EDUCATION

Drum Circle Spirit offers events and programs for children, teenagers and young adults, from elementary schools to universities.

Our method is accredited to MIM, Italian Ministry of Education, with Artedo Bologna and Modena and if you want you can learn the basics by participating in our VMC Basic Drum Circle Facilitator Training..

The courses, based on VMC’s method and structured in several weekly meetings, not only boost students’ creativity but also have important effectiveness in countering isolation and bullying in schools.

In this regard, we developed our “Drums for Friendship” project, supported through an international fundraiser with Indiegogo, to bring 10 meetings per class with the intention of valuing collaboration and friendship at the expense of any kind of bullying, psychological, verbal or physical.

EFFECTIVENESS
In environments dedicated to education, children experience:
– Practical experiences in teamwork, sharing and inclusion of others.
– Development of small and expanded motor skills.

– Emotional and cognitive connection to music.

– Intuitive understanding of musical tones and patterns.
– Listening skills, cooperation and self-confidence.
– Coordination between eyes and hands.


Playing drums is a valuable tool for…

Teaching children elusive concepts, such as:

Creativity
Self-expression
Individuality
Self-esteem

Develop skills needed in adulthood such as:

Critical thinking
Creative problem solving
Effective communication
Group work and beyond

  • Helping kids at risk.
  • Provide an alternative to antisocial behaviour and move away from the need for drugs.
  • Teaching children to be more tolerant and open-minded.
  • Helping children to learn more effectively.
  • Keep students engaged with the school and less eager to drop out.
  • Improve overall academic performance.
  • The act of keeping the tempo and learning to play on the “beat” develops listening skills, teaches cooperation and reveals how one’s uniqueness is a valuable component within the synergy of a group.
  • Each voice is unique and special, as each child is; a rhythm circle provides a fun and reassuring place in which to experience the quality of separateness in harmony with an extended community instead of as alienation.
  • Playing percussion develops the ability to focus.
  • By following a rhythm pattern and keeping the tempo, children exercise their brains and develop skills that without playing in a group would probably not be revealed in them except through individual, focused programs.
  • Playing brings into play both brain’s hemispheres.
  • When they play following the group’s music, they use both areas of the brain to check that the hit they produce matches the sound they hear, in sync with all other sounds.
  • Playing in a circle helps develop communication skills and encourages children to both talk to each other and listen to each other, and it is a great way for them to explore their creativity in a way that leads them to deepen their respect and understanding of themselves and others.

  • Experts have verified that there are many positive effects that children can receive by playing in a drum circle.
  • Drumming is a great form of stress release. It contributes to the expression of feelings, elevating mood.
  • When children play drums and do so in a relaxed way, it will bring them a great sense of satisfaction and self-esteem.
  • In addition, playing drums produces healthy exercise and emotional involvement that can easily replace lazy patterns such as video games and television.
  • The social disconnection brought by the modern electronic and digital communication world prevents communities from sticking together; playing drums produces the opposite effect, teaching children about group dynamics and personal connections.
  • Those who regularly play drums find that they are more “in tune with things” and find pleasure and appreciation in listening, which makes them able to “receive” their environment.
  • Music plays a natural and magnificent part in individual’s life, so you should encourage whatever interest the child shows in it.
  • There is a wealth of information and publications regarding the innate musicality of children and the powerful healing effect that music has in the lives of troubled adolescents.
  • Whether they are studying music or picking up an instrument for the first time, they are sure to have an ‘exciting experience.


SIGN UP NOW FOR ONE OF OUR FACILITATOR TRAININGS
or
REQUEST A CONSULTATION TO IMPLEMENT A PROJECT IN YOUR SCHOOL
or
ATTEND ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS TO EXPERIENCE THE QUALITIES OF OUR METHOD!

Feedback

Upperclass students from the Scuola Interiore delle Arti participated in a Drum Circle session taught by Harshil Filippo Chiostri.


“To be honest, I didn’t really know what it was all about, I thought it would be a common class where the kids would simply have fun playing drums together, and instead, to my surprise, it was much more than that.”
“Harshil, with his exuberant and engaging energy and great professionalism, guided the children on a real journey to find themselves and their inner harmony, which resulted in the unity of the group.

