Life Skills Drumming Program

“The Life Skills Drumming Program has been a great way for me to express myself.  The program is a program that they should have in schools & other types of places to give kids the opportunity to learn how to express themselves in different ways, before they end up in a place like this… each topic we do is a beneficial topic that can help us when we get out to the streets…”

–  Participant, Barry Nidorf Juvenile Hall, Los Angeles

“The Life Skills Drumming Program helps participants to identify and reflect upon their feelings and emotions in a safe way.  The drumming helps break down psychological barriers that allow them to open up and express deep wounds through the drum.  This program gives participants tools to help them change impulsive behavior and to envision a different way of expressing themselves.  It also increases their creativity, which helps them see a different future for themselves. They feel empowered to change the direction their life has taken.” 

– Dr. Tom Cleary, Psychologist Department of Mental Health

By understanding The Psychology of Rhythmic Energy® our program uses the power of rhythm along with visualization techniques through 10 character values that are: Trust, Responsibility, Justice, Loyalty, Honesty, Self-Discipline, Survival, Character, Respect, and Independence to help youth & adults cope with problems they face on a daily basis, at home, in school and on the streets.

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Some of the program specifics are:

  • Free negative internal voices that help each participant discover his/her/they/them own authentic voice
  • Release stress which allows emotional expression in a productive, non-violent manner
  • Build community and self-confidence that lead to creative ways to change one’s life
  • Participants develop the essential emotional intelligence needed to maintain control over anger and impulsive behavior
  • Decision-making and problem-solving skills are acquired that lead participants to make safer and better choices

Steps in the Healing Process

  1. Trust
  2. Responsibility
  3. Justice
  4. Loyalty
  5. Honesty
  6. Self-Discipline
  7. Survival
  8. Character
  9. Respect
  10. Independence

Sequence of the Life Skills Drumming Program

When the program starts, the initial voices of the participants start with “I can’t play drums”, which shifts through the different exercises in the different character values. As their self-confidence grows, they become more openminded and build their confidence in drumming. As they deepen their emotional expression, their drumming abilities become more complex and connected to who they have become as individuals.

The sequence of the program: The first step is Trust where participants become aware of their inner voice and start trusting this voice. The next step is to learn to express their creativity free of the pressures they feel at their age and connect their creativity to a sense of Responsibility to themselves, family, community, and culture. In Justice, they experience the fears that keep them feeling locked up inside (the fear of not feeling safe in their community). They also internally experience right from wrong, so they develop a moral compass, which helps each participant start to understand their relationship with their actions. With Loyalty, they express qualities of self-confidence both personally and within their culture. We then use the drum to start dealing with their pain as they look at experiences that have created guilt in them. It could be caused by actions from identity conflict within culture and community or other personal acts.  Guilt is a big blockage to creative expression. Then, they use the drum to learn about internal forgiveness. Now that they have expressed guilt, we turn to Honesty as they reveal personal traumas or abuses and release these experiences through the drum. These experiences often include the emotions of anger, rage, fear, etc.… During this lesson, participants learn how to find their voice and establish boundaries. Next, in Self Discipline, we teach them how to connect and control mind and body, then they use the drum to let their mind and body expand their vision for themselves as they create the life they want a few years at a time. This positive vision of themselves is empowering and extends out to connecting with community and developing a better understanding of their culture. Now feeling more aware of themselves, we take them even deeper into their abuses and traumas with Survival. Here, participants explore emotional cleansing, transformation, and a deeper sense of fully gaining back their power. We then open them up again to giving back to their community with Character. They express through the drum, actions they can take to make a positive difference in their community. We also strengthen their authentic self by having their boundaries tested without losing their voice. Through Respect, we empower the “I” through creative expression that engages and acknowledges the “We”. Expanding the power of the creative self, while also staying connected to the group, represents a connection to community and culture. Independence uses the drum to travel even deeper into the individual finding their expressive power while not being affected by other people’s power. Strengthening the mind/body commitment to the fulfillment of one’s creative journey into discovering oneself and his/her place in the world.

Pricing for Life Skills Drumming Program
Juvenile Halls and Camps, Drug & Alcohol Recovery Centers, Family and Community Service Centers, Homeless Centers, TAY Centers and Mental Health Centers

  1. Group Sessions: twice a week for 6 weeks – 12 sessions
    Cost: $175 per session Total: $2,100
  2. One on One sessions: twice a week for 6 weeks – 12 sessions
    Cost: Online – $60 per session Total: $720
    Cost: In Person – $90 per session Total: $1,080