Customer Reviews

The Art and Heart of Drum Circles

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Christine is on her "A" game with this book. Chock full of information and insight, the "Art and Heart of Drum Circles" should be on every facilitator's reading list. The included CD makes for great audio reference to material covered in the book. If you have not gotten a chance to see Christine facilitate a drum circle, she is even more fun live. Good job!

This cd is great for small drum circles or practicing by yourself. I have bought and shared my own book with others. This has become an important book in my library

Simply put, helpful book. I'm working to spread the word about the value of drumming in my professional presentations...and I often facilitate drum circles for those with dementia. The tips in this book significantly improved my understanding and skills. Much thanks to Christine.

This small book is a good start for those planning to start a drum circle. The CD is helpful.

Getting started as a drum circle facilitator, this video was great. It covers the skills and philosophy for facilitating. This DVD shows the principles applied with large groups, but also small groups that fit in your living room. Well worth it.

Christine Stevens has a solid understanding of rhythm and it's foundation in creating beautiful music.

Including the facilitation or conducting of rhythmic and melodic participation, she creates amazing sound-scapes that are achievable by most facilitators.

This is a terrific lesson in the "feel" of the drum circle. I think that achieving the feel requires technical understanding of the process but also a huge amount of sensitivity to the feel of the circle and the individual contributions of the players.

I recommend Christine to all serious drum circle participants.

the information was easy to understand. i have all the tools to start my own drumcircle