Why Do We Drum? We drum because it’s fun! That is a given. There is something very rewarding about the sound, feel, effort and the unifying experience created within a community drum circle. I am a long time professional drum set player, but this  all-inclusive communal drumming I am referring to is very different than playing in a band focused more on entertainment. Current research shows that specialized group drumming provides many health, wellness and therapeutic benefits. Experiencing steady, rhythmic drumming improves cognitive brain function – increasing our ability to hold attenti ..read more

I am blessed to be on a rhythmical journey for the benefit of others as well as myself (always learning and growing  However, sometimes it’s challenging and uncomfotable to be in front of a room of people with such different skill sets. I have just returned from Philadelphia where I attended a workshop called, “Rhythm 2 Recovery” (R2R) facilitated by Simon Faulkner.  I first met Simon in Florida four years ago. I attended his first US drumming program, “DRUMBEAT” (Discovering Relationships Using Music, Behavior, Emotions, Attitudes and Thoughts”. I have been an accredited facilitato ..read more

Saturday, March 4th & 11th, 2017. Team Work was our last Theme on Mar. 4th, and our final rehearsal and performance was on the 11th. Team work is obviously a topic of discussion throughout our meetings together. Emphasis is placed on the importance of working together to produce a better outcome as a group and understanding that some of the most important achievements we experience in our lives will often come with group participation. I love this African Proverb – it basically sums up the great lesson of Team Work.  “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go toge ..read more

Drumming Forward – One Beat at a Time, is a youth empowerment drumming program I created for the youth at the Juvenile Treatment Center in South Lake Tahoe. Saturday, Feb. 18th, 2017. The theme this week was, “Forgiveness & Responsibility”. When we forgive ourselves and others, we get a “Do Over” or a 2nd chance. Forgiveness can free us from negative emotions such as anger, hurt, resentment, guilt and depression. It gives us the power to make a new start with ourselves and other people. Making mistakes are a part of the human condition. We all make them, but having the ability to forgive c ..read more

Saturday, Feb. 11th, 2017. The theme this week was, “Harmony & Relationships”. I see harmony represented in 3 areas – musical, within community and within one’s self. Within music, harmony represents notes played together that sound good. Within community and society, it represents the ability to get along, appreciate one another and work together, and harmony within us is when our behavior and thoughts match who we think we are and how we act towards others. Today we talked about these concepts and played together with them in mind. It was a great session. Some of the youth are really com ..read more

Saturday, Feb. 4th, 2017. The theme this week was, “Identity & Community”. We all have our own identity. There is something special about each and every one of us. At most times in our lives, we can all identify with being a part of a community – our family, our friends, our school, our team sport, our town or even our book club. Keeping our own identity within our communities can be challenging but also very healthy and rewarding. At this time in their lives, the community within the Juvenile Treatment Center is where the Youth focus. Within the Center, the kids need to get along, coopera ..read more

  Jan. 28th, 2017. The Theme this week was, “Story & Acceptance.” Everyone has a “Story” or history – good bad or somewhere in between. If we appreciate, acknowledge and hopefully move on from our story, we will become more compassionate regarding the story of others. The more we understand our own difficulties and hardships the greater compassion we can extend toward others. Even when others get under our skin, we can always find something to appreciate about them and possibly even relate too. I ask the kids to do a journal exercise that brings these concepts to mind. In session two ..read more

Saturday, January 21st, 2017, I delivered for the first time, my At-Risk Youth Empowerment Program, “Drumming Forward – One Beat At A Time”. The response from the 12 youth who are participating in the program was just great!  In fact, better than I expected and I was so pleased. Four years ago, I was trained for this type of drum circle work in a program called, DRUMBEAT (Discovering, Relationships Using Music, Behavior, Emotions, Attitudes and Thoughts). I am a certified DRUMBEAT facilitator and I have delivered the program many times over the last four years. DRUMBEAT is a fabulous prog ..read more

Tahoe’s Drumchik and her namesake drum By Taylor Flynn This article originally appeared in the Tahoe Mountain News, Dec. 2016 issue Liz Broscoe – long known as Tahoe’s “DrumChik” – has been drumming professionally for 35 years. Currently she is a member of the Wesley Orsolic Band, a traditional jazz, funk and blues group, a regular on the local circuit with gigs at places like Genoa Bar, Steamers Bar and even larger venues including the Tahoe Biltmore. But she also plays with rank amateurs, non-musicians like you and me, who can also take advantage of the many benefits of drumming. “Hand drum ..read more

This is no scientific study by any means, just an observation on my part based on years of facilitating diverse drum circles. When groups of friends, family and cohesive co-workers come together in a drum circle, if there are good relationships among them, in my experience, they quickly get right in synch. with one another rhythmically. On the flip side, if a group of strangers come together for a drum circle, (say a class opened to the general public) I find it much more challenging to get them in synch as quickly. I always do, it just takes a bit more work and patience. So why is it more cha ..read more