March, 7, 2003

Drumming Circle for Peace

By Edith Hillman Boxill & Cella Schieffelin Roberts

EDITH HILLMAN BOXILL, CMT, Founder-Director of Music Therapists for Peace, Inc. and Students Against Violence Everywhere - S.A.V.E. - through Music Therapy and a professor of music therapy at New York University.

CELLA SCHIEFFELIN ROBERTS MMT, MT-BC, has played a major role in Music Therapists for Peace, Inc. and Students Against Violence Everywhere - S.A.V.E. - through Music Therapy as well as the Drumming Circle for Peace. She currently lives and works in Colorado.

Prologue

This is a crucial time historically. Our beautiful blue planet Earth and its inhabitants -- human and nonhuman -- are deeply wounded. Never before has the inhumanity of war and its aftermath threatened the lives of so many millions of innocent people -- especially women and children. With our skills, methods, and caring, music therapists worldwide need to answer the imperative call to address this overwhelming global problem. The Drumming Circle for Peace is a most effective and exceedingly timely way of raising the awareness of people(s) of all ages, backgrounds, and conditions that nonviolent means of conflict resolution are imperative if we are to survive as a human species.

The Drumming Circle for Peace is a music therapy paradigm that goes beyond the traditional treatment room to encompass individuals, groups, communities, nations.

The concept of the Drumming Circle for Peace and acting upon it around the world is a major project of Music Therapists for Peace, Inc. Although gathering together in a circle, drumming randomly or within particular rhythmic structures or just for fun may be beneficial, even therapeutic, the perspective that differentiates -- that distinguishes -- the Drumming Circle for Peace from other drumming circles is its purpose and meaning: in essence, to expand and put into action conscious awareness of creating peaceful, harmonious, nonviolent relations with others. Conducted by an accredited music therapist, the Drumming Circle for Peace deals therapeutically and holistically with psychological, physical, cognitive, and social conditions/issues of the participants in ways that are inspirational, transformational, and enjoyable.

This article is both informative and instructional with experiential and didactic components that are offered as guidelines for music therapists worldwide. The authors invite their colleagues to view this article as heuristic and send in suggestions as well as songs, chants, and music that are applicable to the meaning and purpose of the Drumming Circle for Peace.

The Nature of the" Drumming Circle for Peace"

The "Drumming Circle for Peace" is a major feature of the work of Music Therapists for Peace, Inc. (MTP), a global network whose mission is to promote peace and nonviolence throughout the world on all levels of human existence through the conscious use of music and music therapy methods. In essence, it embodies the MTP vision to make a vital contribution to harmonious relations and much-needed healing of the many diverse people(s) of our wounded planet Earth through multicultural music therapy.

The Drumming Circle for Peace is an integral part of the MTP project, Students Against Violence Everywhere -- S.A.V.E. -- Through Music Therapy. The issue of violence in all areas of society has become critical in schools at younger and younger ages. The work of S.A.V.E. focuses on music therapy-oriented nonviolent interventions that deal with preventive measures and alternatives to violent behaviors and actions. By raising their awareness and empowering young people to save their own and other lives, the overall goal is to effect a shift in attitudes and consciousness. Nonviolence is key.

This article is designed to offer guidance and stimulate motivation for conducting the "Drumming Circle for Peace" around the world within the context of peace. This quintessential essence gives "The Drumming Circle for Peace" the uniqueness that defines its distinct purpose and meaning, and differentiates it from other drumming circles. Suitable for any age or intergenerational age group- children, friends, strangers, families, parents, grandparents, wives, husbands, siblings, etc. -musical ability, skill, or experience are not requisites. All that is needed to actively participate are the willingness and spirit to drum for peace and a better world. As an intrinsic component in the creative process, facilitators explore ideas, chants, and music that participants initiate.

The Context of Peace

The context of peace encompasses fostering and enhancing peace within oneself, peace with others, and peace with the environment-locally and ultimately globally. Although music therapists may conduct drumming circles in the course of treatment sessions, the scope and application of this concept is an expansion of the work of MTP by reaching out beyond the treatment room to include all people(s).

Fundamentally, the "Drumming Circle for Peace" is a strategy using the concept of the circle to link people together to engender unity, encourage interpersonal relations, increase communication, and foster harmonious contact between participants. Within this safe environment, this strategy makes the difference between fortuitous relating and consciously created relating.

