3rd edition – May 16_18 2025 – Podere Amarti (Pi)
With Ray Watters

Rhythm2Recovery provides professionals with a fun and effective therapeutic framework for using the power of rhythm as a support forsocial-emotional development.

Rhythmic and reflective activities are designed to engage participants, individuals, families or groups, in a fun and friendly learning experience that provides concrete results in terms of personal development.

The R2R, developed by Simon Faulkner in Australia, has a solid foundation based on scientific evidence and is designed around five key elements:

Our programs engage individuals who may be reluctant to engage in other, more confrontational, approaches. We use a process that provides a safe learning environment, by emphasising simplicity, predictability, accessibility and empowerment.

The music itself is simple but powerful. The sessions are fun and promote trust and respectful interaction.

In each session there are repetitive elements so as to provide a level of predictability, and participants are empowered to choose activity themes, lead discussions, and take responsibility for their own behaviors and the well-being of the group as a whole.

The topics explored can be serious, but the main emphasis is on enjoying playing music together now and as an ongoing recreational activity.

Our programs explore a wide range of issues that impact people’s lives. Participants are encouraged to choose the relevant theme for each session and then explore it in relation to their own experience and that of the group as a whole.

Fun exercises are linked to questions that stimulate reflection and self-awareness and increase broader understanding of those factors that nurture healthy, happy and meaningful lives.

Session topics are divided into five major subject areas of ten themes each.

These include:

1. Social and Emotional Learning

2. Identity and Culture

3. Family, Friends, and Relationships

4. Community and connection

5. Health and Well-being

Other specific prevention programs address bullying, violence,

healthy relationships, and drug and alcohol prevention

R2R programs include physical exercises that assist participants with gross motor coordination and body awareness.

A wide range of percussion instruments are played, using different instruments according to the needs of different types of population.

Specific exercises focus on hand coordination and grounding, as well as cross body (center-line) movement to stimulate cognitive activity across the cerebral hemispheres.

The music is also used as a constructive channel for the identification and release of emotions that may otherwise be repressed, or misdirected.

A key component of all R2R programs is the incorporation of specific routines that assist with emotional regulation.

Neurological studies have shown that rhythmic music can impact those primary areas of the brain that regulate the stress response.

Rhythmic exercises, such as playing percussion, are recommended by many of the world’s leading trauma experts.

Each session includes a “rhythmic waves” component that teaches participants to move from an intensified to a reduced level of emotion through the different dynamics created in their music.

Changes in tempo and volume mimic changes in arousal.

In the maximal control phase of this routine, attention exercises are incorporated to increase awareness and concentration.

Strategies for handling everyday situations that stimulate emotional arousal, body-based strategies, are then linked to these exercises.

Community music making is an age-old tradition for bringing people together and having fun through a shared experience.

Unlike of many other group activities, making music avoids many of the pitfalls of language, particularly among people from different backgrounds or who are sensitive to criticism or prone to misunderstandings and distorted reasoning.

Music transcends language and allows people to connect on a purely emotional level, in the moment, without fear of the past or future.

Intrinsic to R2R programs is a focus on altruism and mutual support as members of the community.

Participants in these programs experience a great sense of connection which is used to initiate further opportunities for increased community engagement.

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The Training

A residential course of two day and a half that provides participants with the practical tools and skills to introduce rhythm as a means of addressing the social and emotional challenges encountered by their clients or students.

FUN & EMPOWERING

The R2R model is used by counsellors and educators around the world working in diverse fields including trauma, mental health, behavioural education, custodial facilities, child protection and refugee integration.

PRACTICAL AND ENGAGING

The exercises are fun, engaging and practical and require no prior musical experience. This work is evidence-based and customer-focused with an emphasis on solutions and personal empowerment.

OFFERS AMPLE RESOURCES

It includes over 120 new exercises and rhythm games for both counselling and education settings and can be adapted for individual, family and larger group work.


All R2R programs include evaluation processes to identify their impact on people
and implement changes in response to individual or group needs.

R2R in Australia is an accredited training available to healthcare and education professionals.


