A few years ago I attended a drum circle facilitation course taught by Jim Donovan (formerly of the band Rusted Root) in Pennsylvania.  This was an amazing experience.  I always knew that drumming was fun and had a positive effect on people, but this was "off the chain".  The energy I felt from playing drums with twenty or so other like-minded people was incredible.  Jim is an outstanding facilitator and teacher and he really had us playing together and gave us each several opportunities to facilitate.

Additionally, I recently attended the "Health Rhythms training in San Diego sponsored by the Remo drum company.  Christine Stevens facilitated the training which included about twenty of us, all from different backgrounds and locations.  In attendance were counselors, music therapists, fitness trainers, and even a medicine woman/integrative healer.  It was a blast learning and drumming with all these different people who have a desire to use music and drumming to help others.

I have had a strong interest in the healing power of drumming and music for sometime.  During my time in Virginia I facilitated several drum circles and gave many steel drum performances for nursing homes and shelters throughout the Tidewater area.  I was able to witness first hand the positive effect that music had on those present.  Soon I will be studying music therapy full time at Marylhurst University in Portland, OR.  Here I hope to continue to grow in my abilities to use music and drumming to enrich the lives of others.