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Drumming
- the Heartbeat of the Universe
By
Debbie Ellison
Native Americans call it the heartbeat of the Earth. Drumming, they
say, mirrors the rhythm of our hearts. They use it in ceremonies, prayers,
spiritual healing, and to induce altered states of consciousness.
 Drumming
has been a part of almost every culture throughout history and today
has become popular because it encourages cultural tolerance and understanding;
community connectedness; and mental, emotional, and physical healing.
The repetitive beat of the drum is believed to calm and focus the
mind, producing a state of peace and deep relaxation.
We are interwoven with all of nature, as we flow with the rhythm of
life and the world in which we live. The beat of the drum reflects natural
patterns such as our breath, heartbeat, brainwaves, blood circulation,
neurons, waves, wind, rivers, and seasons.
“The drumbeat bespeaks the beat of the heart - not just our human
heart but the heart of the universe, the heart of the Creator. To return
to this heart is the purpose of all prayer and all meditation. When
we return to this heart, the Divine creativity flows again,” says
Matthew Fox in Creativity. He quotes African scholar Dona Marimba Richards
- “As in ritual, in music the human and the Divine meet... When
we dance through rhythm, we express ourselves as cosmic beings. Music
transcends us to ultimate realities.”
Drumming was practiced in Ancient Greece, Africa, Asia, the East, Middle-East,
and Far East. In African traditions, drumming is primarily a form of
communication and celebration of the rights of passage and transitional
phases of life.
Ancient illustrations from Egypt and Mesopotamia testify to the fact
that drums existed thousands of years ago. In Greek mythology, the goddesses
Aphrodite and Athena played drums to celebrate the divine feminine.
Even in the Bible, many rhythm instruments are mentioned.
Jacob Kabb, who leads a monthly Jewish drumming and chanting group,
says drumming promotes healing, builds community, deepens the spiritual
experience, and encourages tolerance and understanding between diverse
cultures and people. “Drumming is so simple,” Kabb explains,
“anybody can do it. It is especially welcome at this time when
there is so much division between people and cultures. It is universal,
embracing, and brings people together rather than dividing people. It
does not exclude anyone.”
He says people are drawn to the simple beat of the drum. It is earth-oriented
and takes people into a meditative state by increasing attention on
the breath and the beat. Drumming, he says, leaves a spontaneous opening
and encourages balance and peace within and is an easy way to get into
meditation. “Drumming gives you the space to align with the Divine.”
Since 1992, Chuck Cogliandro has been bringing people together with
West African drumming through performing groups, drum circles and individual
and group classes. He has experienced the tremendous benefits drumming
provides. Cogliandro says drumming brings people together “in Universal
Group Rhythm to connect more with our essence and that of others around
us in a strong, fun and vital way. Anyone who has a heartbeat, and is
breathing, has a deep core of rhythm.”
Cogliandro helped organize and performed with the 100-member drum tribe
in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games and is the director
of the Emerson Drummers and the Thurman-Hamer-Ellington Percussion Choir.
He provides a large e-mail resource list for drumming activities in
Atlanta.
Research conducted by the Rhythmic Entrainment Institute (REI) revealed
many healing benefits of drumming. Repeated rhythmic drumming patterns
were found to improve communication skills, social interaction, attention
span, memory, motor coordination, depression and anxiety, autism, Alzheimer's
Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, immune system problems,
and chronic pain disorders (www.reeinstitute.com/REI/Insitute.html).
Studies by Neurologist Barry Bittman, M.D. revealed that group drumming
can increase the activity of cancer-fighting white blood cells. Dr.
Bittman includes group drumming in his disease-based programs at the
Mind-Body Wellness Centre (www.remo.net).
Drumming has also been found to develop self-expression, creativity,
confidence, interpersonal skills, group bonding, listening, and leadership
skills. As non-verbal communication, drumming has been found to improve
self-esteem, leading to individuals feeling heard, acknowledged, and
affirmed by the group.
There are many opportunities in the Atlanta area to participate in group
and individual drumming.
DRUMMING RESOURCES
Chuck
Cogliandro, Kumandi Drums - individual and group drumming, classes,
performances, events calendar and resources – 404-577-6842,
mkdrum@mindspring.com
Earthshaking Music - classes, events, performance groups, drums - 543
Stokeswood Ave., 404-577-0707
Eric Peterson - Middle Eastern drum groups and classes -
darabuka@earthlink.net
Danny Stern - drumming and belly dancing - danny@acoustechmusic.com
Jacob Kabb - Jewish drumming and chanting - kabbini@hotmail.com
The Drum Café - Jo-Ann Radus - corporate and performance drumming,
therapy and children's workshops – 404-384-4730, jo-ann@drumcafe.com
Luke Emig - classes - lukedrums37@aol.com
Bellydance classes - Suzahna, 404-386-9141
NIA dance - Sandy Bramlett, swbsun@aol.com
Euphonic Productions - world music information in and around Atlanta,
euprod@aol.com
Dances For Universal Peace - Beth Rene, bethrene@mindspring.com
Wendy Francisco - classes in world dance, movement, drumming - 404-642-9693
Drum
Circles
Transforming
Lifestyles, Buford - 678-714-0688, 770-932-8436, babawannabe@yahoo.com
Life Spectrum Center for Health and Conscious Living, 770 465-6294
Atlanta Rainbow Circle - 770-662-6112
Debbie
Ellison is a freelance writer and contributor to Aquarius. Contact her
at DebbieEllisonink@yahoo.com.
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