What is a Drum Circle Community

Practical Guide

Intro

Drum circle communities are very commonly found in almost all countries around the world. They’re amazing to be a part of, as they have no age or skill limits. Most of them allow people to join them with no prior experience, and being part of one is great for your social and mental health. 

In this guide, we’re going to explain what drum circle communities are. It can be a confusing idea for people who have never heard of them before. We’ll also explain the benefits of being part of one, how to get into one, and what you need to bring to a drum circle once you join a community. 

What is a Drum Circle Community?

A drum circle community is a group of people that regularly come together to play hand drums. Drum circles are when these people sit in a circle and play drums like, cajon, congas, djembes, tambourines, bongos, and other drums that you play with your hands. 

Some drum circles have drum kits, but it’s not very common to see that. This is because drum circles are meant to have drums that are easy to play for people who have never played them before, and hand drums are easy to pick up. 

All drum circle communities have a leader that guides everyone on what to play when they come together for the drum circle session. 

Some drum circles are purely for the fun of the members, while others are put together for therapeutic reasons. 

Benefits of a Drumming Circle

There are several benefits to being part of a drum circle. The biggest one is that you don’t need to have any musical skill to be part of one. 

You just need to know how to hit a drum with your hands, and that is something that everyone can do. You’ll also need basic coordination skills, but you’ll pick those up very quickly when joining a drum circle. 

There are big social benefits to being in a drum circle community. You get to meet people from all phases of life, and drum circles often lead to strong friendships being built. 

You’ll undoubtedly find a few hippie types, but you can learn a lot from them and the way they view life. 

Lastly, drum circles are meant to have a positive effect on your mental health as well. Playing rhythms in a structured environment has the potential to boost your mental state. Not everyone will get this benefit, but you have to admit that it can be quite relaxing. 

Where to Find a Drumming Circle?

Most towns have drum circle communities. You just have to look out for them. One of the easiest places to look would be at music stores. 

Every music store tends to have a bulletin board where local musicians place adverts for gigs, music lessons, and other music-related things. You’ll often see drum circle communities putting posters up here for people to come to join them. 

You can also look online. Some drum circle communities have Facebook groups that you can join. You’ll then be able to see updates on them and where all their physical meetings will be. 

If you don’t have any drum circles to join in your local community, you can easily start your own. You just need a local space where several people can sit and play hand drums. 

How Can I Join a Drumming Circle?

You simply need to contact the leader of the drumming circle that you’ve found and ask them if you can join. They’ll say yes most of the time. Drum circle communities are extremely inviting. 

Some drum circles also operate on an open invitation basis. This means that you don’t even need to speak to anyone. You just need to show up whenever they meet. 

Just make sure to find out whether you need to bring your own drum or not. Some drum circle communities have drums to use, while others require you to bring your own. 

If you’re bringing your own drum, the most affordable option to purchase would be a set of bongos. They’re small and inexpensive. 

Some drum circle communities offer team building, so you can hire them to come to your company and get the whole staff to join the circle for a day. It’s a lot of fun! 

FAQ:

What is the Purpose of a Drum Circle?

The purpose of a drum circle is for several people to sit in a circle and play rhythms together on hand drums. It’s a lot of fun, and it has several benefits. The benefits include boosting mental health, getting new people to develop friendships, and getting a better understanding of how rhythms can work together. 

Some people are against the idea of drum circles, as it boosts the concept that hand drums are easy to play. However, you don’t need to be part of one if you don’t like it. Thousands of people love being part of drum circle communities. 

What is Drum Circle Therapy?

This is when a drum circle leader runs a drum circle with the main purpose of getting the members to relax and work on their mental health. 

People that are struggling with mental issues can come to the circle and use rhythms to boost their mood. 

Some drum circle leaders claim that being part of a drum circle can combat depression and anxiety. 

What Should I Bring to a Drum Circle?

You should bring a drum that you can play with your hands. The options to pick from are bongos, djembes, congas, tambourines, and cajons. 

Some drum circle communities have drums available for the members. Just make sure to check what to bring before going to a drum circle. 

Conclusion

Drum circle communities are amazing to be a part of. You can join one with zero musical experience and have an incredible time. You can also join one if you’ve been playing drums for decades. 

Most towns around the world have developed drum circle communities. If the town that you live in doesn’t have one, it’s quite easy to start your own! 

Brett Clur has a Drum Performance Diploma from Trinity College London  has been playing drums for over 20 years. He is passionate about advanced concepts and uses his years of experience to teach his students about them. While he is a full-time drum teacher, he is also working on growing a YouTube channel where shares his insights. You can see him playing there, or on Instagram where he posts daily videos.

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