Drum Circle Facilitation: Building Community Through Rhythm

This book is a difficult read but, if you stick with it you will get what you need about drum circle facilitating

A must read for anyone interested in facilitating drum circles. Even experienced facilitators that may not have read this previously will find great value in the practical application of concepts that Mr. Hull describes in detail throughout the text. If you had to choose only one book to read regarding drum circles, this would be the one.

This is a great book for anyone interested in becoming more proficient and fluent in the art form of drum circles. I'm a much better facilitator of drum circles because of the principles, guidelines, suggestions, and teachings shared in it. If you are at all interested in facilitating drum circles, this book is a must read.

Excellent resource.

Arthur Hull's books are clearly written, packed with practical and useful information, and presented in a kind and humorous style that makes the material easy to digest. That would be enough positives for anyone interested in drumming, drum circles, music education, or music therapy to give this book a read-through. The kicker is that the book's content has broad applications beyond drums and percussion. To my ear, what makes a drum circle work is sensitive listening, unselfish playing, high energy and enthusiasm, and a certain amount of serendipity and risk. Anyone who cultivates these qualities becomes a better improviser on whatever instrument they happen to play; so the ideas in this book are very valuable for saxophonists playing jazz, guitarists in jam bands, or chamber music string players seeking a tighter sound. These qualities also make for coordinated work groups in areas beyond music altogether; there are reasons that corporations have drum circle events at their meetings. Drum Circle Facilitators "serve the circle;" they are the alchemists who help bring out the musicality in a group of random drumming strangers by doing the minimum activities necessary to raise the level of the group's listening, and then getting out of the way so the main method of the group's learning is by doing. In this book there are dozens of anecdotal descriptions of what can go right and what can go wrong when leading drum circle events, mainly from Arthur Hull, but also from a selection of other experienced leaders in the Village Music Circles organization. The concepts are presented within an overall system of "triplicities," a means of balancing three coordinated aspects of each leadership skill. This book also introduces a shorthand symbol system for keeping track of the events that take place in drum circle events. This system is tremendously valuable for music education; in the organization Music for People (teaching improvisation on all instruments), Hull's books are required reading in the training, and the symbol system has been used and extended to cover tonal instruments. To wrap things up and get out of the way here, this is a five star book that is a good read and it has much to offer all musicians, all music teachers, and educators and trainers who want their charges to function with harmony, rhythm, and high energy.

Weaving poignant stories with easy to understand guidance, Arthur Hull has created a masterpiece for anyone interested in drum circle facilitation. Whether you are someone who has witnessed a drum circle, experienced a drum circle, led a drum circle or have any interest in the art of community building through rhythm, this book provides a perfect balance of information, stories, guidance and wisdom from a man who is the father of the drum circle facilitation movement. This is absolutely a must read, for in sharing his wisdom, Arthur Hull demonstrates clarity, fun and brilliance in one very important book that needs to be read by all.

This is a book but actually can be used as a manual. A tool that if you are on DC facilitation you will want to have at hand. Tons of information and insights available...just to read and re-read, then you will find out there was much more than you thought. Thank you Arthur!

Packed full of tips and ideas for facilitating drum circles, following Arthur's devised methods. Lots of input from other facilitators too.

The book ist obviously written with lots of love and experience but hard to read. There are many stories, some of which are not related to drum circles at all, and a lot of descriptions of drum circle events which might be interesting for experience facilitators of drum circles but take a lot of time to read.The best part - to my mind - are the last few pages with addresses and resources.I wouldn't recommend this book for inexperienced people.

Great resource