TRAINING PROGRAM

CONNECTING WHAT WORKS IN THERAPY TO RHYTHMIC ACTIVITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS

– Introduction to the Rhythm2Recovery model

– Rhythmic exercises and strategies to solidify the therapeutic alliance

– Exercises that explore values and boundaries

– Rhythmic exercises for fun and concentration

– Rhythm exercises for teamwork and healthy relationships

– Rhythmic mindfulness

– Exercises for physical balance

– Teamwork and coordination exercises

– Key analogies that link musical exercises to life experiences, to encourage reflection

– Exercises on change management
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KEY PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE PRACTICE AND A FLEXIBLE MODEL FOR CLIENT-CENTERED, RHYTHM-BASED PRACTICE

– Rhythmic exercises for better communication

– Listening exercises

– Adversity management exercises

– Exercises promoting accountability

– Rhythm exercises for the safe expression of feelings

– Rhythmic exercises for identifying feelings

– Emotional regulation exercises

– Grounding exercises

– Rhythmic exercises for coordination

– Strategies for effective implementation

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ONLINE RESOURCES (English only)

Attendance at a Rhythm2Recovery training workshop also provides exclusive access to our locked facilitator resources through the R2R website.

These include:

• 2200 Training videos of R2R exercises in situ

• Evaluation measures

• Permission Forms

• Mindfulness Scripts for the drum

• Indigenous 2 Way Learning workbook

• Session outlines –COVID Resilience & Recovery Program, Child Trauma Exercises,, and outlines for Veterans groups, DV Prevention groups, Elderly, Parenting, & Grieving groups etc.

• Tips sheets for effective implementation.

• Promotional material

RAY WATTERS
Humanistic counselor, percussionist and founder of Drumwithus, conducts workshops throughout the UK.
Practitioner and trainer of Rhythm2Recovery, conducts workshops and training events throughout the UK (Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), Europe, as well as Australia and Tasmania.
He is also a Certified Drum Circle Facilitator of Village Music Circles.

“My emphasis is always on having fun, maximizing participation and providing a hands-on, fun and tailored rhythmic experience using drums, percussion and voice to create a collective rhythmic work involving collaboration among all participants.

I work extensively in managing schools, special needs groups, hospice, bereavement groups, mental health and counseling using pace, specific protocols and my counseling skills to work with these people in group and personal exploration.

I am passionate about using the drum as a tool not only to teach, but also to explore ourselves and our environment and to bring my skills to your classroom, drum circle, counseling and corporate environment for group and personal growth.”
Ray


WHERE IT TAKES PLACE

The Rhythm2Recovery Facilitator Training will be held in residential mode, with room and board at Podere Amarti, home of Circolo Amarti APS and of Drum Circle Spirit, at Via Val dell’Olmo n.10 in Marti, Frazione di Montopoli in Val D’Arno (Pi), HERE.
Participation in the course is reserved for ARCI members.
You can receive your annual membership card on site, at the price of €10.00.

Podere Amarti has been organizing and hosting seminars and retreats on meditation, therapy, shamanism, permaculture, music since 2003.
Find out more about
Podere Amarti, HERE

WHEN
Check-in Friday MAY 16 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm
Training Friday 5:00 pm>7:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am>6:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am>6:00 pm


COSTS
Discount for registration by March 16:
€290.00 + room and board (€134.00 from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon).
Price for registration after March 16:
€340.00 + room and board (as above)

Have you already participated at least once in R2R Training? You get a 15% discount on the fee:
€245.00 for confirmation by March 16 or €290.00 after March 16

 

SIGN UP NOW, THERE ARE ONLY 24 3 SPOTS LEFT!


Testimonials:

Rhythm2Recovery gets to the soul of rhythm and its potent use when working with individuals, families, and groups of all ages. This training is a treasure. It’s a must-do for anyone working in a therapeutic or educational context. When words get in the way, tune in to the principles that Rhythm2Recovery offers in this packed filled workshop.

