What if everyone in the education system got to play a drum? What could that impact?
To be honest…just about everything!
School are places that require great leadership, communication and cooperation. They are also places that have a huge impact on society. They are (or should be) like a second home to our children, a place of respect where they can grow to be our citizens of the future. There are very few activities as powerful as drumming together that provide all the participants (whether they be a group of superintendents, principals, teachers, students, even parents) with a hands on demonstration of what they can achieve when they work together. Cleverly disguised as fun, the skills of listening, leading, following, cooperating, creating, are built in, as well as the perhaps the most important skill of all…respect, both for others and one’s self. I have seen drum circles have a positive impact on the lives of countless students and provide many an “aha” moment to the leaders charged with their education. Below are a few ways we have worked in the education system.
Superintendents, Principals and Vice-Principals and Teachers
It is extremely crucial for the people in charge of educating our children to be working well together. This workshop teaches participants how to work together better and just how powerful a focused and committed group can be in achieving their goals.
The most respected leaders are those who have learned to listen and empower their people to do what they are best at. This workshop teaches leaders how to listen while leading and achieve their goals while empowering their team.
Success working in multicultural environments is based on learning, sharing, appreciation and respect. This workshop uses music as a tool from which to gain a perspective on other cultures and begin to understand the diversity that surrounds us.
This program is for non music teachers who would like to learn more about using percussion in the classroom. This workshop gives teachers a chance to play a wide variety of instruments and get a basic understanding their uses and playing techniques and how they can be used in the classroom. Great for elementary teachers.
Drum circles in themselves are great for teaching students about respect and cooperation among many other things. Do you have a group of students who would benefit from an on-going school drum circle? Got some instruments collecting dust? Want to start a drumming club? This workshop is intended as a crash course in learning how to run a drum circle in your school. No musical experience necessary!
Students
A program wherein Boom brings drums and percussion instruments to your school to work with individual classes exploring musical exercises that teach mutual respect, inclusiveness, listening, team work, cooperation and group achievement. (Classes can customized to focus on Math, Science, History and Geography and other subjects as well ). This program is available for the whole school or simply just a few classes. BOOM recommends 3 to 6 visits per class . The residency culminates with an separate assembly where in the students perform in front for their school, teachers and parents.
This powerful workshop evolved through my collaborative work with a fabulous and inspiring English teacher ( Marilyn Eisenstat )at Westview Centennial High school in the Jane and Finch area. This project was the catalyst that broke down barriers between students who thought they had nothing in common with anyone else. The drum project not only enabled students to develop respect for other cultures but gave each student a sense of self-respect. This project involves some minor classroom work on the part of the teacher.
