Photo: truthwhispers / Flickr

If you can feel the rhythm of your heartbeat, you’ve got everything that it takes to start drumming. Drumming gets you in sync with yourself while connecting you with others. As Paul Pearsall put it in The Heart’s Code, ‘Our heart is the metronome of our body’s biorhythm, and health happens when we are in rhythm within ourselves, synchronized with other living systems and moving to our preset beat rather than trying to respond to the driving beat of the stressful outside world.’

Drumming is therapeutic

Drumming is good for you and you don’t need to know how to read music. The general beats are simple and are easy enough for a beginner to pick up. All you have to do is get into the rhythm and a good drum leader or teacher will show you how.

Drumming is therapeutic because it helps you to become aware of exactly where you in your life while encouraging you to let go and harmonise with others. It gets you into the flow of energy in a group, which can completely re-energise you. Drumming also helps to bypass obsessive thinking patterns and get you more focused on the moment.

Another reason to drum is that it brings balance to the body and the mind as both one’s left and right hands are involved in the playing.

Which drum?

There are many drums to choose from so the choice of what drum to play requires some exploration.

Djemberhythms.com prefers the djembe with its African dance beat because it can be played as part of the body ‘so that the movement, the life of the music can be felt. Especially if there are dancers –and the history of the djembe is all about a vital connection with dance.’

Drumming groups

Check local community boards for drumming groups in your area or get together with like-minded friends and take it from there.

Tags: lifestyle, music