Since everyone with a beating heart already "has rhythm!", anyone can drum.
That could well be the motto of the drum-jam.
It's held the first Friday of the month at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Concord.
This past Friday evening, 16 people showed up... of all ages.
Freelance Producer Cheryl Senter went along and sends this audio postcard.
Young and old play away during the second round of drumming.(Cheryl Senter, NHPR)
It's 7:30 p.m. at the Concord Unitarian Universalist Church and the first round of drumming is coming to a frenzied end.
(Sounds of many drums beating faster and faster, a woman sings, before coming to an end)
Dee Elswick (drum leader)
I think I cut that off too soon!
Bill Whitney
No, That was long enough for me,(laughing all around)
Bill
We're at the Concord U church and we're here to drum,(drumming in background). Bill Whitney, I'm a mechanic, I'm the bash and howl variety, I really like to get into it,
but I also mellow down for the spiritual side.
Dee
My name is Dee Elswick, now that's my married name, here at church, I go by Swan.
Night falls as the group, viewed through a window, work on their second round of drumming. Their tribal beat resounds throughout the church grounds.(Cheryl Senter, NHPR)
The knowledge that there is fundamental vibration thru everything and the drums just kind of help reconnect you to that whole universal experience. I sound like a wacky hippie don't I.
(drumming, laughter, someone says "you are a hippie")
Walter Ruh
Walter Rue, I'm sixty-two. Oh I'm retired now, but I was a firefighter in the city of Concord. Twenty years, got my retirement, now I'm just enjoying life... what'e left of it. (laughter, drumming)
The basic philosiphy of the drum is from birth you hear the heart beat of your mother and that's what we all start off with, the basic drum beat.
Dee
(Drumming, talking)
When I drum I feel a multitude of different things. Um, healing, um, peace, passion, connectedness, re-connectedness, community, um, happy, very very happy.
You can't come away from a drum circle not happy unless your really trying hard. (Laughing)
(Group discussion as to how to start the next session of drumming)
Anyone want to start me up?
Your supposed to start us up, (laughter).
I could do that but we wouldn't be happy with the results, (laughter)
Drumming slowly begins.
NHPR News/Cheryl Senter
