2 minute read
Connecting in Rhythm
Connecting in Rhythm
Rosanne Fortier - News Correspondent
Eleven participants seemed calm and ready to participate in the second session of Awakening Rhythms Drum Circle at Vegreville Train Station on November 17.
The facilitators were Carmen Rae Bruce and Krystal Kaechele.
Carmen explained she had a teacher who taught her how to do sound baths using drums, crystal bowls, and gongs. This teacher, Marcus Fung, offered to help her start a drum circle in Vegreville, and with Krystal's support, they started to collect drums and percussion instruments.
They wanted to do this because drumming allows a person to have a voice when sometimes speaking to others may be uncomfortable or difficult. When Carmen brought drumming to seniors’ residents, drumming allowed them to feel heard and part of a rhythm that connected everyone in the circle together. “Drumming builds confidence and helps us to feel better! We may at first follow a mutual drum beat pattern, but people often on their own accord will create different beats within the established rhythm or start to add percussion through the many different percussion instruments available.
Drumming is an organic and intuitive way to create music not only for yourself but for others in the circle. The music that is created is unique for that moment and any skill level of drumming is accepted, and encouraged! We all have something to contribute in this life in general so each participant is valued and welcome.”
