Drumming Up Community

Objectives

As we begin our new school year, it is important to build community and welcome each other into our lives. In this drum circle, we will learn each other's names and express something about our personalities. As the year unfolds, we can continue to use drum circles to communicate and learn from each other.

Materials

• Chairs

• Drums

Facilitation Outline/Notes/Script

You may read parts of this verbatim or use this as a guide for personalizing the experience for the students you are working with.

1. Arrange into a circle.

2. Disseminate drums.

3. Say "hello, drum" and get to know the different sounds you can make with your drum.

4. Practice saying and playing "wel-come" together.

5. As we go around the circle, each person will tell us their name (the name-specific steps can be skipped in subsequent gatherings).

6. All respond by saying and playing "wel-come, (name)!" in rhythm.

7. Once everyone has been introduced, test the knowledge gained by going around the circle again without introductions: "wel-come (name 1), wel-come (name 2)...."

8. Take it a step further by going in reverse order or switching circle spots and playing the continuous circle again!

9. How can you tell us something about yourself by drumming? Take a moment to explore making a "solo."

10. Go around the circle again with everyone saying and playing "wel-come (name)," followed by (name)'s drum solo, and continue around the circle for everyone.

11. Optional extensions: keep the drum circle going to learn more by adding in favorite colors, foods, ice cream flavors, songs, artists, movies, TV shows, books, sports, or anything else, then say and play "(name) likes _______."

12. At the end: "wel-come, everyone!" Followed by a collective drum-out.

13. Thank your drum, thank each other, and pack up.

National Core Arts Standards

• MU:Cr1.1.5a - Improvise rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic ideas, and explain the connection to specific purpose and context (such as social, cultural, and historical).

• MU:Cr1.1.5b - Generate musical ideas (such as rhythms, melodies, and accompaniment patterns) within specifically related tonalities, meters, and simple chord changes.

• MU:Cr2.1.5a - Demonstrate selected and developed musical ideas for improvisations, arrangements, or compositions to express intent, and explain the connection to purpose and context.

• MU:Cn10.0.5a - Demonstrate how interests, knowledge, and skills relate to personal choices and intent when creating, performing, and responding.

• MU:Cn11.0.5a - Demonstrate understanding of relationships between music and the other arts, other disciplines, varied contexts, and daily life.

CASEL Core Competencies

• Self-awareness

• Self-management

• Responsible decision-making

• Relationship skills

• Social awareness