It was a wonderful experience: after the first few minutes of chaos they suddenly began to “communicate” through drums. They spoke a new language, an ancient, primitive language made only of sounds and the music of their hearts. Their smiles mingled in the air, and everyone’s emotions blended together dancing with the wind and the sun.

They were magical, indescribable and touching moments. At the end of it all, the great concert of hearts closed with a silence that sang the voice of the universe and the melody of renewed friendship …some kids looked at each other thanking each other with their eyes, others wept with joy …I was among those, too, and from the outside I watched that circle of young souls, that wonderful spectacle of life that left me moved and deeply honored to have participated and had my students participate in this incredible event.

I am a high school teacher and, out of love and passion, I have also run the Inner School of the Arts for years.
I think experiences like this should become part of normal teaching.
When people talk about school reform, unfortunately, they never consider that the only way it can be truly implemented is to start with education focused on self-awareness and the expression of one’s talents and inner resources.

Experiences such as the Drum Circle experiences led by Harshil offer this valuable opportunity. I think it is critically important to be able to get them as far as possible into schools, perhaps by offering them at the beginning of the school year as an aggregative moment during reception activities, or as a means of regaining unity and deeper contact among pupils when conflicts occur within the class group.

I have attended several Music Therapy classes, but Harshil’s methodology, skills, and big heart make his Drum Circle work incredibly unique. After this meeting, the boys fell in love with his infectious energy and charismatic ability to create a true circle of friends.
On behalf of myself and all the alumni of the Inner School of the Arts ( who are crazy about you) Thank you Harshil”
– Mariangela Di Pasquale –

“Classes 2 F and 1E (secondary school), of the Sacchetti Institute of San Miniato (PI) participated albeit for a short time (one hour each) in the drum circle experience proposed by Harshil Filippo Chiostri. The kids/youths despite not having previously had similar experiences participated with enthusiasm, confidence and fun.
Yes, the boys had been briefed by me in broad strokes about the work ahead of them and knew that Harshil was a friend of mine…but the energy and enthusiasm that came through right away in front of the unattended drums circle (i.e., before they took their positions in the chair and held the instrument) spoke volumes about the depth and seriousness of this kind of work. They melted , they played, they vibrated, they got excited, and they felt that the energy of the group is something that transcends individual individuals. have felt in their bodies and hearts what I often tell them only in words. But as we know the body has more strength and energy than the mind, and if you let it free it expresses itself alive and vibrates.

I authentically believe that such activities should become routine within various institutions concerned with growth, education and well-being. Too many times ns students are forced to be glued to chairs, perhaps, even small ones listening only to rational and convergent educations and knowledge, which very little keep them in touch with real knowledge. Such activities, in my opinion, should be preparatory to class group building; therefore, organized and planned early in the school year, perhaps with 3, 4 meetings between October and November. Such interventions would greatly facilitate group building, alleviate emotional-relational misunderstandings, create harmony and healthy joy, and help us teachers to be lighter and more in tune with the hearts of our students.
Harshil is truly a dear friend with whom I have shared and share “deep journeys of the soul,” but even more I esteem him as a serious and profound professional who loves and believes deeply in what he does; his heart is big and he is able to vibrate and sing in full harmony with voice of his venerable instruments. Thank you very, very much for your intervention in “my school”…I look forward to continuing.”

– Lisiana Lotti (class literature teacher) –

“Carducci-Tenerani School in Carrara. on Wednesday, May 26, a somewhat special concert was held in the gymnasium…the boys and girls of classes 1B and 1E had fun/ playing instruments created using recycled materials..the result was surprising… next to the traditional drums, overturned drums, pot lids, cans filled with sand or beans, large rubber tubes and many other common objects turned into music, rhythm, emotion! and the classmates from other classes watching our performance could not sit still..our rhythm infected them!
It was very instructive to discover that all things can have a second life–full of our energy!!!”
Antonella Carrano

At the step-by-step libertarian school we had a great time…rhythm, music, sharing, joy…..between adults and children…..as in a family…or as it should be in a family….beautiful when at the moment when there was no “harmonic dialogue” Harshil intervened and making us “intervene by playing in groups” brought back the rhythm and tempo…..Honestly nice to see how Harshil enjoyed working and facilitating…

– Giuseppe Colao –