Thanks if you’re going good [Music]
[Music]
[Music] nice how they do I’d like to thank my
nice how they do I’d like to thank my
nice how they do I’d like to thank my helpers Jen and Cynthia and also Eliana
helpers Jen and Cynthia and also Eliana
helpers Jen and Cynthia and also Eliana and Chris well hello TEDx Oshkosh hi mom
and Chris well hello TEDx Oshkosh hi mom
and Chris well hello TEDx Oshkosh hi mom a little over 25 years ago I just got
a little over 25 years ago I just got
a little over 25 years ago I just got out of a Grateful Dead show was
out of a Grateful Dead show was
out of a Grateful Dead show was wandering around the parking lot
wandering around the parking lot
wandering around the parking lot encampment uh kind of enjoying the after
encampment uh kind of enjoying the after
encampment uh kind of enjoying the after show glow of things when I heard some
show glow of things when I heard some
show glow of things when I heard some beautiful percussion music coming from
beautiful percussion music coming from
beautiful percussion music coming from off in the distance so I searched it out
off in the distance so I searched it out
off in the distance so I searched it out it was coming from an old school bus
it was coming from an old school bus
it was coming from an old school bus converted to a motor home and I was
converted to a motor home and I was
converted to a motor home and I was going to compliment the guy on the
going to compliment the guy on the
going to compliment the guy on the awesome sound system and see who it was
awesome sound system and see who it was
awesome sound system and see who it was so I could go get the CD and I rounded
so I could go get the CD and I rounded
so I could go get the CD and I rounded the front of the bus and I was amazed to
the front of the bus and I was amazed to
the front of the bus and I was amazed to find fifteen or twenty folks sitting in
find fifteen or twenty folks sitting in
find fifteen or twenty folks sitting in a circle play in a variety of drums and
a circle play in a variety of drums and
a circle play in a variety of drums and percussion instruments after listening
percussion instruments after listening
percussion instruments after listening and and watching him for a while it
and and watching him for a while it
and and watching him for a while it became clear that they weren’t a
became clear that they weren’t a
became clear that they weren’t a practiced for percussion ensemble but
practiced for percussion ensemble but
practiced for percussion ensemble but more just a random collection of people
more just a random collection of people
more just a random collection of people playing music in the moment based on
playing music in the moment based on
playing music in the moment based on what was going on right then and there
what was going on right then and there
what was going on right then and there that music as I sat there and listened
that music as I sat there and listened
that music as I sat there and listened permeated my being like even the
permeated my being like even the
permeated my being like even the Grateful Dead had not and they were the
Grateful Dead had not and they were the
Grateful Dead had not and they were the masters of transcendental music
masters of transcendental music
masters of transcendental music so as I as I notice everyone in the
so as I as I notice everyone in the
so as I as I notice everyone in the circle was paying close attention to
circle was paying close attention to
circle was paying close attention to what everybody else was doing they were
what everybody else was doing they were
what everybody else was doing they were listening to each other they were calm
listening to each other they were calm
listening to each other they were calm and focused and they were respecting
and focused and they were respecting
and focused and they were respecting each other’s contribution to the whole
each other’s contribution to the whole
each other’s contribution to the whole song and every one of them was wearing a
song and every one of them was wearing a
song and every one of them was wearing a contagious smile I didn’t know it at the
contagious smile I didn’t know it at the
contagious smile I didn’t know it at the time but that moment set me on a path
time but that moment set me on a path
time but that moment set me on a path that’s brought me where I am today you
that’s brought me where I am today you
that’s brought me where I am today you see at that point in my life I’d worn
see at that point in my life I’d worn
see at that point in my life I’d worn out the party phase already and I was
out the party phase already and I was
out the party phase already and I was looking to cultivate my resolve to
looking to cultivate my resolve to
looking to cultivate my resolve to become part of the solution to actively
become part of the solution to actively
become part of the solution to actively be a part of something that was going to
be a part of something that was going to
be a part of something that was going to make the world a better place to live
make the world a better place to live
make the world a better place to live and so with that in mind that I guess
and so with that in mind that I guess
and so with that in mind that I guess that was kind of where a shift in my
that was kind of where a shift in my
that was kind of where a shift in my mind’s eye was happening for me in the
mind’s eye was happening for me in the
mind’s eye was happening for me in the party to community and the party so I
party to community and the party so I
party to community and the party so I returned home and began using my
returned home and began using my
returned home and began using my do-it-yourself superpowers to learn
do-it-yourself superpowers to learn
do-it-yourself superpowers to learn about and build drums through trial and
about and build drums through trial and
