"Every beating heartbeat is a rhythm of life." 

~ Gary Schopmeyer.  

 

The Heart of Rhythm drum workshops are for persons of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and other injuries or mental challenges who want to explore the world of sounds, particularly from percussion instruments.

 

Participants can experience joy and other emotions from playing drums and other percussion instruments. Regardless of skill level, each participant can create music individually, or in a team-like setting.

 

The drum workshops are tailored for individuals of different ages starting at 6 years of age to 80 years of age, and beyond. Workshops are divided up by age classification groups, that is, 1. Children 2. Adolescents 3. Adults, regardless of skill levels, or physical limitations.

 

The Heart of Rhythm drum workshops fosters a safe, friendly, and fun atmosphere where persons can interact together through playing drums and creating music. Participants of the drum workshops can develop social skills through the participation and interaction of playing drums.

 

As the facilitator of The Heart of Rhythm drum workshops,

I will facilitate each group with specific plan and routine methods each time we meet at the workshops. The following is a general overview of what takes place in a drum workshop:

 

• Promote physical health with simple stretches and exercises called "warm ups"

• Breathing exercise warm ups

• Simple coordination drills adaptable to each person's physical limitations

• Defining percussion instruments and exploring different types of musical percussion instruments

• Basic music terms and their applications in a drum workshop

• Embracing heart, mind, body, and soul with rhythm through playing drums and other percussion instruments

• Cool downs and recapping of workshop points that were covered for that particular session