Drum Circles This page is dedicated to music therapy in the form of drum circle facilitation. A drum circle is designed to bring people closer together by creating a mini-society of people who culminate for the purpose of creating a rhythmic event.  Everyone in the circle contributes with a host of unique instruments, heart, technique, spirit, and creativity.  As a collective, a groove is born. Every drum circle is unique and creates a Zen-like social and artistic environment unique in that it will never be created in the same way again.  The uniqeness comes from the mixture of people, instrumentation, groove, tempo, and length of playing.  This is the fun and magic of the circle.  Even if a person's contribution to the circle is a single note, that note is perfect for all that it is, and adds to the character of the drum circle in a way where it would not have been the same without it.  Often, I play the role of "Drum Circle Facilitator" which means that I bring instruments to be played, and invite people to pick instruments and explore their own range of sounds and "find their voice".  Each one is unique in tone, tambre, volume, pitch, and can be played many different ways to create a drum dialect.  Once everyone has had a chance to explore their range of expression on the instrument, I call those sounds together to be played in unison.  I allow everyone to play in the same space along with the pulse, much like a heartbeat that keeps the drum circle alive.  I will pass out parts to allow everyone to play together.  The ultimate goal in facilitating a drum circle is to bring it to a point where the drum circle can facilitate itself.  Once the group is comfortable playing with itself, I mold the sound of the circle using facilitator's tools, influencing tempo and volume, passing out parts to be played, dividing the group to create a "call-and-response" dialogue, allow for  solos, and throughout the process, teach people to play together in harmony with each other. One of the properties of a drum circle is it's expanding nature.  "Nothing draws a crowd like a crowd" especially if it is loud.  (I added that last part because it is true)  The first time I witnessed a drum circle was one of the most spiritual moments in my life.  A group of drummers were playing on the city streets and each one was focused, almost in a trance, playing different rhythms from one another, but all modulating the same pulse, creating this collective of sounds.  Each time a player changed what he was playing, the circle was influenced, and the result was a collective stream of consciousness that enveloped everyone around and drew attention at it's center.  People walking down the street slowed and stopped to watch.  College kids, without drums, tapped the trash cans in time with the pulse.  Strollers were parked and I watched baby's faces light up with exitement.  Though seemingly delayed, the same child-like curiosity was triggered in the adults as they found themselves tapping their feet, compelled to move with the tribal sounds of the circle.  People began to move, tap their feet, dance, and clap.  In broad daylight, on a city street, people danced.