EVENT: S.F. Holiday Drummm Circle Celebration, 12/17/09

Join DRUMMM and friends in a FREE end of season (and class session) community celebration! Experience a Drummm Circle plus potluck--good music, good food with good people.

This facilitated Drummm Circle is a great way to relieve that pre-holiday stress, burn off some of that leftover Thanksgiving bulge, celebrate the change in seasons, and make a friend or three. Jeni Swerdlow will get your hands in the groove of the rhythm and the moment.

Open to all levels of drummers, even those of you who've never touched a drum. Come early to reserve a drum, or bring one of your own. Food/drink for the potluck is appreciated.

We will also be donating packaged food to the SF Food Bank--please bring canned/packaged food for those in need during the holidays. Thank you! http://www.sffoodbank.org/

Contact jeni@drummm.com or 510.316.2850 for more info.

Upcoming DRUMMM Events--Oct/Nov 2009

***S.F. Community Celebration Drummm Circle***

Thursday October 29th, 2009 7-9pm at JCC SF

Rhythmically curious? Percussively experimental? Musically inspired? Now YOU can experience the joys of drumming...for FREE!!

Participate in a facilitated "hands-on" Drummm Circle with Jeni Swerdlow of DRUMMM Rhythmic Events. Dine potluck-style and connect with your community through rhythm. OPEN to everyone, ALL ages welcome, NO experience necessary.

Please bring a dish or beverage to share, and a drum or percussion instrument if you have one. There will be extras on hand.

Location: JCC SF, 3200 California St, SF, CA 94118.

Info: Visit http://www.drummm.com/, or contact Jeni Swerdlow at jeni@drummm. com or 510.316.2850.

***East Bay DRUMMM RhythmPlay Class***
Tuesdays 11/3-12/15 in Richmond, CA

Join Jeni Swerdlow and friends in a playfully challenging, stress-relieving drumming program for people of any level of experience. Learn hand and stick drumming techniques, improve coordination and explore a variety of world rhythms while connecting with your mind-body and your community. Drums are available for use during class.

SESSION B: 6 times on Tuesdays
7:00-8:30pm
Nov 3-Dec 15
$150 for the series
*Save $15 when you register by 10/30!

Location: 1411 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA

Register: Contact Carole Johnson at cjpurpledoor@gmail.com or 510.508.5659

***SF DRUMMM Intensive: Unleash the Drummer Within! ***
Thursdays 11/5-12/17 @ JCCSF

Discover your natural sense of rhythm, connect with your community, release stress and have fun. Jeni Swerdlow's instruction on world rhythms and freestyle drumming gets your hands moving and grooving in no time. All levels of experience are welcome. Ages 18+.

Bring a drum or rent one from the instructor for $30 for the series. Contact jeni@drummm.com to reserve a drum.

SESSION B: 6 times on Thursdays
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Nov 5 - Dec 17
$140.00 Member/$150.00 Public
*Save $15 when you register by 10/30!

Location: JCCSF, 3200 California, SF, CA

Info/Register: http://www.jccsf.org/

***Drummm Circle Kicks off a Night of Booty-Shaking Live Music***

Thursday, November 19th @ 8pm
Starry Plough Pub, Berkeley

Things are gonna heat up at the Plough--YOU can help us kick off the night with a ¨hands-on¨ Drummm Circle! WE bring the drums, YOU bring the beats, together with Jeni Swerdlow we will make sweet, sweet music. Don´t miss this rare opportunity to JOIN the band and to BE part of the show! Then dance the night away with the rhythmic stylings of Antioquia and The Loyd Family Players--its a win win WIN night!

Drummm Circle is open to everyone, no prior drumming experience is necessary. Drums are available to play--first come, first serve at 8pm. So get there early and GET YOUR GROOVE ON!! $8- All Ages

Location: Starry Plough Pub, 3101 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705-1822 Phone: (510) 841-2082 http://www.starryploughpub.com/

EVENT: S.F. Community Celebration Drummm Circle 10/29/09

Rhythmically curious? Percussively experimental? Musically inspired? Now YOU can experience the joys of drumming...for FREE!!

