subject: Drum Circles and Communal Drumming [print this page] Drum Circles and Communal Drumming Drum Circles and Communal Drumming
We all know that music has the ability to strongly affect the emotions and attitudes of people after just a few notes. Simply hearing a few chords of your favorite song or a few strums on the guitar can stir up depths of emotion, nostalgia and inspiration. People realized the power of music many generations ago, which is why so many stories were passed down with a musical tone. Rhyme and rhythm create much stronger memories than simple words and phrases, which is why a tune is often remembered long after the words are forgotten. Tribal communities came to this realization long ago, and invoked the power of drum circles as a community building technique. Many ancient tribes come together for community drumming sessions before important decisions are made as a way to feel the beat of the community, and align to a common goal. Communal drumming was used in South Africa at the end of apartheid as a way to bring a torn and broken country together. This practice has finally made its way west for quite a few groups of people. From huge corporate team building events to smaller youth team building activities, organizations such as Drum Caf have successfully brought communal drumming to America. Youth team building activities are growing in schools and sports teams throughout the country. Elementary schools have welcomed this method as a way to encourage interaction among students, and increase the participation of those who are quiet or shy. The teambuilding drumming activities have been proven in many schools to motivate, encourage, and inspire youth. Corporate team building events have picked up steam in common corporate convention cities such as Seattle, Phoenix, San Diego, and San Francisco. The wide array of social activities available in these cities has helped encourage the success of the Drum Caf events. Companies travel to these vibrant metropolitan areas for their drum caf session, where they foster a sense of unity and teambuilding. They are then let out into the city where they are able to further develop their unity through shared social experiences, which deepens the message of the communal drumming session.
