Mindful Drum Circles in Schools

  • Get calm & creative through rhythm, song & mindfulness.

  • Great for Key Stage 2 learners.


Mindful Drum Circles:

  • use simple games and structures to get everybody playing rhythms together, regardless of musical experience, skill or “talent”.

  • are a super accessible and very fun way into playing percussion instruments and making a great sound.

  • are a bit like a drum jam session but with a facilitator- the key difference - and added mindfulness.

As the facilitator, I help guide the group so that the music works consistently well. I also lead other games and structures that feed into the music making, by cultivating important music skills, such as listening, timing, volume control, technique, improvisation and understanding of musical ideas such as bars, beats, tempo, space, etc.

I provide a variety of drums such as djembes, cajon, bass drum, frame drum or bodhran. Along with a variety of other percussion instruments such as chimes, chime tree, shakers, wood blocks, guiro and xylophone.

We put our rhythms together with simple chants and songs. Later we can create our own chants & songs.

All of this is combined with elements of Mindfulness such as noticing sensations in the body, awareness of breathing, directing attention, synchronising movement with breathing, paying attention to sounds etc

We often finish each session by going a little more deeply into mindfulness with “Singing Bowls”. We listen to the soothing sounds of the singing bowls, noticing how long the sounds last. The participants end up concentrating and being present but without “trying”, simply by noticing how long the sounds last. It can be a very calming experience.


Outcomes

The sessions are carefully crafted to foster confidence in music making, creativity and in learning more generally. They support the Model Music Curriculum and can be tailored to align with its learning outcomes.

But beyond learning, they help to nurture cooperation and good relationships. They also help nervous system regulation, allowing for better emotional self-regulation, greater capacity for concentration and overall better mental health.


Ged Camille 

Musician of 30 years, community music facilitator of 20 years, mindfulness practitioner of over 30 years, yoga & meditation teacher of 20 years,.

I've been delivering workshops combining creative music making, yoga and mindfulness over the last 15 years. Over the last 5 years, I’ve been working more from the perspective of Nervous System regulation.

I’ve worked extensively with people with learning disabilities & autism, people with a physical disability, with elders and with young people..

Since moving to North Devon in 2023, I’ve delivered workshops at North Devon Hospice, for Libraries Unlimited, Memory Cafes, Sing Up Bude and at various community festivals.