Rhythm Village: Teacher in Service
Clip of a Rhythm Village provided by Music for People.

Rhythm Village is a participatory workshop designed to create community and communication through fun and interactive rhythmic activities. Participants explore music improvisation and drumming in a fun, relaxed, and easy manner. Mary facilitates participants with ethnic influenced rhythms and songs, simple drum language tools, accessible music improvisation techniques for self expression and an exciting array of rhythmic games that invite people to interact and communicate with one another in a unique non verbal manner.

The rhythmic village itself is an interactive experience where each participant is given a drum or smaller percussion instrument and is guided by an experienced facilitator. In a very short time the whole group is transformed into a rhythmic ensemble and begins to create music together. You have to see and experience it to believe it. It is amazing to watch how naturally people take to music making in this way. This is a technique that has been tried and tested for centuries. Rhythmic experiences like these can be powerful teambuilding methods because when they work, the effect is immediate. Everyone can feel it and hear it. Every one is also aware when it is not working, it can be felt and heard by all. This style of music improvisation can also be a great diagnostic tool. Participants have to be aware of their neighbor, and if they get lost, the group can carry them, it can hold them till they find their place again.

“Rhythm Village”Workshop Activities Include: Heartbeat pulse, Egg shaker activities, Sticking activities, Language to rhythm instruments, Body percussion, Boomwhackers, Drum village, Conducting, Call and Response, non-verbal communication with instruments, Familiar songs with new grooves!, Instruments used include bells, shakers, woods, drums and many more unusual ethnic instruments!

General Benefits of “RHYTHM VILLAGE” workshops include: Non-verbal communication Integrates left and right brain activity Group bonding Socialization Breaking down cultural, gender and age barriers Building self-esteem and confidence Promotes individuality Promotes leadership Promotes individuals' awareness of their uniqueness and contribution to the group Creates powerful team spirit for school\club or cultural groups Creates a co-operative rather than competitive spirit Anger Release Strengthens motor, visual and auditory co-ordination Encourages creative expression

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