Drumming Circle at Elizabethtown College Both Interesting and Fun

As anyone who has ever witness a band play live or has simply played a CD that they have enjoyed can attest to, music is a very powerful force. A simple song has the power to bring people together or tear communities apart. As we experience music on an almost every day basis, it is easy to take it for granted. However, one need only imagine a world in complete silence to be reminded of the immense and powerful effects that music can have on a person or society as a whole. Recently, at Elizabethtown College, students were given the opportunity to experience the power of music in perhaps a whole new light. As part of the first year colloquium offered to students, all were invited to take part in a "Drumming Circle", where each person was given an instrument and took part in a communal music and song generating experience. Indeed, for those who "felt" the power and strength of what was happening as students did something as simply as bang on a drum or hit a stick against a bell, the experience was a unique and powerful experience, and one that was very difficult to forget.

When trying to express the power and movement that one felt while being part of the circle, perhaps the best word to use would be "attunement". Although attunement is a very difficult word to define, perhaps the ideal and simplest explanation was offered by Professor David Donovan, when he defined it as, "the moment when you know it's ok to kiss". Although no kissing was involved with the drum circle itself, the feeling of attunement was very much present among those who took part in the experience. The presenter of the program introduced the program as saying the function of a drummer was to "unite heaven and earth". He went on to explain how drums and music have been essential in shaping the world we live in today. As the event commenced, and each student became familiar with whatever instrument they had been given, it was easy to see how powerful a force music really can be.