Role at Burke's - LS Music Teacher
Workshop Summary: Using the Village Music Circle Drum Facilitation book and workbook, we experientially went through the philosophy, steps, and processes for creating and leading a successful drum circle. We talked about the possible goals for drum circles (self-expression, DEI, community-building, health, fun) and how these goals might necessitate a different approach from culturally specific drum learning. We went through the 7 Steps to building a circle, worked through the 4 Modules from the workbook, and participated in setting up daily circles for participant success. We went over "The Map" of a drum circle experience which moves through phases from leader-directed to participant-directed, and from the leader's role, from dictator to director, facilitator, and finally orchestrator. We learned specific terminology (see picture 1) to help us remember concepts while scaffolding a group from whole-group playing to half-group listening/playing, to sculpted timbre-specific or participant-specific groupings; all designed to build from players' contributions; and help them feel successful, have a musical experience, and work toward a positive group consciousness and expressing their own unique spirit.
My big takeaways from the workshop:
+ How to be a more successful leader - keep the beat visible in my body, stay grounded and listen to the group before intervening, make eye contact and smile(!), telegraph instructions with very clear and repeated body language; remember to teach the basic directions first- cut-stop, louder/quieter, rumble, keep going arm roll, attention signal with one finger up or pointing to my eyes (watch me!); and then - always signal the group that will keep playing before cutting anyone else off; the group will let me know whether my communication was successful; it's okay to try and fail - mistakes are welcome for all; remember it's about having meaningful fun and connecting!
+ I led my first 15-minute "Drum Call" - the way a leader starts a circle - and got a lot of positive feedback for my musicality and clarity of communication (see picture below of notes from my instructor on what I did)
+ I want to do more of this with my students at school - to have more fun and give them more ownership - it was so fun to pick my own instrument and where I sat; it was so fun to have playful instruments like squeaky pigs and chickens as part of the choices; it was so satisfying to connect without having to talk
4. How might this opportunity lead to collaboration with other faculty? I am leading two drum circles for the Burke's community between now and the end of school; I would be open to doing a drum circle for the whole faculty, or Lower School, or just faculty that are interested, at some point.
5. Would you recommend this opportunity? Why or why not? I would recommend this to anyone who loves to drum and is interested in learning techniques for leading a group. Many therapists were taking the training to add the drum circle to their repertoire of activities to use with clients.
For more information: https://villagemusiccircles.com/ and my teacher: https://drummm.com/trainings/
This sounds like such a neat opportunity and it would be fun to see you do a drum circle with the students and/or faculty and staff. I hope the drum circles that you did in the Spring were a success and that others will engage in this beneficial practice.