A program has been helping students build skills for life through rhythm and drumming.
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DRUMBEAT has been running at the Sapphire Coast Anglican College after being brought to the region by case manager for Anglicare Katherine Haynes, who operates the program at the college.
Ms Haynes said the drumming and discussions in the program built up the confidence in people and aimed to make them more resilient and provide assistance with different relationships in their lives.
“The program is built around simple drumming rhythms that help demonstrate life skills to students,” she said.
“Most of the drumming is quite relaxing and helps provide an atmosphere conclusive to conversation.”
Many different theories had been used in the development of the program.
“From a psychological perspective, the doing and learning is a big part,” Ms Haynes said.
“Particularly for kids who feel challenged in social situations, it can be very helpful for them.”
She said aside from in schools it could be used for adults, at risk kids and in hospitals.
On September 14, several students from SCAC had their first experience of DRUMBEAT when they gave a public demonstration of the program at the morning tea held for Foster Carers Week in Littleton Gardens, Bega.
One of the participants was Year 7 student at SCAC Grace Burns, who said when she was drumming she was trying to concentrate and keep to the rhythm and it made her feel more confident to speak.
“It can be quite relaxing, doing it with everyone else,” Grace said.
“I learnt more about everyone else and it was a very non-judgmental environment.”
On its website DRUMBEAT - which stands for discovering relationships using music, beliefs, emotions, attitudes, and thoughts - describes itself as the world’s first structured learning program using music, psychology and neurobiology to reconnect with ourselves and others.
The website quotes a study from 2013 in the Journal of Public Mental Health that found when using the program positive changes were observed on several measures, including a 10 per cent increase in self esteem scores by program completion.
Also, the study stated school data showed a decrease in reported behaviour incidents for 29 per cent of participants.
Albert McKnight
Journalist at Bega District News.
Journalist at Bega District News.
