May is International Drum Month - Drum Circles and Music Improv Circles
Laura Cerrano
The Month of May is International Drum Month. You are invited to embrace the rhythmic, playful side of yourself through the power of drumming!
What is a Drum Circle?
It’s important to know that the concept of drum circles is an American cultural creation. However, West Africa is a major influence on the creation of drum circles. The countries of Mali, Guinea, and Senegal developed highly sophisticated drumming traditions used for celebrations (e.g., weddings, harvests), communication between villages, storytelling, and the preservation of history. Gatherings of the past and today often involve drummers, dancers, and community members, making them a direct ancestor of modern drum circles.
Modern-day Drum Circles in America were influenced by the counterculture movement of the 1960s–70s in places like San Francisco, where people gathered for free-form music, community, and self-expression.
The impact of COVID-19 in 2020 sparked renewed interest in drum circles. These gatherings emerged as a unique activity that allowed people to maintain social distance while fostering social and emotional connections. The National Library of Medicine recognizes drum circles as a form of music therapy. Research indicates that drumming in a community setting promotes emotional release, stress reduction, and social bonding.
Free Form Drum Circle Vs a Facilitated Drum Circle
Both types of drum circles create community experiences through different approaches.
Free-form Drum Circles offer an open format drumming experience. This means all abilities, all ages, and skill levels are welcome! People can join the drum circle at any time through dance, drumming, by adding another percussion instrument, or by simply observing.
If you arrive at this type of drum circle spontaneously without a drum, you could ask someone within the group if they have an extra drum or if you could try theirs. Most circles such as these could have some spare drums or smaller percussion instruments to share. However, if you plan to make this part of your lifestyle, it's best to invest in your own drum.
Drum circles such as these often already have a few seasoned drummers to support the group’s overall sound. In these scenarios, there is no formal facilitation, and the focus is more on jamming (playing the drums and smaller percussion instruments).
Facilitated combo Drum Circle for The Sancurary Social Worker Retreat, 2026, Armonk, NY - IBM Center of Learning
Facilitated drum circles offer a guided experience, where drummers are provided with base instructions on how to drum, are prompted with simple cues that encourage greater listening for drum and percussion volume control, pulse, accented rhythms, rhythmic space, and deep listening through conscious playing. This provides the overall group with great confidence and license to really create their own collective sound, which is very empowering and fun!
For drum circles such as these, the facilitator will most likely provide all of the drums and smaller percussion instruments, unless otherwise stated and discussed.
What are Improv Music Circles?
Improv music circle, Long Island, NY
For those of us who are familiar with improv music circles, the name Bobby McFerrin and "circlesongs" may come to mind. Bobby McFerrin is known for the innovation of circlesongs that focus on collaborative, spontaneous vocal gatherings where participants create music in real-time.
Music-improv circles extend upon that world by inspiring real-time music-making through the fusion of various musical instruments. These types of circles bring in musical melody, mood, tempo, and simple music theory through a collective improvisation experience that may include pianos, violins, drums, cellos, guitars, boom wackers, handpans, vocal expression, and anything else that will lend itself to an enriched layer of musical possibilities. These types of circles often require a trained improvisational music facilitator, as there are tools, techniques, and structures to help make this method of music-making accessible to everyone, no matter their ability, age, or skill level. These types of improv music circles inspire deep levels of connection, presence, creativity, healing, community, and fun!
For music improv circles such as these, the facilitator will most likely provide the musical equipment, unless otherwise stated and discussed.
Benefits of Drumming and music-making include:
Relieves stress
Builds connection
Improves circulation
Inspires collective joy and playfulness
Improves mental health
Strengthens motor control
Helps to regulate the nervous system
There are so many great benefits!!
It’s recommended you try all three music circles to see which one or which combination of them provides you with the musical medicine that suits you best.
“We are aiming for connection, not perfection” ~ Laura Cerrano
Click to View: Upcoming Events with Laura Cerrano of Healing Drum Circles and Improv Music Circles
