Percussion Instruments

Using Djembe Drums For Music Therapy

Hand-crafted African djembe drums are beautiful instruments with an interesting sound. Not only this, these drums are useful for therapy and healing. Rhythm is an significant part of the human experience, beginning with the sound of the mum’s heartbeat whilst still inside the womb. Drum therapy builds on that experience to further stimulate healing.

Music therapy with djembe drums can be utilized in various institutional surroundings. In particular, school kids of all ages like a session of playing rhythm instruments. However the benefit goes over and above simple enjoyment. Generating music has been identified to be good for a youngster’s intellectual advancement along with minimizing stress levels, both things that make drumming important as a therapy for children with problems like ADHD, mental retardation, or actual physical difficulties.

The djembe drum goes back about seven hundred years, where it was first crafted in the African country of Mali. The craftsman carves the drum using a single piece of tree trunk and covers it with an animal skin drum head. The drum is made to fit between the legs of the player and be drummed on with the hands. Musicians can either learn conventional rhythms or play in line with the way they feel. It is possible to find genuine djembe drums for sale on the web as well as other african instruments that have derived from this same culture.

Drum circles can be used various kinds of therapy. When applied to an organization, the sense of community helps the music in creating wellness. Drum circles have been identified to be helpful for stroke patients, cancer sufferers, individuals wanting to break addictions, and other people old and young who are dealing with difficulties. Drums are utilized with Alzheimer’s patients and it is believed that drumming may even assist the body’s defence mechanism.

In a drum circle, the head djembe drummer will usually lay out the rhythm for the circle, with other instruments following his lead. Other instruments used include rattles, shakers, bongo drums, rhythm sticks, and tambourines. Schools often purchase the instruments in classroom kits in order that there will be something for everyone to play.

When purchasing a djembe drum, it is important to think of the size of the individual who will be playing it. Heights of the drums vary from 12 to 28 inches with the diameter of the head increasing proportionately. The drum should touch the floor or chair when the player is sitting down. The head of the drum should be located three or four inches above the lap. Consequently, the smallest children need to be equipped with the shortest size of djembe drums.