American Music Therapy Association

Participants create drumming rhythms using techniques, rhythms, and music from a variety of world drumming cultures in this hands-on experience. Applications of drumming-based music, clinical improvisation, and compositional approaches serve to rejuvenate music currently used in clinical practice. Participants will leave with a full tool box of new skills and ideas.

Objectives:

Participants will:

• apply musical elements of percussion, as related to rhythm, dynamics, timbre, and styles, rooted in traditional play/professional techniques. (CBMT Domain II.A.5.i.4)
• gain a basic rhythmic vocabulary for a variety of drums and rhythm instruments, with specific instruction on playing techniques and clinical applications. (CBMT Domain II.A.5.i.4)
• demonstrate an understanding of ways to improve rhythmic acuity and a capacity to maintain a steady beat, phrasing, and respond to fluctuations in tempo and dynamics. (CBMT Domain II.A.5.a)
• use musical leadership skills to facilitate and conduct group music therapy (CBMT Domain II.A.5.k.)

Schedule:

•  12:30-12:40 Rhythmic Grounds in Various Meters and Genres.
• 12:40-1:30 Hand and Bass Drum Sounds/Techniques/ Grounding Rhythms
• 1:30-2:20 Frame Drum Sounds/Techniques/Rhythms (110 minutes)
•  2:20-2:40 Break
•  2:40-3:00 A Taxonomy of Drumming Experiences
• 3:00-3:40 Clinical Improvisation Techniques (Grounding, Matching, Synchronizing, Echoing, Intensification, Calming, Fading)
• 3:40-4:00 Research on Percussion in Music Therapy
• 4:00-4:20 Introduction to Auxiliary Percussion Techniques (100 minutes)
•  4:20-4:45 Break
•  4:45-5:40 Small group breakout: Drum Accompaniment and Re-creative Leadership Skills
• 5:40-6:15 Small group breakout: Musical knowledge to music experiences: Compositional tasks using various instrumentation using a variety of instruments. (90 Minutes)
• 6:15-6:30 Course Evaluation