about and build drums through trial and error I found out that it wasn’t
error I found out that it wasn’t
error I found out that it wasn’t necessarily when I listen to percussion
necessarily when I listen to percussion
necessarily when I listen to percussion music or even when I drummed by myself
music or even when I drummed by myself
music or even when I drummed by myself but when I drummed with other people I
but when I drummed with other people I
but when I drummed with other people I got this overwhelming sense of wellness
got this overwhelming sense of wellness
got this overwhelming sense of wellness and a feeling of hope and support from
and a feeling of hope and support from
and a feeling of hope and support from the other people in the group so it was
the other people in the group so it was
the other people in the group so it was definitely that playing with other
definitely that playing with other
definitely that playing with other people in that sense of community in the
people in that sense of community in the
people in that sense of community in the drum circle and in the music that made
drum circle and in the music that made
drum circle and in the music that made it what it is to me and so healing and
it what it is to me and so healing and
it what it is to me and so healing and helpful so for the next several years I
helpful so for the next several years I
helpful so for the next several years I continued to make bigger and better
continued to make bigger and better
continued to make bigger and better drums and invited as many people as I
drums and invited as many people as I
drums and invited as many people as I could to come and drum with me about
could to come and drum with me about
could to come and drum with me about this time I got introduced to the World
this time I got introduced to the World
this time I got introduced to the World Wide Web the first thing I used a search
Wide Web the first thing I used a search
Wide Web the first thing I used a search engine for was drum circles that’s when
engine for was drum circles that’s when
engine for was drum circles that’s when I found out that what I had been doing
I found out that what I had been doing
I found out that what I had been doing wasn’t just a hobby but it had a name
wasn’t just a hobby but it had a name
wasn’t just a hobby but it had a name and was an actual thing I was a drum
and was an actual thing I was a drum
and was an actual thing I was a drum circle facilitator so I found some
circle facilitator so I found some
circle facilitator so I found some places offering some training went and
places offering some training went and
places offering some training went and got some
got some
got some and I learned so much from people like
and I learned so much from people like
and I learned so much from people like Arthur Hall who we call the father of
Arthur Hall who we call the father of
Arthur Hall who we call the father of the modern drum circle movement also
the modern drum circle movement also
the modern drum circle movement also Christine Stevens and dr. Barry Bittman
Christine Stevens and dr. Barry Bittman
Christine Stevens and dr. Barry Bittman the Oshkosh rhythm Institute facilitates
the Oshkosh rhythm Institute facilitates
the Oshkosh rhythm Institute facilitates about a hundred and twenty five drum
about a hundred and twenty five drum
about a hundred and twenty five drum circles a year now and we just wouldn’t
circles a year now and we just wouldn’t
circles a year now and we just wouldn’t be doing that without influences like
be doing that without influences like
be doing that without influences like them so as they’re an historical premise
them so as they’re an historical premise
them so as they’re an historical premise for drum circles absolutely music and
for drum circles absolutely music and
for drum circles absolutely music and drumming has been a central part of the
drumming has been a central part of the
drumming has been a central part of the healing arts for as long as we can find
healing arts for as long as we can find
healing arts for as long as we can find out in history music song and dance has
out in history music song and dance has
out in history music song and dance has also been in the glue that’s held
also been in the glue that’s held
also been in the glue that’s held communities together for thousands of
communities together for thousands of
communities together for thousands of years the traditions and knowledge of
years the traditions and knowledge of
years the traditions and knowledge of these drums the rhythms the songs the
these drums the rhythms the songs the
these drums the rhythms the songs the music has been passed down from
music has been passed down from
music has been passed down from generation to generation Babatunde
generation to generation Babatunde
generation to generation Babatunde Olatunji was pivotal in sharing that
Olatunji was pivotal in sharing that
Olatunji was pivotal in sharing that knowledge and tradition with us when he
knowledge and tradition with us when he
knowledge and tradition with us when he came here in 1950 from Nigeria the song
came here in 1950 from Nigeria the song
came here in 1950 from Nigeria the song we were playing when you came in is a
we were playing when you came in is a
we were playing when you came in is a prime example it’s called fungi the
prime example it’s called fungi the
prime example it’s called fungi the rhythm was based on a traditional
rhythm was based on a traditional
rhythm was based on a traditional Liberian invocation to earth and sky
Liberian invocation to earth and sky
Liberian invocation to earth and sky then later in 1959 there was a dance
then later in 1959 there was a dance
then later in 1959 there was a dance developed by pearl Primus in conjunction
developed by pearl Primus in conjunction
developed by pearl Primus in conjunction with the library and national dance
