‘Bang a drum, for better health’

This community drum group have been looking into how group drumming improves people’s mental health and sense of well-being, with encouraging outcomes.

Stress is a normal part of life and with ever increasing demands on people’s time, for some that stress can be unmanageable. Studies show that group drumming is an effective way to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system (1).
“For me, playing in a Samba band has so many positives, for a start it's a great stress relief!
The brain gets flooded with the stress hormone, Cortisol, through everyday life. But I feel drumming certainly lowers this, I mean how can anyone stay stressed when you hear that great Samba beat!? It's impossible not to feel uplifted, a smile creeps across your face and your body starts moving to the rhythm.”
Lucy - Slick Stick Sambastic member and Thrive Practitioner

Drumming keeps people active - it increases the heart rate and blood flow, just like a gentle aerobic exercise and can help to tone muscles. Participants in group drumming activities showed a significant increase in white blood cells after just a one-hour session1. These types of white blood cells seek out and destroy cancer and virally infected cells.

Research also suggests that drumming actually promotes the production of endorphins, which makes you feel good and can also block pain signals (2). Self-confidence really builds as non-musicians learn to play in a band and perform for others.
“Drumming in a community band has helped my confidence and self esteem at a difficult time in my life. I have met great new people and it has been an incredibly life changing experience!”
Anonymous. Slick Stick Sambastic member

After leading drumming groups in East Anglia I saw how music offered such joy and support to people, since moving to Kirklees I have become a full time Community Drummer and joined Slick Stick Sambastic as its Musical Director this year. This 12 year old Community Samba Band is resistant to government cuts to the arts because it is self funded through subscriptions, fee earning, fund raising and earned income from Huddersfield University to examine its students.

This friendly, supportive drumming group wants to hear from anybody who would like to pick up a Brazilian-style drum, whether you have lots of musical experience or none whatsoever. All adults are welcome plus accompanied young people. The weekly sessions run on Tuesdays 7.30-9.30 at Huddersfield University and really are for anybody. Contact Susie if you’d like to come along 07848 181616,info@slicksticksambastic.com.

Katie Mallard
Musical Director
Slick Stick Sambastic
www.slicksticksambastic.com

References:
1. Bittman, Alternative Therapies, 2001.
2. Winkelman, Shamanism: The Neural Ecology of Consciousness and Healing, 2000.