The Rhythm2Recovery Model ticks all the boxes of what we know about effective mental health interventions. It incorporates universal principles of effective practice, including active physical activity, social connection and increasing awareness and understanding of the issues that impact an individual’s wellbeing. I have been involved in the research into this model and its outcomes are supported by good hard evidence.

This training was packed full of amazing activities I can use immediately. Highly recommended to those wanting to expand their skills in working with individuals and groups to support social and emotional learning using music.

Simon Faulkner is my major VMC program producer in Australia, so my experience is that he knows how to produce an excellent training event. In my work across Australia, I have met and worked with many of Simon’s graduates, this gave me some insights as to the effectiveness of Simon’s programs and how his protocols are effectively applied in real life, and real challenging situations. I was very impressed. I have attended Simon’s trainings and worked with him in delivering programs to high risk youth and adults in schools and prisons. Simon Faulkner is able to deliver an exceptional experiential program and leave people demonstrating a high degree of confidence and competence in their ability to work with the drum in therapeutic environments. If you are now, or ever planning to, work with any type of at-risk population in schools, behavioral centres, hospitals, drug and alcohol rehabs, mental health rehabs, trauma services, prisons or child protection services, then you cannot afford to miss an opportunity to work with Simon and increase your skills.

Totally enriched – exceeded expectations – Enough tools to last a lifetime.

I have learnt so many different activities that can be applied to my work with youth empowerment programs. A very wholesome experience.

Unbelievable! What a wealth of amazing activities and ideas to use, not only in a counselling context, but also in a general classroom There are not many PD’s I would drive 1,800kms return to attend, but this is definitely one of them.

Simon’s training sessions were life changing, and showed me how a drum can be used to give a voice to those who struggle with self-expression and oral communication. The simple and fun, yet extremely thought-provoking activities, open up a rich world of non-verbal communication and self- awareness. I have been amazed at how his program has enriched my students.
Anne Harris, Sullivan Heights, Surrey School District, BC, Canada

Energizing, Inspiring & validating. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience.
Shelley Stark, Assitant Principal, Northmount School, Surrey School District, BC, Canada

I’m very grateful to have the chance to learn these adaptable, & fun activities to share with my clients. I am awed by the breadth of resources. You have inspired the beginning of a new journey for me, Thank you.
Tracy Lowe, Counsellor, Victoria BC, Canada

Excellent training – I found this training really great – I learned so much to bring into my classroom and my personal life, thank you.
Emilie Aujla – Teacher, Wickaninnish Community

I feel that this training would be so beneficial in every Canadian school, prison, hospital etc. . It’s so well thought out. Clear and useful.
Lulu Leathley, Music Educator, BC, Canada

This was incredible – by far one of the best PD’s I have done. I love how impactful the drumming was for me and will be for my students, Thank you..
Devon Bajura-Macaulay, teacher, Aldergrove School, AB, Canada

Simon Faulkner is a genius! His work has allowed me to impact the most marginalized members of our society, incarcerated youth, the homeless and at-risk students in a way that has revolutionized my community but most importantly so many lives. Many local organizations seek this innovative programming because IT WORKS. I’m anxiously anticipating Rhythm to Recovery his newest brain child! Completely Indebted.
Nicole Williams, Music Educator, Indiana, USA

Simon is a gifted teacher, counselor and mentor! I had no drumming experience prior to the workshop, but following the training, I was able to confidently implement the program in multiple settings including the school system, veteran services, college courses and individual counseling sessions. After 30 years of practice I can say that this is one of the most enriching and life-changing programs that I have included as part of my counseling and occupational therapy work.
Terrie King, OTR, LPC Heart Space Counseling Center, LLC – Texas, USA

Exuberating, Fun and Insightful! This dynamic course taught me extremely valuable therapeutic rhythmic skills and kept me in the here and now.
Gail Schlosser, Catch Inc, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

The best seminar I have ever attended: a balanced combination of therapy and practice.
Jonathan Williams, Shore Community Music Center, MD, United States

Fun, Fulfilling, invigorating, Inspiring. An experience that really resonated with me and the work I do.
Dawud Meeran, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Health Committee of the Hutt Valley District, New Zealand.

