What is a drum circle? A drum circle is a musical gathering. But a drum circle is more than just the instruments and the act of drumming; it is also the shared experience of the participants. The drums and drumming are the vehicles that take the group to its final destination, a place where everyone has a voice and is empowered to use it, and where the creative spirit is shared by everyone in the circle. A drum circle is really a people circle. "I see their souls, and I hold them in my hands, and because I love them they weigh nothing". - Pearl Bailey A drum circle can be simply defined as "a group of people working together to create in-the-moment music using drums and percussion instruments." Key words and phrases are group, working together, create, and in-the-moment. A drum circle is not a percussion ensemble performing a prepared piece of music, or a drumming class led by a teacher, nor any group that is re-creating music it has played before. It's a unique event that is spontaneously created by the participants, preferably with the help of a facilitator, a musical guide who helps the group achieve its goals. Drum circles are a form of recreational music making, which means that the focus is not on performance but rather on personal or group development and wellness, or just plain fun. The word recreational actually means "refreshment of strength and spirits after work." Playing music that renews our spirits is recreational. What is Recreational Music Making? Recreational Music Making is: • less about playing tunes and more about tuning into our playfulness; • less about re-creating what others have done before and more about co-creating something in the moment; • less about being on stage and more about reaching new stages of being; • less about tuning out the environment and more about tuning into your heart. Of course, the concept of recreational music making is nothing new. Before there were televisions, video games and the Internet, people would often gather in a living room or porch to sing songs, play their favorite tunes and drum out the rhythms of the day on a washboard or bucket. Thankfully, we seem to be remembering the importance of taking time to create music in a social atmosphere once again. Why drums? Percussion instruments were the first musical tools people created for use in group music making. They comprise the largest family of instruments, and virtually every culture on earth has some form of drumming. People all over the world use drums to celebrate life, explore their creativity, and unite in rhythm. One of the best reasons to use drums is that they are accessible to most of us. Most people can find a drum or percussion instrument that suits their style. From beating out the pulse on a bass drum to adding a light shaker part, there¹s something for everyone in the world of percussion. From the earliest percussion gesture - striking two sticks or rocks together - to the use of specialized instruments such as congas and jembes, drums have provided people of all ages and abilities access to music making. As one drum circle participant commented, "You never see a group of keyboardists jamming together, and even three guitar players in a room often can¹t get along, but you can have a group of 20, 30 or even 50 drummers playing together and they will ask for more to join." Drums are truly instruments of the people. We use drums because they: • work well in large numbers; • are generally inexpensive and easy to find or make; • provide open access to music making; • are portable, durable and convenient to store; • offer variety and flexibility.