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”

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.

Joe Parrish

Co-Founder, ASD

Co-Creator, RTA, Social Drumming

Facilitator