The Art and Heart of Drum Circles [Paperback]

Christine Stevens (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2003

In this quintessential guide to both creating and facilitating drum circles, noted music therapist and drum circle facilitator Christine Stevens covers everything from key grooves and instrumentation, to the personal side of empowering people and creating transformational experiences through recreational drumming. Filled with practical tools, guidelines, principles, helpful hints, exercises, and even a play-along CD, Stevens' book weaves into one resource the many key elements of what My Generation/AARP Magazine refers to as one of the country's "fastest growing holistic health trends." "Christine Stevens brings together the energy of her drum circle leadership and the healing power of her background in wellness to give us a very helpful book for drum circle leaders, teachers, recreation specialists, religious group leaders, health professionals, business people and amateur drummers." - Dr. Will Schmid, MENC Past President and author, World Music Drumming "This book is a must for anyone involved in or interested in the drum circle movement - from veterans to wanna-be facilitators." - Karl Bruhn, Father of the Music Making and Wellness Movement What you'll learn: . The science of entrainment . The drum circle duality . How to advertise and set up your drum circle . Recommended drums and percussion instruments . Eight basic facilitation cues . Seven essential skills of facilitation . Making arrangements in-the-moment . Facilitation using a melody instrument . Creating sound-scapes with new drummers . How to cover the basics of hand drumming . Starting and maintaining the groove . Designing your program . Facilitating from a place of musical joy! . Creating metaphors and meaning

Product Details

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation; 1st Edition, 1st Printing edition (May 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0634050664
• ISBN-13: 978-0634050664
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #278,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Art & Heart" Hits Heart of the Matter, March 23, 2004

By 

"djembe_g" (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Art and Heart of Drum Circles (Paperback)

Christine Stevens' "The Art & Heart of Drum Circles" is a short and sweet guide to facilitating a community drum circle. This book really makes sense! It breaks it all down and tells you how to facilitate a rhythm event from the start: How to arrange a room, what gear to buy, what techniques to use, what your helpers should do, problem drummers and ways to handle them, etc.

A lot of this information is already out there in some form or other in other books or on the web. However, this book organizes all that into something that is clear and concise. It's less wide-open drumming enthusiasm and more practical approach to making a great event.

For those of you who aren't familiar with Christine, she's a Music Therapist who is on Remo's HealthRhythms staff. The book draws largely on her partnerships with music therapists, researchers, and health and wellness folks such as Dr. Barry Bittman, Will Schmid, Barry Bernstein, Robert Lawrence Friedman, and others.

At less than 100 pages, it's fairly pricey for a little book ($15) but does include a CD. Speaking of which, the CD is frequently referenced in the book (things like "for an example of this technique listen to track 9. You'll hear the interplay of conga v. djembe that illustrates....").

For drum circle facilitators, this is the stuff! Add this one to your collection.

"In a drum circle, if you can't see the drums, all you see is a group of people working together, expressing their unique voice in a group song, united by a common pulse." - from the book.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art and Heart of Drum Circles, September 23, 2005

By 

Matthew Nowak (Leavenworth, KS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Heart of Drum Circles (Paperback)

I have created two regular musical jam sessions in my town, but realized that there was a need for people who do not play an instrument or do not read music. My search led me to the drum circle concept. Apparently the concept has evolved from pure drumming to being inclusive of many more instruments and sound makers. The Art and Heart of Drum Circles is the most supportive book that I have read on this subject. It is an easy read (includes a CD) and it is very encouraging to new circle facilitators. Christine Stevens makes you feel good about what you are attemping to do while helping you with plenty of information and examples. This is an outstanding text.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful..., August 29, 2008

By 

G. Ian - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Art and Heart of Drum Circles (Paperback)

I took on a sudden urge some months ago to start playing a hand drum, and to bring some kind of community drumming to the area where I live (a small city). I chose this book because it was cheaper than the others (a limited budget!) and had a CD in it. The book was helpful, and helped me gain some insight into drum circle building. I would say that one of the cons is that it tends to read a little bit like promotional literature from the Remo company, and it seems to have a little too much hype for the author and her Remo sponsored circles. However, there is helpful material in it, and I am satisfied that I got my money's worth.