Different Drummers Drum Circle

Different Drummers Drum Circle is a novice-friendly drum circle which meets twice per month in Santa Fe. It is hosted by Rick Cormier, retired psychotherapist and author of the book, "Freestyle Community Drum Circles."

Our Mission

"Ours is an open, freestyle community drum circle. We are a diverse group of people sharing a common experience. During the process of creating music together, we create community. Our emphasis is on intuitive, improvised, and emotive rhythms rather than rehearsed or traditional ones. We welcome your 'voice' in our group song.

Drumming is fun. Drumming can change your mood and connect you powerfully with others. Drumming can entrance and heal. Drumming can provide a vehicle for expressing joy, frustration, and peace. Drumming can raise energies and provide relaxation. Whether we participate for the spiritual experience, the emotional experience, the musical experience or the social experience, drumming can bring a dozen hearts and souls to a dozen destinations. Yet we journey together...as a community."

Last week, someone asked me why some people claim that drum circles are meditative. Here was my response:

"Group drumming is meditative because, in order to drum from your HEART, you have to turn off your HEAD: the very goal of mindfulness and being in the 'here and now'.

Depression takes place in your head. So does anxiety. So does all of that guilt, self-reproach, and self-criticism many of us experience.

Many people "zone-out" during drum circles. They get lost in the rhythm... same as with chanting, same as in freestyle dancing, same as when meditating... where we learn to ignore our thoughts in favor of being in the moment.

ANY activity that encourages us to take a break from all of that cranial chit-chat is meditative and VERY healthy." ~Rick Cormier

No experience needed.

No drum needed.

No admission cost needed.

To be added to our private email list and get reminders as well as announcements regarding cancellations or classes, please write to me at differentdrummers@gmail.com