On the third Thursday of the month at Nan Couts Cottage, the primal sound of beating drums fills the Nan Couts Cottage in La Mesa.
The monthly Community Drum Circle, ranging in size from 15 to 40 people, attracts all ages looking forward to pounding out a rhythm or shaking a tambourine, some for the first time.
Drum circle leader Susan Hall, proprietor of RhythmWorx, draws out any shyness that new people may be feeling about the event. She invites everyone to choose from boxes of percussion instruments in the center of the circle.
On the third Thursday of the month at Nan Couts Cottage, the primal sound of beating drums fills the Nan Couts Cottage in La Mesa.
The monthly Community Drum Circle, ranging in size from 15 to 40 people, attracts all ages looking forward to pounding out a rhythm or shaking a tambourine, some for the first time.
Drum circle leader Susan Hall, proprietor of RhythmWorx, draws out any shyness that new people may be feeling about the event. She invites everyone to choose from boxes of percussion instruments in the center of the circle.
“I have over 600 instruments, so this is a pretty small collection. But you are free to use any and all of them,” said Hall. She has been commissioned by the City of La Mesa to facilitate the drum circles as part of the “Live Well” Community Initiative.
At a recent drum circle, Angela Large brought her own percussion instrument, a large goblet-shaped drum.
“It’s my Toga drum. Got it for my birthday,” said Large, who has been to several of the drum circles.
“Everyone ready?” asked Hall. Her Djembe drum was poised between her knees. She began tapping out a rhythm and everyone else joined in. The musicians, ranging from children to the elderly, banged on drums and shook bells and tambourines.
The cottage filled with a heart-pounding boom. Everyone watched for direction from Hall, who alternately slowed and sped up the tempo.
The first round of drum music lasted for about ten minutes until Hall put her drum down, making motions with her hand to bring the sound lower and finally to a complete stop. Every participant stopped exactly on the same beat. They cheered each other.
Hall motioned for someone else to begin the beat, and the musicians fell into tempo once again. The people played together, the rhythm rising and falling at Hall’s direction. Although it was loud, the drum beat soothed 7-year-old Blake Large. He snoozed for a few minutes in his mother’s arms as she rattled a tambourine.
When the hour and a half was over, Angela Large sighed happily.
“This is very cathartic for our family. The kids look forward to coming each time. Each of them likes to experiment with different rhythmic beats and sounds,” said Large, who had brought along her daughter Macayla, 11, and a friend, Noel Besette, 12.
Besette admitted that she was surprised at how good the circle sounded. “I thought it was going to be very chaotic, especially because most of us have never played any instruments or drums. But we all played together really well,” she said.
Ruta Brazis-Velasco placed her drum back onto the quilt in the center of the circle. “I came here because of all the stress I felt. I’m coming back. It’s a winner for me,” she said.
The next La Mesa Community Drum Circle will take place on August 16, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Nan Couts Cottage, 5054 Memorial Drive. For information, call 619)251-9910.
