Educational Applications Music Therapy General Music Recreational Drumming (uniting people, regardless of their backgrounds) DRUM CIRCLES

Why Percussion? Easy to produce a sound Do not confuse producing a sound with producing a good sound or a useful sound DRUM CIRCLES

Facilitator Coach Teacher Guide DRUM CIRCLES

Technique Hand drums Djembes Congas Bongos Tubano Cajon 1. Air under instrument for better projection 2. Bass tone; center of instrument; heel of hand 3. Open tone; fingers (no thumb); dribble off of head 4. Slap; brightest sound – by edge, w/curved fingers DRUM CIRCLES

Technique Shakers Maracas Tube shakers African shakers 1. Throw seeds so that pulse is forward DRUM CIRCLES

Technique Claves 1. Form C with holding hand; cup shape 2. Strike sweet spot of claves together Cowbells/Bells (agogo) 1. Face opening away from body 2. Muffle with fingers; contrast with open tone DRUM CIRCLES

Facilitator Cues Rumble/roll Ambient noise category Shaking hands is the cue Dynamics Lowering or raising hands for the cue DRUM CIRCLES

Facilitator Cues Stop/Start Counting in the start Counting down the cut-off Mark the pulse or accent Helping the group establish a pulse Accent a specific beat pattern DRUM CIRCLES

Facilitator Cues Sculpting Stopping one part of the group, in order to have them listen to another part of the group Tempo Speed Up Slow down DRUM CIRCLES

Facilitator Cues Call and Response Facilitator plays a rhythm; group imitates the rhythm One part of a group plays a rhythm; another part of the group imitates the rhythm No Facilitation Just start jammin and see where it goes…! DRUM CIRCLES

Form Layering Bring instruments in or out, one group at a time A – B - A Apply various cue techniques, such as ambient noise – rumble/roll for section A, then a pulse or groove for section B, and back to the ambient noise for section A Sound scapes Focus on ambient Soloists? DRUM CIRCLES

RESOURCES REMO – Kids Instruments REMO Hal Leonard – The Art and Heart of Drum Circles featuring Christine Stevens (DVD) Hal Leonard Percussive Arts Society – Interactive Drumming Percussive Arts Society DRUM CIRCLES