 Shalom Village drum circle popular with residents‘Rhythm, akin to the heartbeat, is important to feeling’ When a man with dementia began to beat the slender stick on the skin-covered drum, his face became flushed with excitement. “His eyes brimmed with tears and the look on his face was ‘Oh my God, I can make a sound,’” says Lori Schindel Martin. The man, a resident of Shalom Village in Hamilton, is non-verbal and when he participated in a drum circle it opened up a new opportunity for expression. After the circle was over, the former saxophone player rolled up magazines and banged on the window sills. “It was like a tool for communication for him,” says Schindel Martin, director of the Ruth Sherman Centre for Research and Education, Shalom Village. “It was kind of an emotional thing.” That occurred almost two years ago, on the first day Shalom introduced community drum circles to residents. It was the brainchild of Chris Hagens, therapeutic recreationist and drum circle facilitator at the home. Hagens was exploring a variety of music programming for residents who have dementia and Alzheimer disease. When she discovered community drum circles during an Internet search, Hagens decided to attend one. “It was fantastic,” she says, noting the circle contained a variety of strangers, including elderly people and children. By the end of the session, everyone had connected, Hagens recalls. “Everybody was sort of euphoric. Everybody (was) equal and the same, we’re all one. It (was) very empowering.” Hagens later introduced the idea to Shalom. “It’s been very positive,” says Hagens. She chose drum circles as the most manageable and inclusive of activities for residents. “We were looking for something simple, powerful, profound and participatory for everybody,” says Schindel Martin. She notes the music component in long-term care often emphasizes sing-a-longs and can centre on the invitation of performers into the home. Sometimes, xylophones are used to introduce residents to music. However, for residents who have advanced dementia and Alzheimer disease, keeping up with music and following patterns can be challenging. When someone can’t keep up, they’re often ridiculed, which is hardly an inclusive musical experience, says Schindel Martin. What makes drum circles different is they are easier to follow and participants don’t have to possess natural musical talent. “It’s an experience that equalizes for the residents. It bonds everybody together.” “Rhythm, akin to the heartbeat, is important to feeling.” Up to 15 participants gather in a circle formation and are lead by a facilitator through sessions of between 20 and 50 minutes in length. The circle combines chanting and simple one-two beats and songs. The owner and facilitator of a company called Primordial Percussion, based in London, met the residents, made recommendations about equipment and custom built drums for people who use wheelchairs, Schindel Martin notes. Shalom purchased 14 different drums, along with shaker sticks, tambourines, maracas, rain sticks and more. Residents either use their hands or a long drum stick with a soft leather cover to keep the beat. The drum circle is offered once a week in the long-term care facility and is also offered through a day program.
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