model comes from good friend and excellent drum circle facilitator and consultant Mary Tolena.
Are there any other categories that I have missed that you could include? Please pop you answer in the footer below, I’d love to hear from you.
The power of facilitating a drum circle in all kinds of settings using it as a framework for metaphors and deeper discussions, to address topics and themes can be a powerful experience for participants and you the facilitator.
You might even be using rhythm in groups or individuals as a therapeutic drumming tool, which can be catalyst for deeper conversations. For example in wellness programs, counselling groups, music therapy, and the list goes on.
As a drum circle facilitator when we begin to understand how we learn and acknowledge our strengths, we can see how best we can serve our community.
Drawing on these four categories we can better understand our thinking preferences, communication and behaviour. Let’s look at the right and left-brain hemisphere and see the preference.
What makes you unique? What is your style of drum circle facilitation?
This could include your life experiences, personality, your talents. If you are finding it challenging to come up with what makes you unique, ask some close friends, what do they say about you?
Let’s take action now
If you could change one thing, what would it be? And how will this make a difference?
If you’re interested in learning more about serving your community through the power of rhythm, connection, wellness and engagement as a drum circle facilitator please contact me and see how I can help you serve your community through the power of rhythms wellness.
Let’s recap
- Clarifying what communities, you want to serve
- What are your gifts and talents that can serve your community
- What are your strengths
- Better understanding of your thinking preferences, communication and behaviour
- What makes you unique
A little gift for you as you continue to build your djembe drumming skills
I want to help you out as much as I can so I’ve added some great hand drum beats for beginners and ensemble drums that accompany the djembe, called 7 Easy Steps to Develop Rhythm, Technique, Timing and Feel PDF. It’s filled with lots of tips on technique and how to improve your timing and feel, to really take your playing to the next level.
This is my gift to you and something that can accompany you on your drumming journey.
Get your instant copy for absolutely free!! Price $15 - FREE today!!
Download your FREE Djembe Drumming PDF Now
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Thank you so much for taking the time to be here. If you like this post please leave a comment below and share by clicking the button at the bottom of this page, many good wishes, Peta.