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
Altenmüller, E., & Schlaug, G. (2013). Neurologic music therapy: The beneficial effects of music making on neurorehabilitation. Acoustical Science and Technology, 34(1), 5–12. https://doi.org/10.1250/ast.34.5
Bensimon, M., Amir, D., & Wolf, Y. (2008). Drumming through trauma: Music therapy with post-traumatic soldiers. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 35(1), 34–48.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aip.2007.09.002
Bittman, B. B., Berk, L. S., Felten, D. L., Westengard, J., Simonton, O. C., Pappas, J., & Ninehouser, M. (2001). Composite effects of group drumming music therapy on modulation of neuroendocrine-immune parameters in normal subjects. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 7(1), 38–47.
Braun Janzen, T., Koshimori, Y., Richard, N. M., & Thaut, M. H. (2022). Rhythm and music-based interventions in motor rehabilitation: Current evidence and future perspectives. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 15. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2021.789467
Carolan, K. (2015). Find your beat: Therapeutic drumming for Parkinson's disease. Clinical Social Work Journal, 44(2), 179–185. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-015-0552-3
Fancourt, D., Perkins, R., Ascenso, S., Carvalho, L. A., Steptoe, A., & Williamon, A. (2016). Effects of group drumming interventions on anxiety, depression, social resilience and inflammatory immune response among mental health service users. PLOS ONE, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151136
Grahn, J. A., & Watson, S. L. (2013). Perspectives on rhythm processing in motor regions of the brain. Music Therapy Perspectives, 31(1), 25–30. https://doi.org/10.1093/mtp/31.1.25
Harmon, J., & Arpajian, A. (2019). Restorative rhythms: Drumming as healing. World Leisure Journal, 62(1), 67–80. https://doi.org/10.1080/16078055.2019.1611629
Key elements of the NMT evidence-based model. The Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy. (2022, July 23). Retrieved March 1, 2023, fromhttps://nmtacademy.co/key-elements-of-nmt/
Kokal, I., Engel, A., Kirschner, S., & Keysers, C. (2011). Synchronized drumming enhances activity in the caudate and facilitates prosocial commitment - if the rhythm comes easily. PLOS ONE, 6(11). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0027272
Koshimori, Y., & Thaut, M. H. (2018). Future perspectives on neural mechanisms underlying rhythm and music based neurorehabilitation in parkinson’s disease. Ageing Research Reviews, 47, 133–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.001
Leathley, L. (2021). Working with Seniors. In S. Faulkner (Ed.), Drum Circles for Specific Population Groups: An introduction to drum circles for therapeutic and educational outcomes (pp. 133–145). Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
Nombela, C., Hughes, L. E., Owen, A. M., & Grahn, J. A. (2013). Into the groove: Can rhythm Influence Parkinson's disease? Neuroscience Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(10), 2564–2570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.08.003
Pantelyat, A., Syres, C., Reichwein, S., & Willis, A. (2015). Drum-PD: The use of a drum circle to improve the symptoms and signs of parkinson's disease (PD). Movement Disorders Clinical Practice, 3(3), 243–249. https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.12269
Scheer, P., & Stevens, C. (n.d.). Describing the wide range of the benefits of group drumming including reducing anxiety , depression, threshold of pain, boosting immune system and even rebuilding brain tissue. Rhythm Research AND Resources. Retrieved February 20, 2023, fromhttps://www.rhythmresearchresources.net/research-drum-therapy-introduction.html
Schrag, A., Jahanshahi, M., & Quinn, N. (2000). How Does Parkinson’s Disease Affect Quality of Life? A Comparison With Quality of Life in the General Population. Movement Disorder Society, 15(6), 1112–1118. https://doi.org/10.1002/1531-8257(200011)15:6<1112::AID-MDS1008>3.0.CO;2-A
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022). Circadian rhythms. National Institute of General Medical Sciences. Retrieved March 3, 2023, fromhttps://nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx
Veggeberg, K. V. (2021). There's a scientific reason why Humans love drumming. Massive Science. Retrieved March 1, 2023, fromhttps://massivesci.com/articles/drum-circles-anthropology-music-primates/#:~:text=Archaeologists%20have%20determined%20that%20the,war%20dances%20in%20multiple%20cultures