Discover the Power of Drum Circles: How They Transform Team Building and Stress Management

Dear All,

We have added Drum Circle as an offering in our range of services. From my own experience, I can share with you that once you start drumming, you just get hooked on to it.

We have already conducted many sessions across the country with audiences as small as 15 and as large as 150.

The application of Drum Circle is varied, ranging from stress management, team building, team bonding, communication, and above all, creating rhythm in the organization.

A drum circle is a group of people who come together in a physical circle for the purpose of drumming. A wide range of drums, from hand drums (such as the Conga, Djembe, Bongos) to frame drums and stick drums, are used.

A facilitator in the center of the circle usually draws the invisible energy graph for the circle, moving from a calm, trance-inducing level to a loud, cathartic high. The facilitator is not a conductor but a catalyst in the group activity of drumming.

Group drumming is a powerful music-making experience that is used as a therapeutic intervention to achieve health-oriented and group-oriented, non-musical goals.

In a drum circle, participants experience both the creation of group rhythms and a sense of community.

Enclosed is a brief about the Drum Circle (DC).

I shall be glad to answer any of your queries. Happy drumming!!!

Regards,

Jimmy Jain
Ph: 91.9322935970

This is an interesting concept. So, do you mean drums are part of the training session? If it is, it's an amazing concept, and I would like to know what inspired you.

Regards,
Pratima Sharma
Pinnacle Training Solutions

Hi Pratima,

To answer your questions:

1. Yes, drums and a host of instruments are used as a part of the workshop. This may be integrated into a program or can be done in isolation as a separate module/program. In any case, the duration should not exceed 2 to 3 hours, else fatigue sets in.

2. Regarding inspiration, Drum Circles (DC) are widely used worldwide in corporate training. However, in India, it is not very well received currently. The biggest challenge is that people are not able to relate drumming to stress relief compared to a stress management program, which is perceived to be quieter and calmer. However, once they experience it, they realize how well it fits in.

3. Team bonding requires open communication, working together, creating a rhythm. In a Drum Circle, non-verbal communication in a team is at its best. Everybody is aligned with the common goal, and since it is an experiential learning methodology, it requires minimal facilitation.

4. I attribute inspiration to the urge to create excitement in the training program. My belief is, as an organization (Global Sequel Consulting), we have to constantly raise the bar, innovate, and add freshness to what we offer.

I have enclosed a document on Drum Circles which shall help you understand them better.

Please feel free to revert with your queries.

Regards,

Jimmy

Dear Taz.india,

Man is a rational decision-maker, and psychologists have observed that every individual's behavior is primarily guided by his or her own welfare. If you know the law of gravity, you will not go up to the 4th floor of the building and jump out of the window because you are aware that you will smash your head on the ground. You may not be able to see the fact that drum circles are widely used all over the world in corporate training, just as you are unable to see gravity. I agree to disagree with you, though.

Regards,
Jimmy

Hi,
Many thanks to Mr. Jimmy Jain for sharing in depth information on Drumming, Drumming Circles and its many benefits and advantages.

I would also like to share my experience and thoughts on ‘Drumming Circles of Pune' and I promise you this is not at all a deviation.

In city of Pune there are many Drumming Groups who become active for a period of about one and half month just before annual ‘Ganapati Festival'. They begin their evening practice sessions at grounds or open spaces on the riverbank in the evening. Most of the participants are young or middle-aged, from both sexes. Some of the groups are exclusive ladies only group. They practice in the evenings after attending their jobs, studies and other routine. All of them are volunteers and often pay from their pockets to buy and maintain drums. The group size varies from 20 members to 100 members. Group includes instruments like Dhol (Big Drum), Tasha (Flat Drum), Zanj (Thick Cymbals) and Toll. Over the years these groups have developed the art of Group Drumming, involving many sound patterns, which can hold thousands of listeners spell bound. It is a real (LOUD) music to ears and passers by stop and listen to drummers, while they are practicing. Whole of this activity is aimed at performing in front of Lord Ganapati's Procession on the first day and the last day of ‘Ganapati Festival'. This has developed into a movement, started with 1-2 groups now counting to almost 50 groups having participants and volunteers from different walks of life. These groups also invest in attractive traditional clothing / uniforms. They compete with each other to give best performances and win a spot to perform in front of Ganapati of renowned Ganapati Mandals. These groups can really send adrenaline rushing with their bits and sounds. Most participants are very passionate to participate every year and eagerly wait for next Ganapati Festival to arrive and some how find time to practice and participate. But it is not only fun, there is lot of hard work. Carrying heavy drums and drumming needs lot of practice and stamina. Ganapati Procession may well go beyond 6 hours and drummers perform continuously, nonstop.

This activity is very similar to those of ‘Mumbai Govindas' who crack dahi-handis by forming human pyramids on Janmashtami (but no music or drums) also Samba Dancers Troops of Brazil who participate in Rio Carnival.

I entirely endorse the benefits of group activity involving drumming and music explained by Mr. Jimmy. Though Drumming Circles of Pune are not Corporate Activity, members are surely drawing following benefits:
· Welcome break from routine
· Great stress buster
· Satisfaction of participating in a social event for fun
· Lesson in cooperation and camaraderie
· Lesson in team building
· Lesson in group discipline
· Lesson in leadership
· Lesson in competing with others with performance
· Lesson in grooming and training juniors

I hope this is interesting and informative.
Thanks & Regards