West African Drum Circles

Co-operation and collaboration is the basic glue to a community. A community drum circle is a collaboratively self organized musical event created, "in the moment," by all the people who participate. When we, as a community, drum together, sharing our spirit in the form of rhythm, it changes our relationships for the positive. As we play together, we give ourselves a rhythmical massage, an a emotional release and a healing. The release and healing is different for every person that is in the rhythm circle, and it happens whether we are entraining ourselves into the circle by drumming, or standing outside the circle and listening while tapping our feet and clapping along with the music. To make beautiful music together, with rhythm instruments, all we have to do is bring to the circle whatever rhythmical expertise we have to offer, along with the excitement of sharing it with other people.

People of all levels of musical expertise come together in a community drum circle and share their rhythmical spirit with whatever drums and percussion they bring to the event. They don't have to be a drummer to participate. They don't even have to have a drum. They can play a plastic water bottle turned upside down with the neck cut off. They can shake a soda can with rocks in it or hit two sticks together. It is enough that they are in the circle and participating.

The quality of the music produced in an event like this is not based on the rhythmical expertise of the players, but on the quality of their relationship with the other people in the circle. The result is those magical musical moments where one powerful voice is created out of the many. In those moments, the players stop worrying about keeping time because time, as they know it, has stopped. In its place is a living breathing entity, expressing timeless joy, passion and release through the power of rhythm.

That is the beauty of a community drum circle.

Copyright © by Arthur Hull

Accolades:
West African Drum Circles Of Saint Augustine - LLC

** Saint Augustine Record COMPASS MAGAZINE Voted " Top 5 Things To Do " 2019
** Featured On PANDORA RADIO Saint Augustine Tourists Attraction
** Sponsored By Saint Johns Cultural Council (phone number hidden)1
** Award-Winning Percussionist & facilitator - Michael Scott Thomas
** (link hidden)
** NYS Drum Corps Champion (phone number hidden)6 Floral Park NY
** Washington Redskins Drumline & Marching Band (phone number hidden)1
** Berklee College of Music - Alumni
** Long Island University CW. Post Music Education
** Artistic Director Old City drum Corps 2018 - Present

**PLEASE Have chairs set out for number of Drum Circle Attendee's**