Is drumming therapeutic? Needless to say, I think it is. Recently I've been using it in my counseling sessions at Crescent Hill Counseling/Healing Music Enterprises for anxiety management and self-esteem building. In both cases, it helps to calm and focus the patient and put them squarely in the present. A wise person said that anger is about the past and fear is about the future. Life is lived in the present and want to spend most of out time there. In most cases, the patient has never drummed before and feels fear and anxiety about even trying. However, I hand the patient a large, lightweight djembe and ask them to match my simple right, left slow beats (demonstrated at right). After a few minutes I ask the patient to continue this slow, steady pulse and I slowly begin to add sub-divded beats and eventually a little syncopation. After 5-10 minutes, the patient is visibly calmer, feeling more confident and smiling broadly. Give it a try!
