Senior Center?

[Andrew Ecker]

It looks like some doors have opened with a senior center here in town and I am going to be able to offer a drum circle as a class. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions about engageing the seniors any books or materials I will need ect. I have about 23 drums mostly african but some other doubecs buffalo congas ect and a few rattles and bells I have done small what I call workshops in the park and at the homeless shelters but never for a paying audience i need some help.

[j l]

as for materials i'd recommend taking a cd player with some drum music to play while you're setting up and people are coming in... a lot of seniors have never heard drum based music and can "get the hang of it" a little better if they have something to model. i'd also try using rhythms that they're familiar with- "my sharona" [doum doum tek ka doum tek doum tek doum doum tek ka doum doum tek ka doum tek "my sharona!" or alternately "our drum circle!"] works well with groups i've done, also the chim-chiminy song from mary poppins (it's 6/8, so it's a little different and fun to try). that way you don't get all "afro-centric" and there's not as much culture shock for older participants that didn't really grow up with african influence. you can also never go wrong with a "bo-diddley" beat (think of the song "i want candy" if you're unsure) - everyone knows it and it's one of the primal rhythms indigenous to nearly everywhere.

from my experiences senior participants are easy to "work with" and very excited about group drumming, but tend to have a little less stamina for the marathon beat sessions than their younger counterparts, so entrancement gets a little more difficult to obtain. it's also really important to stress safety for the wrists, hands, and drums, and that if something hurts you ought not do it --- a lot of my seniors that i work with are best alternating a drum and a shaker or tambourine so as to give their hands a rest - that also helps everyone get to play with different sounds, so it's a win-win.

it's really rewarding drumming with older people - a welcome change from teaching kids snare technique to say the least. hehe. let me know how it goes, i'm sure it'll be awesome!! namaste!!

if you're looking for more general info kalani and christine stevens have both written very worthwhile books with a lot of great and well-tested ideas.

[Andrew Ecker]

thanks bro I really like the input I will give you a heads up as we go I never thought about the cd any suggestions abt the music selections?

[j l]

i like jim donovan's drum the ecstatic international CDs, mickey hart Cds are cool (especially supralingua and global drum project), i have a CD called master percussionists that has some really great tracks (borders says it's out of print, but that's where i got my copy). you can't go wrong with anything recorded by bobatunde olatunji. i tend to avoid too much tabla music before a drum circle: it intimidates people... lol. if you search around you can find lots of downloadable MP3s and make a mix of your own...

eventually i'd like to pick up a digital sampler and start recording every circle - then i can play a recording of the previous one at the current one (we get together every 2 weeks at the senior center, for example) and people can hear what THEY did - hearing music you were part of making is a feeling unlike any other, i think it would be cool to do.

your local public library may have some other recordings that are worthwhile (and piratable for free), too... :)

namaste!