The Significance of the Concept of the Circle

The concept of the circle symbolizes a nonlinear connecting of elements that has no beginning or ending. It evokes creativity and a flow of physical movement of the participants in structured or improvisational actions. The energy generated from person-to-person and from drum-to-drum resonates individually and collectively. According to Arthur Hull, a circle is one of the most natural forms found in our physical universe."

The true essence of a circle formation is the linking of people together, of galvanizing the sense of belonging and unifying the sense of being an integral part of a group in the tradition of the African and Native American cultures. For, the circle-drumming and movement are simply part of their daily life and rituals. The phenomenon known as "entrainment" or "sympathetic vibration" is a basic tenet of this activity. Although the means of producing the drumming sounds may be indigenous to a particular culture, the phenomenon of drumming has a universality and commonality that bridges differences, thus enhancing harmony, shared, and joyful experiences among people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Relationships

To the drum itself (its sound, quality, tone, size)
To an awareness to one's self: heartbeat, feelings, emotions, energy level
To others, individually and collectively
To the quality of the drumming
To different styles of drumming
To diverse cultural meaning, style, and forms
To ways of communicating through drumming
To various indigenous cultures/peoples through drumming.

Nonviolent Interventions

The following music therapy interventions as described in the Manual of Student Against Violence Everywhere -- S.A.V.E. -- Through Music Therapy are:

Impulse control
Nonviolent language
Peaceful disagreement
Role playing
Negotiating
Peer mediating
Mindful lyric making
Call and Response music making

Of basic importance is the intervention "Impulse Control," which focuses on internalizing self-control. It is applicable to all ages, and as emphasized in the Manual (Boxill, 1997), lack of impulse control is basic to the problem of violence:

A chant such as "No More Guns: Beat Drums!" evokes images and resonates with the human heartbeat culling forth an exhilarating rhythmic expression of nonviolence. Its appeal can transcend cultural differences.

Specific Nonviolent Goals

The "Drumming Circle for Peace" provides a safe and nonthreatening environment in which the facilitator creates an arena where people will have the opportunity to increase their repertoire of peaceful, nonviolent behaviors, and to decrease the behaviors which are destructive and undesirable and can escalate into violence. To achieve this, the following is a list of goals which are a guideline and in no way intended to limit other possibilities for reaching the overall goal of peace:

Peaceful conflict resolution
Respect for others and the environment
Sublimation of destructive behaviors
Release and expression of hostile behaviors and feeling nonviolently
Expressive demonstration of kindness
Expression of regard for others
Appropriate tactile stimulation (shake hands, pat on shoulder, hug)
A loving, caring attitude toward other human beings
Appreciation and respect for commonalities as well as differences among diverse nations and cultures
Appropriate tone of voice, facial expression, body language
Promote sharing
Spontaneous verbal and nonverbal communication
Cooperative, noncompetitive relations
Empower people to make choices
Develop leadership skills
Increase motivation
Suggestions from participants

Suggested Venues/Sites/Locations

• Public and private schools-children from K to high school
• College and University campuses
• Conferences/meetings
• Community centers (all ages)
• Group homes for children
• Hospitals/Healthcare Centers
• Juvenile detention centers
• Parks & Recreation areas
• Religious institutions
• Candlelight Peace Vigils

As examples, Music Therapists for Peace conducted a Drumming Circle for Peace in Central Park of New York City. Arriving with drums, guitars, and Latin percussion instruments, music therapists started the circle, inviting passers-by and curious onlookers to join the circle. People from all walks of life, children with their parents, including one mother with a developmentally delayed son, came and went over a period of three hours. The spirit of the participants was joyous and exhilarating-an utterly new experience for many of them! Another awe-inspiring was the occasion of a drumming circle at The Cathedral of the St. John Divine (declared a peace zone) in which there were hundreds of participants of all ages using a variety of hand drums. This was a special feature of a program celebrating Music Therapists for Peace International Day of Peace.

