Have you ever been to a drum circle? What did you think of it?

I’ve been to Native American one’s that are really interesting. Never been to a hippy one. :)

I have, and I do, in a men’s group I belong to which borrows heavily from Native American tradition. Get that negative picture out of your mind. A well structured drum circle is an inspiring experience. For heaven’s sake, try it.

The one I’ve attended isn’t synchronized. Everyone is invited to come to the monthly event held during a full moon. Some people are professional drummers and musicians. Some people bring ethnic instruments and participate. A few bring children with disabilities. People drum for relaxation, fun, meditation or for whatever turns you on. It is quite an invigorating experience.

For me, it is about the social aspect, but also the spiritual and true feel of the rhyme of life around you. Some people even dance. Don’t let opportunities to try new things pass you by. Go and have fun.

This drum circle is hosted by a local drum store and school so I am not sure what the social setting will be like. It’s one specifically for families and they encourage little kids to come. I am interested to see what it will be like.

What is the physical setting, @keobooks? Outside at a football stadium or a field?

I have no idea. I think it may actually be indoors. After poking around online, I found one of their more professional drum circles they host. I don’t think the kid one will be anything like this except maybe the same setting.

http://www.musicforall.org/connect/community-drum-circle-initiative

Pleasant and noisy but I wasn’t drumming.

I think that sounds great. The group I have attended meets weekly indoors and monthly outdoors for the full moon session. I have never attended the indoor weekly group. I may though. I can see where it teaches you to be conscious of others and their “beat.”

“If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away.” Henry David Thoreau

The more I think about it, the only big fear I really have is that if there are lots of toddlers and preschoolers, it could be REALLY chaotic. I don’t think kids that age could follow anyone’s beat and it may just be a bunch of scary loud noises. But I think if it were terrible, it wouldn’t be so well attended that they had to add 2 other groups to the weekly roster.

I am looking forward to trying it. This is way out of my circle of comfort, but I think it’s one of those “you gotta try it once!” things. And who knows? We may like it!

I have been. There were all kinds of people there. It was great.

I’ve never heard of one being held over here but it sounds amazingly freeing. I think it sounds like fun and a great way to get all that stress out. Give it a try. You don’t have to go again and you can leave if you hate it but you might go and absolutely love it!

Either really awesome or horribly boring and repetitive/annoying. More often than not you’ll get the random asshole who can’t keep a beat worth shit and is just smacking the damn instrument at random intervals. It really depends on the people playing.

I have run into drumming groups in several places here. I never participated but was present on numerous occasions. Everyone seemed to have a good time and the drumming was actually pretty good. It did remind me of the good ole hippie bongo drum days !