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The Healing Power of the Drum |
Author: Robert Lawrence Friedman
Published: 2000-09 |
List price: $14.95
Our price: $10.17
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As of: December 01st, 2008 01:26:30 PM
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Customer comments on this selection.
 Worth A Read...We Are Rhythm...
This is a very intriguing book that discusses how drumming / rhythm making can relieve stress, inspire confidence, create connection, promote teamwork, purge anger / frustration, build (or repair) relationships, and unlock positive energy in human beings, and thus, open doors to genuine wellness and happiness for those who are willing to participate. The author celebrates the drum as a special instrument that, like no other, possesses the almost magical ability to feed the yearning / wounded human spirit that is often lost (neglected) in today's fast-paced, often-depressing, technology driven world. In the first chapter, Friedman states, "Through providing a channel back to our deeper nature, the drum concurrently provides those who use it with a link to others. The drum seems to have the capacity to unite all individuals who choose to experience it together. Despite race, religion, color, creed, background, or ideology, all are joined together through this ancient instrument's calling. The drum, therefore, becomes a vehicle for transporting all who utilize it across boundaries, to an experience of wholeness and community" (page 8). So, perhaps, according to this author's ideas, drumming is the great glue that holds humanity together; it's a language that all can understand. The forgiving drum allows the freedom of individual expression and the binding of togetherness to happen simultaneously--the balance of opposing tendencies in human experience, an intimate embrace of both the Apollonian and the Dionysian souls; drumming can potentially offer a catharsis. [I liked the author's allusions to Taoism as he explained these points.]
While there can be debatable points in the book, the information does provoke thought and self-analysis in how one is affected by the rhythms of the world and personal rhythms. In my opinion, the following sections themselves justify the price of the book for their enlightened, useful ideas:
Chapter Three: The Ancient Calling
[I especially liked the given quote by Mickey Hart that Friedman offered on page 23: ""If you could see your DNA, you'd see what your inside rhythm looks like. You are rhythm. You are made of flesh, blood, bones, and rhythm. Rhythm is what keeps you alive."]
Chapter Four: The Personal Experience of Drumming
[This section describes how drumming can have profound and lasting effects on one's life.]
Chapter Ten: Practical Techniques & Rhythm Activities
[Simple ideas to get one started with drumming activities are here.]
Chapter Eleven: Drumming Exercises from Musical Therapy
[Most helpful is the section, "What are your life rhythms?" if you answer questions honestly. ]
Rhythm and Percussion Resources
[An excellent lists of people, products, organizations, and contacts. Beginners will find this section especially helpful.]
Things I would have liked to see in book but didn't: 1) I wanted to see more specific details and examples in Chapter Nine: Skeptics and Visionaries; and 2) I would like to see more pictures of people / different populations drumming and drum / percussion instruments themselves.
Nevertheless, the book begs to be read and discussed. It would be appropriate for educators, therapists, youth group coordinators, trainers, parents, healthcare providers, motivators, and anyone who wishes to explore new avenues of personal, professional, and social development. The book might make an intriguing, interdisciplinary choice for a supplemental textbook in college sociology, wellness, communication, humanities, and music appreciation courses.
 Vitamin D
I first heard about the healing effects that drums can have about six weeks ago. I had bought a Woman's World magazine at the market, and saw an article in it about a lady who suffered from depression,and was feeling so much better, after she had used Christine Steven's healing drum kit system!Wow! What a unique concept! I am a very "amp-ed" up person,and I wondered if the drum could help me unwind at night.I ordered the kit through Amazon, and use it nightly! I LOVE IT!!So,when I saw this book, I KNEW I had to order it. This is quite remarkable,how simple drumming can have so many health benefits! If you are the least bit curious about this topic,may I suggest you pick this item up? It is an easy read, informative, and it surely does make you think! I can see what listening to my drum CD's have done for me this past month...I am more relaxed, and lulled into sleep, PLUS....my blood pressure was LOWER than usual this week, at the Clinic! Have you had your daily dose of Vitamin D {drum}????
An Insightful Look at Drumming for Health and Wellness
This is a must have book in any person interested in the field of percussion, music therapy, or wellness. As a drummer and psychotherapist Robert Friedman guides the reader through the experience of using the drum as a tool for therapy and healing. What has been known for centuries by other cultures of the world comes to life in Friemdman's book. He uses stories from expert percussionists such as Layne Redmond and Babatunde Olatunji as well as noted music therapists Barry Bernstein and Christine Stevens among many others to convey that the drum is a powerful and useful tool in therapy. Friedman inculded many helpful sections such as drumming with specific populations such as At-Risk Adolescents, Senior Citizens, Autism, Down Syndrome, and many others. A section on specific drumming activities is included as well as an extensive list of drum related resources. This book is a pleasure to read and learn from. On a personal level I appreciate that several times in the book Friedman recommends consulting a music therapist to assist with therapeutic drumming interventions. He clearly recognizes and supports the use of music as a vital part of the therapeutic process and guides the reader to many sources where they can explore their rhythmic spirit. This book should be required reading for anyone entering the healthcare field. I personally recommend this book to my percussion students and fellow music therapists and know that many more would benefit from reading this wonderful work.
Excellent Resource
At a time when the concept of rhythm and drumming is being embraced as a health strategy, Robert Lawrence Freidman captures the current landscape of who's who in developing both the science and practice of drumming for healing purposes. From music therapists and professional percussionists to scientific researchers and medical doctors, Robert has interviewed them all and highlights their work in this excellent book. Also included are Robert's ideas about using drumming for stress reduction and a wonderful resources in the back of the book on activities using rhythm and percussion for health and wellness. Excellent Excellent Excellent. Boom - Ba - Boom - Ba - Boom - Boom - Boom. Makes you want to play and helps you understand why.
Excellent
I have read "The Healing Power of the Drum" and highly recommend it!
Let me also interject- I am very discriminating with regard to the books I recommend; to be perfectly honest, this is the first time I have ever posted one of these online reviews... but I really wanted to let people know -- this book is an absolute must-read.The Healing Power of the Drum has taught me so much about how drumming can benefit one's health. It helped me with my father (who has been suffering from Parkinson's disease for 18 years) and it also supplied the tools I needed to get through the recent death of a close friend. As a Rehabilitation Trainer, I deal with a lot of people who are trying to recover from what are often devastating circumstances. Many are trying to regain not only their physical, but also their mental strength. To help my patients understand the benefits of the mind/body connection, I give each of them a copy of Friedman's book. I would be hard-pressed to find a single one of them who has not benefitted from this book in some way. I recently saw Mr. Friedman on a Discovery Channel Health series, as an expert on drumming and wellness. I found his ideas, as in his book, to be not only extremely inspiring... but also very easy to implement. The bottom line, Mr. Friedman provides innovative ideas and solutions in the arena of complementary medicine and rhythm that real people can use in the real world.
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