Role of the Facilitator

The facilitator creates a safe and non-threatening environment that generates and inspires a successful, joyous, and noncompetitive experience. Each group will have its own quality and attributes. The facilitator will need to constantly assess the group and flexibly adjust to the changing dynamics of the group from moment to moment. An integral component that stimulates creativity is to encourage the participants to initiate ideas, chants, music, original thoughts -- within the context of peace and nonviolence. Acknowledgment of individuals is of great importance and may be overlooked because of group dynamics.

Techniques and Strategies

Rhythmic entrainment (sympathetic vibration)-chanting and moving in the same pulse; individual and gradual connectedness which results in oneness and unity
Reflection/mirroring
-leader with group
-in pairs-A & B
ex: A's express anger, B's reflect anger
Reverse A's & B's
B's express a peaceful mood, A's reflect
Reverse B's & A's.
Onomatopoeic/action words
Use of the structure of songs
American sign language: used as directives such as "start", "stop", " "wait"
Lining-out singing: completing a learned lyric such as "This Little Light of Mine , I'm going to let it shine
Nonverbal dialogue on the drums and other percussion instruments
Use of music that is familiar to as well as suggested by the participants
Antiphonal use of instruments and call-and-response singing
Iso principle: matching the group's mood and energy level.

Music Therapy Activities

Singing peace songs with drumming
Rhythmic movement with drumming
Chanting with drumming.
Combining singing movement, and chanting with drumming.
Singing folk songs from around the world -multicultural musics
Storytelling with drumming and voice sound effects.
Improvisational group storytelling in round-robin style.
Rapping on themes of peace, love, nonviolence, and friendship
Communicating/sending messages via drums

In implementing a "Drumming Circle for Peace", keep in mind the number of participants anticipated, a suitable location and space, a variety of portable musical instruments: drums, Latin percussion, melodic percussion instruments, guitars, visual aids, and equipment such as microphones, video cameras, recording devices.

Going On and On . . .

The vision of Music Therapists for Peace, Inc. encompasses the nonviolent perspective to "think peace, teach peace, live peace, be peace." This work has the potential to transform the awareness, attitudes, and behavior of human beings individually and globally, to provide alternatives to violence in the world-to promote and nurture peaceful, loving nonviolent relations and actions.

Let us be mindful of the contribution that the far-reaching expansion of this work can make: the peace and healing and joy and love that the "Drumming Circle for Peace" can bring to countless people of planet Earth.

For more information contact:

Music Therapists for Peace, Inc.
P.O..Box 743, Cathedral Station New York

Tel & Fax: 212-865-6895

E-mail: ehb2@nyu.edu

Website:http://homepages.nyu.edu/~ehb2/index.html

Selected Readings

Benton, I (1980). Sound waves and vibration. In I. Bentov (Ed.) Stalking the wild pendulum: On the mechanics of consciousness. New York: Bantam Books.

Blacking, J. (1983). Trends in the black music of Africa. In E. May (Ed.) Musics in many cultures: An introduction. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.

Boxill, E.H. (1997). The miracle of music therapy. Gilsum, NH: Barcelona Publishers.

Boxill,E.H. (1997). Students against violence everywhere-S.A.V.E.-.through music therapy: A manual of music therapy interventions. New York, NY: Music Therapists for Peace, Inc.

Boxill, E.H. (1986). Music therapy for living. St. Louis, MO: MMB Music, Inc.

Diallo, Y. & Hall. M. (1989). The healing drum. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books.

Hart, M, with Stevens, J. (1990). Drumming at the edge of magic: A journey into the spirit of percussion. San Francisco, CA: Harper San Francisco.

Hart, M. (1991). Planet drum: A celebration of percussion and rhythm. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.

Hull, A. (1998). Drum circle spirit: Facilitating human potential through rhythm. Reno, NY: White Cliffs Media, Inc. Play-along CD included.

May, E. (Ed.) (1983). Musics of many cultures: An introduction. Berkeley, CA.: University of California Press.

Moreno, J. (1988). Multi-cultural music therapy: The world music connection. Journal of Music Therapy, XXC(1), 17-27.

Olsen, D. (1983). Symbol and function in South American Indian music. In E. May (Ed.), Musics of many cultures: An introduction, Berkeley, CA University of California Press.

Titon, J.F. (Ed.) (1984). Worlds of music: An introduction to the music of the world's peoples. New York: Schirmer Books.