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NEWS ARTICLE

WHO13: Social drumming helping Iowans find their rhythm

July 30, 2021

DES MOINES, Iowa – There’s a non-profit traveling across Iowa and it’s using percussion instruments to bring people together.

Social drumming is a music-making tool that’s good for the body, mind, and soul. Residents at Beaverdale Estates retirement community are the students in this social drumming class.

Joe Parrish and Annie Mielke are the beat behind these drums. They started the […]

 

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Programs & Events

Programs & Events

Seasonal Programs

(Maximum 36 drummers)

We’ll come to your facility and invite residents to join the drumming with music relating to the season! These programs are 60 minutes long and will deliver an upbeat mood to drummers and listeners!

Private Events

3+ Hours and unlimited drummers!

Private events are customizable themed events tailored specifically for the occasion!

Public Events

Free

Join us at public parks and areas to enjoy drumming with scenery! These events have limited availability and aren’t available for scheduling, click ‘Learn More’ to see dates and locations!

About Social Drumming

About Social Drumming

What is Social Drumming?

Social drumming is used as a tool to increase interactive participation among individuals connected by music as the source of motivation.

My role as a group drumming facilitator is to focus intent and delivery to improve the quality of the activity; making it easier for people to effectively participate. The training and experience our facilitators bring to the drumming circle enables them to work with diverse populations. These experiences are more accurately referred to as facilitated drumming programs rather than drumming programs in the traditional sense.

What are the benefits?

For thousands of years drumming has been used as a means of therapy using rhythm to promote healing and self-expression. Various techniques have been adapted to create and maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Recent studies have shown that group drumming increases the rate of physical healing, produces feelings of well-being, and helps release emotional trauma. Drumming has also demonstrated healing and calming effects on Alzheimer’s patients, autistic children, and recovering addicts. Results from these studies have shown drumming to be a treatment for stress, fatigue, mental illness, chronic pain, and a wide range of physical disabilities.

“Social drumming is the perfect opportunity to connect with people you care about. Family, friends, and significant others are encouraged to take an active role in music making”

– Joe Parrish, ASD

About Us

About Us

Established in April 2007, Adventures in Social Drama and Drumming (ASD) began offering drama and drumming classes to individuals on the autism spectrum to enhance their social and communication skills. Today ASD addresses problematic social issues through theatre based role-play workshops to promote artistic expression and generate awareness of a wide variety of social issues including, but not limited to, ethnic, socio-economic, generational and cultural differences.

Adventures in Social Drama constructed Role-play Theatre Analysis (RTA) as a tool within a safe environment to help individuals establish healthy, meaningful relationships and achieve higher goals. Dramatic play serves as a catalyst for building community wherein participants are free to express thoughts and feelings concerning their perceptions of life and life’s challenges. In addition, ASD has used social drumming as a large group music making initiative for residential care facilities and skilled nursing.

Annie Mielke

Co-Founder, ASD

Co-Creator, RTA, Social Drumming

Facilitator

Co-Founder, ASD

Co-Creator, RTA, Social Drumming

Facilitator

Annie is a special education teacher with the Johnston Community School District. She currently holds a BS in Education and MA in Special Education with Strategist I and II Endorsements and is a BCBA. Annie has two children of her own on the autism spectrum.

Joe Parrish

Co-Founder, ASD

Co-Creator, RTA, Social Drumming

Facilitator

Co-Founder, ASD

Co-Creator, RTA, Social Drumming

Facilitator

Joe conducts recreational drumming programs for ASD, has completed his coursework for his BCBA in Applied Behavior Analysis, 2017, and graduated from Grand View with a BA in Human Services.

Contact

9121 Northwest Windsor Drive, Johnston, IA, United States

+1.5153060030

Our Goal

Foster creativity

Focus on the moment

Share narrative experience

To provide activities designed to connect yourself with others

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