Drum Circle

A drum circle is an assembly of individuals gathered into a circle to play percussion instruments like hand drums. Drum circles create beautiful, spontaneous music together that empowers the participants to facilitate society, foster spirit, and encourage well-being. Drum circles offer recreation, emotional relief, and spiritual manifestation through social interaction.

Drum circles usually take place on afternoons and evenings during weekends and special occasions. These events are typically held in places, like music stores, churches, parks, community centers, and attended by people from all walks of life -- young and old, beginners to advanced drum players.

This music-making experience is made simpler by a drum circle facilitator. She creates the freedom of the participants to express their music and emotions. A facilitator should understand the responsibility of service and the non-performance part of the drum circle.

An effective drum circle facilitator helps the members to focus on the objective and develop the quality and outcome of the drum jam. She should guide and encourage the participants to produce exciting in-the-moment music. She should also support the group in producing an improvised song and help each individual to achieve a better personal potential, shared happiness, and mutually dependent group dynamics.

A drum circle facilitator should have an exceptional combination of excellent musical sense and rhythmical playing skills on a variety of instruments from the djembe and conga to didgeridoos and shekeres, competent group-building ability, and well-developed personality. Successful facilitators develop these skills to achieve the purpose of the drum circle to develop both the music and the sense of community.

Nowadays, it is not surprising that people from different backgrounds, such as business, social work, music, emerge to facilitate drum circles. There is also an increasing group of facilitators operating in different places, such as hospitals, prisons, and hospices. They use drumming as a tool for therapy.

Trained professional facilitators understand the necessity for empowering each person while the awareness of the whole group progress into a musical masterpiece. Some people have the notion that drum circle facilitators need to be certified. Most facilitators are either self-taught or attended a facilitation training workshop. There are different drum facilitator's training offered nationwide, usually held during weekends.

The Drum Circle Facilitator Guild (DCFG), a professional organization of drum circle facilitators, is committed to assist communities through rhythm-based affairs intended to restore health, empower and bring together diverse people. They gather annually during drum circle facilitators' conference where they hold sessions and workshops on techniques and strategies.

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