with the library and national dance
with the library and national dance company and in the early 60s Babatunde
company and in the early 60s Babatunde
company and in the early 60s Babatunde came up with a song to go with it he
came up with a song to go with it he
came up with a song to go with it he used the Yoruba language and also a
used the Yoruba language and also a
used the Yoruba language and also a melody that was popularized by American
melody that was popularized by American
melody that was popularized by American minstrels called lil Eliza Jane so if it
minstrels called lil Eliza Jane so if it
minstrels called lil Eliza Jane so if it sounded familiar that’d be why in drum
sounded familiar that’d be why in drum
sounded familiar that’d be why in drum circles today we use many traditional
circles today we use many traditional
circles today we use many traditional instruments but in a non-traditional
instruments but in a non-traditional
instruments but in a non-traditional setting the most common one you’ll find
setting the most common one you’ll find
setting the most common one you’ll find is the djembe from West Africa the name
is the djembe from West Africa the name
is the djembe from West Africa the name literally means everyone gather together
literally means everyone gather together
literally means everyone gather together in peace it doesn’t take a lifetime to
in peace it doesn’t take a lifetime to
in peace it doesn’t take a lifetime to master the instrument to be able to
master the instrument to be able to
master the instrument to be able to contribute to the group song in fact in
contribute to the group song in fact in
contribute to the group song in fact in just a few minutes as you witnessed up
just a few minutes as you witnessed up
just a few minutes as you witnessed up here these guys sounded pretty good
here these guys sounded pretty good
here these guys sounded pretty good you can get a couple different tones out
you can get a couple different tones out
you can get a couple different tones out of the drum and the rest comes from our
of the drum and the rest comes from our
of the drum and the rest comes from our intuitive rhythms and are willing
intuitive rhythms and are willing
intuitive rhythms and are willing willingness to collaborate with our
willingness to collaborate with our
willingness to collaborate with our neighbors in the group so what does drum
neighbors in the group so what does drum
neighbors in the group so what does drum circle technology look like well we we
circle technology look like well we we
circle technology look like well we we gather in at first where a group of
gather in at first where a group of
gather in at first where a group of individuals we bring with us our moods
individuals we bring with us our moods
individuals we bring with us our moods feelings and issues that that we’ve
feelings and issues that that we’ve
feelings and issues that that we’ve accumulated in the day and then we sit
accumulated in the day and then we sit
accumulated in the day and then we sit down to express ourselves through the
down to express ourselves through the
down to express ourselves through the drum as we do that the sound mixes with
drum as we do that the sound mixes with
drum as we do that the sound mixes with all the other sounds in the room
all the other sounds in the room
all the other sounds in the room everybody hears that sound that’s mixed
everybody hears that sound that’s mixed
everybody hears that sound that’s mixed up and it gets changed a little bit by
up and it gets changed a little bit by
up and it gets changed a little bit by it as we continue to play that cycle
it as we continue to play that cycle
it as we continue to play that cycle repeats itself and you can see that
repeats itself and you can see that
repeats itself and you can see that eventually the rhythms are going to
eventually the rhythms are going to
eventually the rhythms are going to become more aligned with each other and
become more aligned with each other and
become more aligned with each other and a unique common song emerges
a unique common song emerges
a unique common song emerges now we’re grooving and in that groove is
now we’re grooving and in that groove is
now we’re grooving and in that groove is it becomes effortless and some real
it becomes effortless and some real
it becomes effortless and some real physical mental and spiritual changes
physical mental and spiritual changes
physical mental and spiritual changes can take place in fact dr. berry Bittman
can take place in fact dr. berry Bittman
can take place in fact dr. berry Bittman some of you might remember he used to
some of you might remember he used to
some of you might remember he used to write the call column in the newspaper
write the call column in the newspaper
write the call column in the newspaper called laughter is the best medicine
called laughter is the best medicine
called laughter is the best medicine well him and his health rhythms team did
well him and his health rhythms team did
well him and his health rhythms team did some research research to kind of
some research research to kind of
some research research to kind of document some of those changes that were
document some of those changes that were
document some of those changes that were taken place and they found that stress
taken place and they found that stress
taken place and they found that stress levels reduced which is good for our
levels reduced which is good for our
levels reduced which is good for our heart among other things they also found
heart among other things they also found
heart among other things they also found increased immune system function as well
increased immune system function as well
increased immune system function as well as increased white blood cell count
as increased white blood cell count
as increased white blood cell count which is how our bodies fight disease so