I highly recommend this training course, which is full of practical strengths-based exercises that are so important in helping people with mental health problems.
Patricia Taylor, Youth Mental Health Unit, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia.

A real treasure trove of highly practical, concrete and well-grounded exercises that I will absolutely use in my practice.
Dr. Jane Bentley, mental health clinic, Glasgow, UK.

This training was outstanding. I loved the experiential learning & the exercises were fun and pertinent to the populations I work with – Thank-you so much.
Diane Avalon, Mental Health Systems, California, United States

The training was outstanding and will definitely help my work with groups, families and individuals. Expressive, powerful and engaging training – I was one of those skeptics who could not see the value of the drum in therapy – how wrong I was – the connections through metaphors are so clear and practical and the instrument (the drum) itself is so engaging – an amazing experience.
Anne-Marie Blacow, senior social worker, Supporting family and children, Relationships Australia.

As a music therapist, I felt this to be the best training I have attended which actually focused on the therapeutic/mental health aspect as opposed to the usual musical focus. Extremely refreshing and valuable to the populations with mental health issues I work with.
Linda Gerardy, MMT, MT-BC Recreation Director, Crestwood Behavioral Health, California, USA

RUN, DO NOT WALK to a Rhythm2Recovery workshop if you ever get a chance to participate – such valuable ideas for music interventions that resolve around rhythm & drumming. It was absolutely worth the money and all the content was worth much more than I had hoped for.
Sheila Connors, MT-BC, New York, United States

Very informative, well applicable and encouraging. It addedto my practice many more drum interventions and clinical vocabulary .
Phillip Didlake, MMT, MT-BC, CA, USA

Our group of music therapists found their time with Simon to be incredibly valuable and all of the feedback that I’ve received about his workshop has been very positive. He provided a great balance between practical drumming interventions and discussion around topics such as group dynamics and therapeutic music making. The workshop not only gave us strategies for working with our clients, but also provided us with a great Team Music Creation Experience!
Jen Ryckaert, MMT, NZRMTh, MT-BC, Head of Clinical Services, Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre, New Zealand

Wonderful! – great resources to take away. A motivating and beneficial experience that I will be able to use professionally.
Christine Gallagher, MA, MTA, MT-BC, Philadelphia, USA

Incredibly useful evidence-based, research-based, interventions for those with and without musical or therapeutic backgrounds.

Dr. Vivian Nix-Early – CEO BuildaBridge, Pennsylvania, USA

Awesome! I found Simon’s teaching/mentoring – organised, comprehensive and meaningful. I left happy, grateful, and empowered.
Solinda Bautista, Music Therapist, Manila, Philippines

It is so awesome that after 26 years of teaching music in the classroom I feel inspired and challenged again. I look forward to experiencing your teachings with my students.
Jody Thibault, Kirkness School, Edmonton, Canada

Fantastic workshop with countless games and hands-on activities that I can use in the workplace.
Belinda Young, Larapinta Primary School, NT, Australia

A totally engaging and fun training that opened up a whole field of new possibilities.
Paul John Dear, Music Teacher, Scotland, UK

The exercises we did were all very practical and the analogies used were clear and useful. It empowered me in my work and helps me in my career as a therapist and trainer.
Mirijam Hendrikson, Therapist, Netherlands.

A fun, hands-on, safe experience with lots of variety and broad knowledge from the facilitator.
Bernie Bane, consultant, UK

I absolutely loved this workshop. I have gained in knowledge and experience that will be beneficial both to myself and in my work, Thank you.
Linda Irvine, Clinical Psychologist, Australia.

Much more fun and playful than I expected! Thoroughly enjoyed it! Practical, tangible things I can immediately put into practice.
Jenny Weiss, Psychologist, Coaching & Wellness for Your Authentic Self, Toronto, Canada.

