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Beat the stress

The concept of a Drum Circle is new to India. But it's worth a try if you love to tap your toes

DRUM UP YOUR LIFE Music is definitely therapy, especially if you fall into the rhythm

Who doesn't like music? Whether it is a complete orchestra or just plain rhythm, one just cannot stop tapping one's foot or swaying one's body to it. In fact, music is considered a stress buster. That is what The Harbour, a restaurant on the outer ring road in Marathahalli, is offering.

The restaurant takes its name from a mini ship placed at its entrance. To go with the name, the place has plenty of sand (apparently brought all the way from Karwar), matched with wall hangings that give you the perfect seaside experience.

To make this experience complete, The Harbour recently introduced a new concept. It held what is called Drum Circle, attended by a select gathering of invitees. More than 100 varieties of drums were on offer for an impromptu jam session, offering what you could call "music therapy".

Whether you had a sense of rhythm or not did not really matter. Just anyone could try their hand at the drums, channelising all their energy into some good stress-busting.

"This concept is prevalent is the west and it is very popular there. The drums can be of any kind. It can be a bongo, congo or even a plastic bottle," says Nawab El-Azhar, Managing Director of this joint.

Abe Thomas of Thomas Music Instrument Company Ltd., who was the facilitator of the drums session says: "Drums Circle is not a professional ensemble nor is it just about music. It is a group of friends having a rhythm party. It started as a community get-together in the U.S., where groups gathered to simply jam and have fun."

Then, Abe goes on to explain the rule of a facilitator. "His role is to orchestrate a mixed group of people into a fully functioning and exciting improvisation percussion ensemble. Back in the U.S. the Kids' Drums Circle is held every Saturday mornings for children between the age groups of two to 12 and it is a very big hit."

There is a different experience in it for everybody — depending on whether he is a part of the Drum Circle or simply an observer, listening in. For those out of the circle, it's a great opportunity to just shed their inhibitions and clap and dance to the rhythms.

The roots of the Drum Circle concept goes back to Africa where "drumming is a way to invoke Gods", says Abe. This, he adds, was later developed by Remo, a leading drum company in the U.S.

In fact, the Drum Circle is so popular in the U.S. that it is also used as music therapy in hospitals, prisons, religious institutions and schools, explains Abe.

"Fifty per cent of stress can disappear if you participate in the Drum Circle events," claims Abe. In India, this concept is yet to catch up and this is the second time that they have experimented with it in Bangalore, after they had a session for corporates at a resort some time ago.

So the next time you feel burdened with stress, try beating the drums out of it!

For more information on the Drum Circle concept, call Abe Thomas on 23430909/ 767.

M.V. CHANDRASHEKAR

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