which is how our bodies fight disease so
which is how our bodies fight disease so I was learning about all this stuff and
I was learning about all this stuff and
I was learning about all this stuff and I thought it was cool but it wasn’t
I thought it was cool but it wasn’t
I thought it was cool but it wasn’t until I heard him explaining that they
until I heard him explaining that they
until I heard him explaining that they had started some regular drum circles
had started some regular drum circles
had started some regular drum circles for their cancer patients and they had
for their cancer patients and they had
for their cancer patients and they had found out that they could reduce their
found out that they could reduce their
found out that they could reduce their meds and get the same effect while
meds and get the same effect while
meds and get the same effect while they’re participating and at that time I
they’re participating and at that time I
they’re participating and at that time I was just convinced that playing music
was just convinced that playing music
was just convinced that playing music for recreation is not just fun but it’s
for recreation is not just fun but it’s
for recreation is not just fun but it’s physically healing and just this year a
physically healing and just this year a
physically healing and just this year a group in the UK did another study and
group in the UK did another study and
group in the UK did another study and they showed that group drumming reduced
they showed that group drumming reduced
they showed that group drumming reduced anxiety and depression
anxiety and depression
anxiety and depression and also increased social resilience in
and also increased social resilience in
and also increased social resilience in some of their mental health service
some of their mental health service
some of their mental health service users over a 6 and 10 week span when
users over a 6 and 10 week span when
users over a 6 and 10 week span when they went back three months later they
they went back three months later they
they went back three months later they found that these effects were still
found that these effects were still
found that these effects were still apparent so it’s it’s real and it has a
apparent so it’s it’s real and it has a
apparent so it’s it’s real and it has a lasting effect so one of the things one
lasting effect so one of the things one
lasting effect so one of the things one of the many many things that I’ve
of the many many things that I’ve
of the many many things that I’ve learned on my journey is that each and
learned on my journey is that each and
learned on my journey is that each and every one of us has an awesome creative
every one of us has an awesome creative
every one of us has an awesome creative spirit some of them might be pretty well
spirit some of them might be pretty well
spirit some of them might be pretty well hidden or buried under a ton of baggage
hidden or buried under a ton of baggage
hidden or buried under a ton of baggage but with a little bit of facilitation
but with a little bit of facilitation
but with a little bit of facilitation it’s often very rewarding to see it
it’s often very rewarding to see it
it’s often very rewarding to see it emerge in someone who does just didn’t
emerge in someone who does just didn’t
emerge in someone who does just didn’t think they had it in them I was given a
think they had it in them I was given a
think they had it in them I was given a string of drum circles down the street
string of drum circles down the street
string of drum circles down the street here at Washington Elementary and
here at Washington Elementary and
here at Washington Elementary and afterwards a young boy came up to me he
afterwards a young boy came up to me he
afterwards a young boy came up to me he totally reminded me of myself at that
totally reminded me of myself at that
totally reminded me of myself at that age and you know the kind of kid bullies
age and you know the kind of kid bullies
age and you know the kind of kid bullies thrive on and he gave me a big hug and
thrive on and he gave me a big hug and
thrive on and he gave me a big hug and he said you changed my life and it was
he said you changed my life and it was
he said you changed my life and it was so satisfying to know that well it
so satisfying to know that well it
so satisfying to know that well it looked like a hippie just having fun
looked like a hippie just having fun
looked like a hippie just having fun drumming with people that there was real
drumming with people that there was real
drumming with people that there was real physical healing taken place so that
physical healing taken place so that
physical healing taken place so that awareness that I have of everybody’s
awareness that I have of everybody’s
awareness that I have of everybody’s awesome creative spirit makes it easy
awesome creative spirit makes it easy
awesome creative spirit makes it easy for me to see that while there’s so many
for me to see that while there’s so many
for me to see that while there’s so many things trying to divide us in this world
things trying to divide us in this world
things trying to divide us in this world that intuitively and naturally what we
that intuitively and naturally what we
that intuitively and naturally what we want to do is respect each other and
want to do is respect each other and
want to do is respect each other and unite and make beautiful music together
unite and make beautiful music together
unite and make beautiful music together as we try and build a stronger community
as we try and build a stronger community
as we try and build a stronger community we need to take note of the barriers
we need to take note of the barriers
we need to take note of the barriers that seem to be between us and determine
that seem to be between us and determine
that seem to be between us and determine if those are fake or real I can tell you
