Individuals with special needs may have deficits in emotional, behavioral, or physical areas, and can benefit from making music. Learning to play rhythms on hand and mallet drums is one of the most accessible ways to to this. Drumming can be an effective tool for anyone having difficulty expressing themselves, or with issues of communication and social skills and can help with improving focus to task, developing tolerance to frustration, cooperation and learning basic music skills.
Benefits of Drumming with Special Needs
- challenge perceptions about what we can do, and what people think we can do
- improve motor skills through rhythmic motions and reach extension
- improved hand-eye coordination
- improve impulse control, playing loud/soft, stopping a groove together
- social skills for listening, turn taking, volume control and communication flow
- feeling of inclusion and belonging in the group experience
- allow personal non-verbal expression, for those who find it difficult to express emotions, regardless of perceived ability.
- inspire self-confidence, through their ability to join in, and through leading simple facilitation exercises, starting their own rhythm, group groove, count down to stop
- having fun, there are no wrong beats, just opportunities to explore the rhythm
And here’s an excellent article on Autism and Drum Circle Rhythms, by Jorge Ochoa.
Drawing on facilitation techniques from VMC Community Drum Circles, Rhythm2Recovery and HealthRHYTHMS, Sustaining Rhythms can create facilitated rhythm events to bring children, adults and families of all abilities together to make music and play, in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.
Contact us to book your next special needs drumming event.
Sustaining Rhythms Music Circles 