The Healing Drum Kit
by Christine Stevens
The Healing Drum Kit by Christine Stevens brings a very different, possibly foreign, tool for healing.
Stevens is well qualified to bring this medium of healing. She has master’s degrees in social work and music
therapy, and is a much sought-after speaker, seminar leader, and music therapist. But unlike early music
therapists who used music-making as a means to help people develop hand coordination or to stimulate specific
parts of the brain, Stevens considers drumming as a means of tapping into the inner world. She and others have
used drumming for healing, individually and in groups, and even large corporations like Toyota have made drumming
a means for team building.
The Healing Drum Kit comes with a 78-page book, 24 cards with different rhythms on them, two CD’s, and
a 10-inch, pre-tuned Remo frame drum, the kind of small drum found in almost every culture of the world, that even
goes back to Biblical times.
Stevens teaches not by drum scores, but asks learners to feel the rhythm and learn through entrainment, the
way the body synchronizes itself to the rhythms it feels. The participant also trains the ear to listen to the
different tones and understand what strokes make the different drum tones. The second CD also provides an
introduction to seven ethnic drum styles. Each has an introduction and a complete drum piece with accompaniment.
Included on that CD are three drum circle play-along tracks for those wanting to start a drum circle or
participate in one through the CD. Finally, there is a 12-minute guided meditation called "The Ancient Drummer
Within."
For me, this kit was much needed. Though I’ve played a frame drum with a beater for years, I have never been
able to provide rhythm with my two hands like my son does on various hand drums. Stevens’ kit helped me a lot. I
can hear the simpler rhythms and can even keep up. The one thing I realize now that I’ve worked with this kit for
awhile is that I need a djembe or a doumbek, because these drums have a more consistent tone for drumming the
rhythms I enjoy most. I guess I’ll be haunting the music stores soon. So, if I can have some success with this,
anyone can - just as Stevens says. |
The Book |
Sounds True |
July 2005 |
2 CDs, 78 pg book, 24 cards, drum |
ISBN-10: 1591792789
ISBN-13: 978-1591792789 |
New Age, self-help, spiritual |
More at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
Janie Franz |
Reviewed 2007 |
NOTE: Reviewer Janie
Franz is the author of Freelance Writing: It’s a Business, Stupid!, Relaxation
Techniques for Children, Relaxation Techniques for Adults; Co-author of The
Ultimate Wedding Reception Book and The Ultimate Wedding Ceremony Book. Coming
Soon: The Ultimate Wedding Workbook, Get Rich on Love, and Sacred Breath
(a sound recording of relaxation meditations). |
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