Tap into the art of sound, rhythm and creative inspiration!
Never before has music been so accessible. Whether it be Spotify, YouTube and many other social media platforms. Many big music companies understand that if they stick to a formular they can make a lot of money. So is music a throw away commodity these days? Has music lost its meaning?
Well, I’m happy to say that there are many wonderful talented musicians who create music from the heart, they may not be in the top 100 on Spotify, but they’re out there, so we need to search for them.
Music is an art form… yes? Music tells a story through sound, which can be translated into texture, colour, feelings. Music can help us get in touch with feelings, enhance those moments in time that create memories, has the power to bring communities together through shared positive experiences.
What if a song was just a number and didn’t have a name? Like this song is called #3. Would there be any meaning or feeling to the song as a listener or performer? Probable not. Every song that moves us has a meaning… it tells a story. Music is emotion.
Importance of drum circle music in community
The more I lean about music the more fascinated by it I become. It’s so incredibly powerful. That’s why it’s important to include drum circle music in all parts of community – everyone can be creative with rhythm and sound. This is my passion, to share knowledge with Positive Music drum circle facilitation, so more people can access this amazing tool for wellbeing, belonging and connection.
If you read my Positive Music blog you know I believe everyone can create music. As a percussionist and drum circle facilitator trainer, I love to bring these healing elements into each sound bath event, drum circle and teacher training program. When we include rhythm, melody, harmony and the special ingredient… silence, together it transports us to another dimension... of imagination and creativity. Without silence there cannot be rhythm. Actually, the other special ingredient are the participants.
From time to time we all need a little lift… yes? It’s really important for me to listen to wonderful composers and musicians for inspiration. It’s like a breath of fresh air, like goosebumps of inspiration flowing through my body.
I encourage drum students and classroom teachers to listen and play along to music as much as possible to increase creativity, listening skills and timing. The foundations of music, a great place to start, to build and enhance these skills, which we can do, no matter what our age.
New percussion ensemble song delves deep into meaning
In the last 18 months I've really enjoyed writing classroom music. Just in the past month I’ve been in my recording studio creating a new percussion ensemble song for the classroom River Red Gum.
From an idea to transposing this to sound, rhythm into a musical arrangement. All compositions I write start with a feeling and my experiences, then this moves into sound, in this case I wanted to write about the Australian eucalyptus trees (did you know there are many varieties?). I love trees!
I grew up in the bush, where we were surrounded by big beautiful eucalyptus trees, and quite frequently we had many visitors drop in, like koalas, wombats, snakes… that’s another story! I feel connected to nature and I’m passionate about this treasure trove of beauty.
Back in 2019, east of Australia experienced bushfires that devastated people’s lives and nature. Many native animals and their habitat perished in the fires. I wanted to help, just like many Australians who saw this. I organized some friends to help sponsor a koala that had been badly injured and my husband and I bought many eucalyptus trees to help rebuild the koala’s habitat.
Making music gives us the opportunity to express our feelings, when we just can't find the words to describe what is in us.
River Red Gum music composition
I have finally finished my new classroom percussion ensemble piece called ‘River Red Gum’. Instruments include beautiful variety of Orff instruments such as the soprano, alto and bass xylophone, hand drums such as congas and djembe (includes a fun djembe solo for students), hand held percussion, shaker, go-go bells, triangle and sleigh bells. A lovely combination of melodies and rhythm.
The main rhythm is based on the beautiful long bell 6/8 clave. Though I have written River Red Gum in triplets. I thought about writing it in 6/8 though the melody feels like it’s in triplet form. Here you can see the same rhythm just written differently.
Clave written in 6/8 timing
Clave written in triplets
Being a percussionist, River Red Gum classroom percussion composition is highly rhythmical with tuned and untuned percussion parts supporting the melody of alto and soprano xylophone melodies. Great for adult and upper to secondary school students. The download comes with charts for all instruments, the conductor score and play-along song.
I am in the process of creating a video to showcase all the instruments plus I’m also creating an online workshop teaching all parts.
Even though I’m new to composing, I’m learning all the time and I LOVE the process of creating music. As I have mentioned, you’re never to old to learn new skills.
Learn the Hart of Drum Circle Facilitation and help build stronger communities through the power of group drumming and music-making.
Would you like to learn how to bring people of all ages together, connecting and building a sense of community through rhythm and music-making? For more information on Positive Music teacher trainings, please contact me today.
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