Whether in sessions with individuals all the way through to larger groups, R2R allows me the flexibility to address any number of issues that come up and for any length of time. From single sessions, through to an endless process of finding connection through rhythm and music, R2R allows me to find the balance that is required between conscious cognitive content and calming activities that allow us to emotionally regulate. I am very excited about its application in my work.
Gerard McDonell, Senior Psychological Counsellor, Specialist Support Unit, Sydney, Australia

It has been a real pleasure to be part of this training: it is theoretical, practical, accessible and very relevant to the work we do.
Oleen George, art therapist, TheForensic Hospital | Justice Health andForensic Mental Health Network, Sydney, Australia

This training is excellent and very relevant to our work: conducted in a very professional and fun way at the same time.
Sarah Parkin, Senior Psychologist, Adolescent Mental Health Unit, Long Bay Prison, Sydney.

One of the most enjoyable trainings I have ever attended, very knowledgeable facilitators with wonderful potential for our work .
 Gemma Weeks, Senior Therapist | The Forensic Hospital | Mental Health Justice Network and Forensic Mental Health, Sydney, Australia

A great exploration of the relationships between rhythm and human experience (emotions, affect, communication, etc.) that will readily engage my correctional participants.
Peter Giordano, The Storyteller Project, California, U.S.

More than anything I was looking for a course that could provide social understanding, self-confidence, and empowerment to my students; this course provided that 100%.
Kylie Bishop, Bold Park Community School, WA, Australia

So much fun! I’ve never left a 2-day workshop so full of excitement to go to work on Monday, thinking about how I’m going to implement it with my students.
Jess Patrick, Elizabeth Park School, SA, Australia

Rhythm2Recovery extended my previous training with Simon and his DRUMBEAT program, expanding my repertoire and introducing a highly flexible approach to helping children develop effective personal and pro-social skills.
Donna Forfylow, Principal, Mount Royal School, AB, Canada

Fantastic training, I am so excited to bring this back to my school and implement it with our school community. Excellent delivery of material with a great balance of theory & practice.
Laurie Caines, Principal, Montrose School, AB, Canada

Delivering the R2R program for the cohort of students at my school has been an amazing experience. I never come away from a day of teaching without being surprised. The connections that students are able to make with each other during lessons is a very special thing to be a part of. Watching the level of students’ anxiety reduce over the term of the R2R teaching block is quite remarkable. Watching the students’ rhythmic skills and confidence develop from engaging in the lessons is unmeasurable.. We get to see transferable effects into the classroom on levels of concentration to more engagement and calmer students.
Michelle Griffin, Redcliffe Special School

So Amazing! As assistant director for special education, I can’t wait to bring it back into my school system and have all my staff trained..
Barb Mackey, Assistant Director of Special Education, Northern Lights Academy, Cloquet, Minnesota, USA

Many new activities learnt – Simon is a great facilitator, very authentic & generous in his sharing. These ideas will be implemented in our inclusive classroom right away.
Anne Siranathan, Special Needs Teacher, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Fun, interesting and great tools and exercises to share with my students.
Anthony Chiovitti, special needs educator, Gwynne Park Ed Support Centre,

Fun, engaging, and very relevant to our school setting. A valuable training experience full of practical exercises that we can easily adapt to our own needs.
Laura Matchett, Headmaster, Rostulla Special School, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Nothing less than awesome: I can’t wait to bring it back to my school.
Koreen Bennett, Counselor – Student Services Officer, Queen Elizabeth High School

Not only did I have a great time; I am inspired and motivated to implement this work in our school as part of my role as wellness coordinator.
Jenny Jager, Euroa Primary School

A truly powerful approach to bringing music to our school: engaging, fun, community-driven and loaded with potential to make a difference in the lives of many, thank you.
Harmony Mc Millan, Mother Teresa Middle School

A refreshing new approach, really enjoyable and relevant for my students.
Christine Tindall, Metropolitan Behavioral Services, Queensland, Australia

Wonderful; provided me with fun and inspiring tools to explore youth life.
Warren Adair, youth worker, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia

Such a motivational and upbeat experience. Really relevant to my work and exercises were practical and relatable.
Roisin Kelly, Youth Support Worker, Belfast, UK

