Drumming and Music Therapy Research

1. Psychological and Emotional Benefits

  • Mood Improvement:

    • Bittman et al. (2001) found that group drumming significantly improved participants' mood and reduced stress levels.

    • In a study by Carolan (2015), after a four-week drumming program for individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), participants described their experience as “peaceful,” “serene,” and “relaxed.”

  • Mental Health:

    • Group drumming led to reduced anxiety, depression, and social isolation, as observed in multiple studies, including Fancourt et al. (2016), where anxiety and depression levels decreased significantly among participants.

  • PTSD & Trauma:

    • Bensimon et al. (2008) noted increased openness and a safe space for expression among soldiers with PTSD, helping them regain control and experience emotional release through group drumming.

  • Motivation & Confidence:

    • Harmon & Arpajian (2020) found that cancer patients in a support group using drumming felt empowered, reporting improved outlooks on their diagnoses due to increased agency.

2. Neurological and Cognitive Benefits

  • Neuroplasticity:

    • Altenmüller & Schlaug (2013) reported that music-making increases dopamine levels, enhancing brain plasticity. Dopamine is essential in motivating actions and reducing pain, which is crucial for individuals with movement disorders.

  • Motor Function:

    • Pantelyat et al. (2016) observed improvement in bradykinesia (slowness of movement) in Parkinson's patients after participating in a drumming circle for six weeks. Participants also reported better mobility and less rigidity.

  • Rhythmic Entrainment:

    • Janzen et al. (2022) showed that rhythmic auditory stimulation improves movement synchronization and precision in patients with movement disorders by providing rhythmic cues that compensate for internal timing deficits.

3. Physiological Responses

  • Stress and Anxiety Reduction:

    • Smith et al. (2014) found that middle-aged participants who engaged in djembe drumming experienced a significant reduction in stress and anxiety scores (P < 0.01). The reduction in systolic blood pressure (141 ± 24 vs. 153 ± 26 mmHg; P < 0.01) in older participants suggested cardiovascular benefits.

  • Immune System:

    • Bittman et al. (2001) observed a 50% increase in natural killer (NK) cell activity in cancer patients after one hour of group drumming, which is linked to enhanced immune response and reduced cortisol levels.

  • Cardiovascular Health:

    • Drumming was found to be a low-to-moderate intensity exercise, which improved cardiovascular health without inducing hypotension in healthy individuals (Smith et al., 2014).

4. Social and Community Benefits

  • Social Cohesion:

    • Bensimon et al. (2008) found that group drumming fostered a sense of belonging, intimacy, and trust, particularly among PTSD patients who experienced isolation and loneliness.

  • Building Community:

    • Carolan (2015) described how drumming sessions created a space where people living with PD could feel comfortable despite physical limitations, reducing self-consciousness and fostering a sense of belonging.

  • Endorphin Release:

    • According to Kokal et al. (2011), synchronized drumming increases the release of endorphins, enhancing prosocial behaviors, reducing pain, and improving mood among participants.

5. Therapeutic Applications

  • Parkinson’s Disease:

    • In Pantelyat et al. (2016), PD patients participating in drumming reported an improvement in motor symptoms such as reduced rigidity and better motor control. Some participants also reported improvement in activities of daily living.

  • Cancer Patients:

    • Harmon & Arpajian (2020) noted that drumming helped cancer patients regain a sense of agency during treatment, improving their emotional outlook and reducing stress.

  • Burnout Prevention:

    • In a study by Newman et al. (2015), group drumming was used to reduce burnout among healthcare workers, leading to a 28% improvement in mood. The study projected that this intervention could save $1.46 billion in burnout-related costs for the long-term care industry.

6. Theoretical Foundations

  • Biological Rhythms:

    • According to National Institute of General Medical Sciences (2022), drumming is inherently linked to our biological rhythms (e.g., heartbeat and circadian rhythms), and this connection is reflected in therapeutic drumming’s ability to regulate physiological responses.

  • Neurologic Music Therapy (NMT):

    • Koshimori & Thaut (2018) showed that rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS), a core NMT technique, improves motor function in PD patients by helping them synchronize movements with external cues, which compensates for internal motor timing issues.

7. Long-Term Impact & Sustainability

  • Sustained Benefits:

    • Some studies (e.g., Pantelyat et al., 2016) suggest that the benefits of group drumming, particularly for movement disorders and mental health, are not just short-term but can be sustained over time with regular participation.

    • It may be worth highlighting that continued engagement in drumming can lead to long-lasting improvements in areas like motor skills, mood stability, and social connectedness.

8. Customizability and Accessibility

  • Low Cost & Accessibility:

    • Drumming is an accessible form of therapy, requiring minimal equipment and space. This makes it a low-cost option for various communities and healthcare settings, providing a wide reach compared to other therapies.

    • Group drumming can be adapted to different populations, including children, older adults, and those with varying levels of physical or mental health challenges.

References