Drum Circle
Are you drawn to play music, but don’t feel like “a musician”? Have you ever wanted to pick up a drum but felt shy?
The good news: if you can walk, you can hold a steady rhythm. In this group we explore rhythm with an array of drums and other percussion instruments.
We emphasize listening to one another as the group is led through various rhythm exercises and games. We stay rooted in our connection to our bodies, our first instrument.
We connect to each other though the shared pulse of the rhythm, focusing on exploration, not mastery. We experience the satisfaction, joy, and fun that emerge from this form of play, this musical conversation.
What participants are saying
"This totally got me out of my head, what a relief."
Photo by Mieke
"Drum circles create physical vibrations that relax the body. They also massage the heart and the emotions."
~ Arthur Hull
“Signal boost: I've really been enjoying the drum circles at SOMA-- very mellow, pleasant experience where the person next to you is as likely to be playing a rubber chicken as a djembe. Good fun, I highly recommend it!"
"Mieke, you make this so fun! I honestly wasn’t sure if this was for me, but now that I was welcomed and made to feel so at ease, I am looking forward to more!"
"Mieke is a skilled facilitator and seems to have a pulse on the whole group at once and what is needed moment to moment. I felt safe to explore this side of me."
"I am impressed with how many different instruments were there for us to play with: All kinds of shakers, gongs, marimbas, rainsticks,….even some 'squeaky pigs'. I get to play and be a kid again for these drum circles, thanks for that!"
Mieke’s background in rhythm play
Musically, Mieke was blessed to be able to study with David Darling as he was developing the organization called “Music for People”. She was captivated by his premise that improvisational music-making is our birthright and something to be enjoyed by all. She continues to be inspired by the highly skilled and extremely engaging and fun-filled teachings of Mary Knysh, who is currently the program director of Music for People. She has also studied percussion techniques with various teachers, including Babatunde Olatunji. She assisted Bob Bloom in a course called, “Drumming About You” at Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. And she has been positively influenced by the community drum circle philosophy of Arthur Hull, as well. In addition to having played a great deal of improvised music with peers, she has shared her love of music by leading percussion play groups with people of all ages in a variety of settings, including McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont, MA.