Drum Therapy.....Turner E.

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Drum Therapy And You: HOW DRUM THERAPY AFFECTS YOUR BRAIN TURNER E.

People claim that, after a period of drumming, they feel calmed and relaxed. This in itself is great, but can drumming, or playing percussion instruments, affect physical disabilities as well as improve people’s state of mind? Many music therapists, physicians, and psychologists say “yes.” es

How Did It Begin?

rhythm

to

promote

healing

and

self-

expression.” He goes on to state that current research confirms that rhythmic music originating

Long before it had a name like “therapeutic music”

thousands of years ago in Asia and Africa can

or “drum therapy,” the use of simple drums and

have a huge impact on people’s health to-

other percussion type instruments were part of dai-

day.

ly life as well as ceremonies. Drum therapy draws

physical healing, boosts the immune system,

its roots from shamanic rituals in nomadic tribes

produces feelings of well-being, and a release of

from the Tuva in Russia to the Minianka in West

trauma.”

Africa. Emily Saarman documented the findings of

particularly drum therapy, can help many differ-

a symposium on rhythmic music held at Stanford

ent kinds of physical and mental problems, includ-

University.

ing Alzheimer's disease, autism, Parkinson’s dis-

She noted that “ritual drumming is

Drake writes that drumming “accelerates

Other researchers claim that music,

found in cultures throughout the world...to induce

ease,

trance states.” Ancient people may have believed

Parkinson’s disease, and trauma-related disorders.

that drumming would drive out evil spirits that

Topper Headon, drummer for the punk rock band

caused bad things such as fires, droughts, head-

The

aches, sores, death, sickness and other maladies

and

and accidents. Michael Drake, author of The Sha-

while its origins are ancient, drumming continues

manic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming, writes

to serve many valuable purposes for people today

that drum therapy is “an ancient approach that us-

well beyond music.

and

Clash,

t ra u m a - r e l a t e d

calls

drumming

d i s o rd e r s .

a

“primeval

distinctly, universally human activity.”

So


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