Through my facilitation of social and emotional learning groups that combine both drumming and reflection, I have seen tremendous success with indigenous students. Both male and female students gain confidence, resilience, a stronger sense of self and a stronger sense of belonging.
Many of our indigenous students are better able to communicate with the assistance of the drums and feel more comfortable communicating within the group due to the relationships built during drumming games and activities. I am yet to work with a student who has not displayed a growth in social and emotional skills after being part of this work – I couldn’t recommend the Rhythm2Recovery program enough. Rhythm2Recovery.
Rebecca Arbon, Senior Teacher, Positive Learning Group – PARR Rural, NT Department of Education. Australia

Over the past 12 months Rhythm2Recovery has run two workshops in Ntaria involving predominantly local Indigenous staff employed to work with children and youth. Feedback of participants in these workshops was very favorable.
Simon’s ability to use simple language and practical, fun exercises made it easy to overcome language differences. Simon also demonstrated a keen understanding of how cultural differences can be accommodated through his sensitive delivery style. In particular, he understood how shame could be avoided in group learning contexts. Simon also responded to our articulated training needs, designing a series of activities appropriate for the time we had available and provided us with advice and support when needed once the workshops were completed.
I would have no hesitation in recommending Rhythm2Recovery to others who may be interested in running Simon’s workshops in a remote, Indigenous context. He understands the need to build local capacities, local, works with respect and cultural sensitivity, and has shown sensitivity to the culture and conditions local.
Dr. Annie Kennedy, Director, Ntaria Stronger Communities for Children, Tjuwanpa Outstation Resource Center

Fantastic workshop, lots of hands-on exercises to engage students and learn empathy.
Melanie Miki, aboriginal practice leader, Surrey School Board, BC, Canada

An extraordinary tool to get the attention of children and their parents, from all walks of life: very meaningful.
Marlene Brajak, Aboriginal practice leader, Lena Shaw Elementary School, Surrey, BC, Canada

This was a very valuable training program with material which will be of great benefit to our clients and community. I really enjoyed the effort Simon put into ensuring the content was tailored to the issues our team are dealing with on a daily basis.
Joanne D’Cress, Clinical Team Leader, Yorgum Aboriginal Counselling Service, Australia

I am a deaf teacher of the Deaf and worked with Drew Mayhill to implement the program. We had eight boys from year 8 to year 10 involved with varying degrees of hearing loss, from moderate and severe to profound. All but one of these students are fluent signers. Only 5 of them are confident enough to speak. Some of the boys wore hearing aids, whilst others wore cochlea implants (which means their experience of sound is wildly varying but incredibly limited). One boy is profoundly deaf and heard nothing, but he experienced a moment of enlightenment in which he finally understood the concept of sound because he could “feel” the air vibrating and we were able to explain that it was noise.

The results of this work have been far-reaching and fantastic. The boys from different year groups have bonded. Younger kids are more confident and more willing to communicate (with their voice and sign) with their peers and teachers (before they only signed with a handful of people and rarely expressed themselves with any real confidence). The older boys have developed greater maturity and embraced the role of deaf mentors for the younger students. There was a overall improvement in student behavior. One of the boys applied for vocational training next year. It allowed the boys, Drew, myself and the Deaf mentor to bond on a personal level. There was lots of laughter with a core value of respect.
Raelene Walker, Shenton College School for the Deaf, Perth, WA

 

The range of practical exercises and their clear links to personal development topics were very useful and I really enjoyed being part of this course.
Niall Dempsey, Youth Support, Royal National Institute for the Blind, Belfast.

It gave me a lot to think about and also some great ideas for creating conversations with the kids I support.
Ryan Sturrock, Youth support, Royal National Institute for the Blind, Belfast

In a thorough and insightful way, using the highly engaging medium of community drumming, Simon Faulkner has created Rhythm2recovery, a sequenced model for imparting social awareness to a variety of populations not easily reached by more common counselling methods. His His activities are simple to understand, meticulously researched and powerfully impactful in lasting ways.
Dr James Oshinsky, Adjunct Professor of Psychology, Adelphi University, NY