THE DRUM BEAT – Chemnitz Drumming Project

…is a worldwide, unique research project that was initially created to answer scientific questions as well as deriving and evaluating social and medical measures using the characteristics of drumming and movement. THE DRUM BEAT was inspired by a research project of the University of Gloucestershire and University of Chichester, titled the “Clem Burke Drumming Project” where for the first time worldwide investigations on the physical demands of drumming/percussion were established. The Chemnitz University of Technology [CUT] was invited to participate in this collaborative research and extended the research focus by using cognitive parameters besides many others.
The Drum Beat therefore evolved out of the before mentioned project, and strives to investigate the broader application of different types of drumming, movement and exercise with an interdisciplinary team of scientists, musicians, teachers, physicians, therapists and communal authorities. All teams are working towards establishing interventions and structures to provide positive effects using the common language of drumming and movement. Drums Alive ®, the first fitness trend that combines drumming and movement to provide health benefits through a multi-modular approach, was identified as one of the key interventions of study for its practicality and holistic approach amongst others.
Therefore, THE DRUM BEAT seeks to investigate and apply all aspects of drumming in one inter-disciplinary project for the benefit of society in the context of physical and mental health, social challenges, inter-cultural aspects, music and education.


1 Introduction

Drumming is used as a universal intervention to achieve socially relevant health strategies as well as educational, social and cultural effects. Furthermore, the related structures are collectively upgraded and evaluated scientifically. The aims of the Chemnitz DRUM BEAT project are accordingly varied and can be structured in three areas:

-    research psychological, social and medical effects of drumming.
-    derive basic knowledge relevant to the occupational health of drummers.
-    identify the application possibilities of drumming for an overall intervention concept for society, for example in:

-   Schools: physical and musical education as well as cognitive effects – i.e. by using active mathematics classes that combine bursts of high intensity movement interspersed with periods of recovery, cognition exercises which also might help with learning disabilities.
-  Therapy: management of aggression, therapy of ADHD, obesity, Parkinson’s disease and depression as well as the application in cardiac rehabilitation and others.
-   Sports/leisure time: joyful introduction to an active lifestyle for youths and older people.
-   Culture: drumming as a possibility to initiate interest in culture/music as well as using exercise and music as an artistic way of expression.
-   Social: supporting measures on exposure to social fringe groups such as drug addicts, school truancy, and integration of foreign fellow citizens or disabled citizens.

Overview of Project
   
THE DRUM BEAT – Chemnitz Drumming Project
Health: fitness, sport, prevention: obesity, exercise strategies for the elderly, rehabilitation: depression, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, cardiac rehab
Behaviour: therapy of ADHD, reduction of aggression, smoking cessation, learning blockades
Learning: promotion of concentration and learning, coordination, cognitive-sensory connection
Integration: reducing prejudice, increasing intercultural competence, integrative lessons, team building
Communication: conflict resolution, intercultural understanding

Supporting THE DRUM BEAT is possible in different ways, i.e. through donations to the charity (Verein für Gesundheitssport und Sporttherapie e.V.) or in terms of a sponsorship as an official partner of the project. The concrete considerations of a partnership contain among other things the possibility to be represented by your logo on official documents, be involved in events or use THE DRUM BEAT in any other way with a huge publicity effect or use the “House of Rock” as a commercial platform. This means for you: presence in schools and at sport events, access to our network, which would offer you the use Drums Alive in your own organisation (as a presentation/show at an event or as workshops as part of cooperative sports), besides gaining many contacts.

THE DRUM BEAT – drum with us!