Health Rhythms Group Drumming Is Known to Improve Mood, Strengthen Creativity and More
The almost hypnotic beat of drums playing in unison can often evoke much more than getting an audience’s collective feet tapping and head nodding.
PICTURED from the left, WC students Allie Branscome, Brianna Longberry, Jacob Griewahn, Paige Lilly, Miah Wahl, Phoebe Keller and Brianna Lambert engage in group drumming for residents at additions rehabilitation home.
Students in Wendy Grab’s Intro to Addictions course at Wilmington College learned group drumming is used in hospitals, schools, support groups and other community outreach entities with great success. Research indicates it can help strengthen one’s immune system, reduce stress and burnout rates, improve mood states, and promote creativity and bonding.
Grab, assistant professor of social work, recently took her class on the road to Clean Acres Recovery Home, a drug and alcohol addiction recovery center in Clinton County.
The class employed the drumming program known as Health Rhythms in which they drummed with the residents, which Grab noted elicited not only smiles and words of appreciation, but also emanated a relaxing feeling among both students and residents.
“The students all participated and were able to work and communicate with the residents in a meaningful way,” Grab said, noting the their hands-on learning experience helped break down preconceived notions of what a substance user is, behaves like and looks like.
“It helps students overcome concerns they may have in working with this population.”
