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.
Drumming together cuts through racial, gender, and cultural differences to the core of who we are. . .
Arthur Hull
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 "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 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 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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 YorkTel & Fax: 212-865-6895
E-mail: ehb2@nyu.edu
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Response to "Drumming Circle for Peace"
This is a very inspiring article, and shows the power of music therapy in effecting a great change in society at large. There are some main points that I would like to address: 1) the significance of music therapy in this crucial period of history; 2) the importance of using drumming, a nonviolent form of expression, as an alternative to violent expression; 3) the significance of the circle concept; and 4) the use of various cultural practices in music therapy, bringing about a multicultural music therapy.
Is it a coincidence that music therapy as a field began in the middle of the twentieth century, a century marked by rapid change and greater awareness of our spirituality and inter-relatedness as people? During this past century, humanity experienced many advancements in technology, causing the world to become more interconnected, more than we ever have been in history. A key step, then, at this stage of humanity's development, is the unification of all the peoples of the world. Baha'u'llah, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, said, "The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens."
One of the challenges to achieving unity is violence between people. The "Drumming Circle for Peace" is a great example of using music therapy as a tool to bring people together and express their emotions in a peaceful way. It uses the drum as an instrument of peace, "peace within oneself, peace with others, and peace with the environment - locally and ultimately globally."
I have always enjoyed drumming, in whatever context in which I've experienced it. I took an African dance class in which we learned various drumming patterns; I participated in a large drum circle at the American Music Therapy Association Conference in Atlanta in 2002; and I've lead a few small drum circles. In all of those experiences, I have felt a strong release of energy, and an excitement in playing with other people. I imagine that many would also feel the same way. One of the problems with violence is the harmful expression of emotions; in drumming and other activities like it, those same emotions can be released in a harmless manner, and at the same time through the interactions involved, group cohesiveness can come about - a step in unification.
I like the references made to the concept of the circle, and how symbolic it is. "A circle is one of the most natural forms found in our physical universe." Nature has a lot to teach us, and this is a great example. A couple of things about a circle that make it conducive to accomplishing the nonviolent goals in a drum circle are its all-encompassing nature, and the focal point in the center of the circle. A circle is not limited to one angle, but includes all angles. Whenever I'm seated in a circle, I feel like I can see everyone; everyone is equal. The other factor is the focus on the center of the circle; when people are in a circle, all of their bodies are facing one direction - the center. In bringing together and unifying people, it helps greatly to have a common goal. The circle brings that.
As mentioned in the article, the drum circle is part of the daily lives of African and Native American cultures. In these and many other cultures, family and tribe are very important, and the people gather together daily, using drumming and other rituals. Certainly our concept of the drum circle has been influenced by these cultural practices. This a great illustration of using the various resources available in different cultures as tools in music therapy. After all, many of these practices have been around for centuries, whereas music therapy is less than a century old. This is also a step in the process toward nonviolence and the unification of the human race - using the various cultural practices opening people to those cultures, causing people to appreciate different cultures.
This articles inspires me and shows me that two of my greatest passions can indeed be combined - music and unifying people.