if those are fake or real I can tell you
if those are fake or real I can tell you that most of them are an illusion but we
that most of them are an illusion but we
that most of them are an illusion but we need to deconstruct those barriers
need to deconstruct those barriers
need to deconstruct those barriers accordingly and one of the best ways to
accordingly and one of the best ways to
accordingly and one of the best ways to do that is to participate in a community
do that is to participate in a community
do that is to participate in a community drum circle there you’ll you’ll
drum circle there you’ll you’ll
drum circle there you’ll you’ll experience firsthand and in real time
experience firsthand and in real time
experience firsthand and in real time honest-to-goodness community because the
honest-to-goodness community because the
honest-to-goodness community because the music that’s created is a direct
music that’s created is a direct
music that’s created is a direct reflection of the group’s relay
reflection of the group’s relay
reflection of the group’s relay ship so the same things that make a team
ship so the same things that make a team
ship so the same things that make a team work well together
work well together
work well together respect attentive listening open an
respect attentive listening open an
respect attentive listening open an honest expression of your ideas and your
honest expression of your ideas and your
honest expression of your ideas and your feelings these all make the music feel
feelings these all make the music feel
feelings these all make the music feel and sound better as we get more
and sound better as we get more
and sound better as we get more comfortable unleashing our creative
comfortable unleashing our creative
comfortable unleashing our creative spirits naturally our confidence and
spirits naturally our confidence and
spirits naturally our confidence and self-esteem improves and we wind up
self-esteem improves and we wind up
self-esteem improves and we wind up taking that out into the world spreading
taking that out into the world spreading
taking that out into the world spreading it around a little bit and voila more
it around a little bit and voila more
it around a little bit and voila more unity and a better world
so what do you think shall we experience
so what do you think shall we experience them in the moment music right now let’s
them in the moment music right now let’s
them in the moment music right now let’s do it I have some helpers that are going
do it I have some helpers that are going
do it I have some helpers that are going to come and pass out some instruments
to come and pass out some instruments
to come and pass out some instruments here I guess we’re going to have to
here I guess we’re going to have to
here I guess we’re going to have to spread out a little more than we
spread out a little more than we
spread out a little more than we originally thought and I’m sorry we
originally thought and I’m sorry we
originally thought and I’m sorry we didn’t have time to put something in
didn’t have time to put something in
didn’t have time to put something in everybody’s hand but I encourage you to
everybody’s hand but I encourage you to
everybody’s hand but I encourage you to join in clapping use your voice stomp
join in clapping use your voice stomp
join in clapping use your voice stomp your feet whatever you got I also want
your feet whatever you got I also want
your feet whatever you got I also want to encourage everyone to find a drum
to encourage everyone to find a drum
to encourage everyone to find a drum circle near you and go check it out at
circle near you and go check it out at
circle near you and go check it out at least once then you’ll know what it’s
least once then you’ll know what it’s
least once then you’ll know what it’s all about community drum circles or
all about community drum circles or
all about community drum circles or family-friendly events they’re not just
family-friendly events they’re not just
family-friendly events they’re not just for hippies anymore
so what we’re going to do is I’m going
so what we’re going to do is I’m going to invite the drummers the exceptional
to invite the drummers the exceptional
to invite the drummers the exceptional drummers we have in the front row to lay
drummers we have in the front row to lay
drummers we have in the front row to lay down a heartbeat rhythm and then if you
down a heartbeat rhythm and then if you
down a heartbeat rhythm and then if you have an instrument in your hand all you
have an instrument in your hand all you
have an instrument in your hand all you got to do is listen to that beat and put
got to do is listen to that beat and put
got to do is listen to that beat and put in your simple pattern keep it simple
in your simple pattern keep it simple
in your simple pattern keep it simple and remember to leave a lot of space for
and remember to leave a lot of space for
and remember to leave a lot of space for other others to fill in remember there’s
other others to fill in remember there’s
other others to fill in remember there’s no way to make a mistake while we’re
no way to make a mistake while we’re
no way to make a mistake while we’re doing this this is our song for this
doing this this is our song for this
doing this this is our song for this moment here and now gosh gosh rocks
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
you guys are beautiful I don’t want to
you guys are beautiful I don’t want to stop it
thank you very much for being willing to
thank you very much for being willing to share your rhythmical spirits with each
share your rhythmical spirits with each
share your rhythmical spirits with each other and enjoy the rest of your day
other and enjoy the rest of your day
other and enjoy the rest of your day [Applause]
”
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