The Beat of Community: Drumming at Harmony Centre
Community contribution: Lorraine Campbell profiles the djembe drummers who gather at Harmony Centre on Wednesdays.
REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM HARMONY CENTRE
by Lorraine Campbell
There is so much music happening at Harmony Centre, and of such variety! On Wednesday nights, the djembe drummers gather in Greaves Auditorium and enjoy the balanced acoustics of the hall.
Drumming has been happening at Harmony for many years, first under the facilitation of Tara McKenzie and more recently Lorraine Campbell (hmm, now that might be a familiar name!)
Why drum? Quite simply, it makes us feel good – studies have shown that drumming for as little as 15 minutes reduces stress. Drummers can be found in summer festivals, community centres, music stores, local parks, churches, and camps.
Rhythm is universal, a natural force within us. We arrive in this world in tune with the rhythm of our mother’s heartbeat; we walk every day to the rhythm of our footsteps; we hear rhythm in the wind and in the steady murmur of traffic. We are born with the understanding of this universal language, and community drumming is a way of connecting with others through this universal language.
Drumming creates both physical and psychological changes in a body: the physical activity increases blood flow, enhances breathing, and promotes eye contact with fellow drummers; and psychologically, group awareness and connection occur.
Polyrhythms (the rhythmic layers that we learn and play drumming) put us in touch and in synch with our fellow drummers, reduce our heart rates, give us a creative outlet, and release endorphins.
I started drumming in 2013 and have attended workshops yearly since then at Ontario Womyn’s Drum Camp – virtually, during 2020 and 2021 – with several different facilitators: Ubaka Hill, Pele, Lori Fithian, Catherine Veilleux, Afia Walking Tree, Shara Claire, Terri Segal, Tara McKenzie, to name a few.
I lived in Tobermory and was actively involved in the drum circle there as well, and in 2020, I began facilitating that circle. When I moved to Owen Sound in 2023, I drummed with Tara, rekindling our connection from Drum Camp. She was ready to take a step back from her drum ensemble here, so my arrival was timely, and I stepped in at Harmony Centre…
The fall session of Harmony Drummers runs from September to the end of November, then starts up again on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8pm in January. Experience is not necessary, as we learn new rhythms each session.
Some drums are available, and they can also be rented locally from Long & McQuade. In addition to learning traditional rhythms, we always have space to cut loose and express ourselves, improvising in jam time.
Our drum circle at Harmony is a gathering of equals, a safe place to relax, connect, experiment, and make a joyful sound. If you are seeking more information about Harmony Drummers or just want to reach out, I can be contacted at hlcampbell58@gmail.com.
Profiles is an awesome series of articles by Harmony Centre board member Lorraine Campbell. Each month, Lorraine writes about the people and the community groups that make this remarkable facility what it is today.
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