Thursday October 29th, 2009

7-9pm at JCC SF

Participate in a facilitated "hands-on" Drummm Circle with Jeni Swerdlow of DRUMMM Rhythmic Events. Dine potluck-style and connect with your community through rhythm. OPEN to everyone, ALL ages welcome, NO experience necessary.

Please bring a dish or beverage to share, and a drum or percussion instrument if you have one. There will be extras on hand.

Location: JCC SF, 3200 California St, SF, CA 94118.

Info: Visit http://www.drummm.com/, or contact Jeni Swerdlow at jeni@drummm. com or 510.316.2850.

DRUMMM welcomes new intern from Madrid, Spain!

Hello my name is Marta Bergaz, I am from Madrid, Spain. I have been living in the United States for the past two years. I moved to San Francisco last year (from San Diego) and quickly realized that this city was for me –the people, the city, the energy…

When I heard about DRUMMM Rhythmic Events I was so excited! I am fascinated by the idea of mixing entertainment with business. I love making people smile, and learning how drums can communicate this energy. I look forward to meeting new people and learning how to play drums with Jeni Swerdlow.

In addition to earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and Business Administration, I have experience working as an Account Executive and P.R. Manager. Right now I am studying Management and Communications at Intrax International School. I plan to return to Spain someday and start my own family business.

I am enthusiastic, optimistic, friendly and a hard worker—you will see when you come to a DRUMMM event!

Bay Area DRUMMM Workshop Series--Unleash the drummer within!

East Bay DRUMMM RhythmPlay Class

Join Jeni Swerdlow and friends in a playfully challenging, stress-relieving drumming program for people of any level of experience. Learn hand and stick drumming techniques, improve coordination, and explore a variety of world rhythms while connecting with your mind-body and your community. Drums are available for use during class.

SESSION B 6 times on Tuesdays
7:00-8:30pm
Nov 3-Dec 15
$150 for the series
*Save $15 when you register by 10/30!

Location: 1411 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804

Register: Contact Carole Johnson at cjpurpledoor@gmail.com or 510.508.5659


SF DRUMMM Intensive: Unleash the Drummer Within!

Discover your natural sense of rhythm, connect with your community, release stress and have fun. Jeni Swerdlow's instruction on world rhythms and freestyle drumming gets your hands moving and grooving in no time. All levels of experience are welcome. Ages 18+.

Bring a drum or rent one from the instructor for $30 for the series. Contact jeni@drummm.com to reserve a drum.

SESSION B 6 times on Thursdays
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Nov 5 - Dec 17
$140.00 Member/$150.00 Public
*Save $15 when you register by 10/30!

Location: JCCSF, 3200 California, SF, CA

Info/Register: http://www.jccsf.org/ or 415.292.1200

About the instructor:
Percussionist and art therapist Jeni Swerdlow is a dynamic and engaging drum circle facilitator, trainer, presenter, and performer. Since 2000, Jeni’s interactive DRUMMM events have captivated thousands of participants at hundreds of events in the United States and abroad. She is best known for her playful attitude and innovative strategies for that inspire drumming with freedom and confidence among diverse populations. Jeni has studied West African drumming, dance, and drum circle facilitation extensively, including training in Senegal, West Africa. She currently enjoys performing with the samba-esque band, The Loyd Family Players. http://www.drummm.com/

San Jose employees get a taste of some good drumming medicine

Attendees of the City of San Jose's Wellness Conference and Fair thought they were coming to hear information about the latest trends and research in health and wellness. Little did they know that they were actually going to experience it first-hand on the drum during the afternoon Drummm Circle session...

Set on the West Plaza of San Jose City Hall, employees and passersby came upon the outdoor Drummm Circle. Having pre-set the drums and chairs, I was joined on bass drums by Violet Angell, with fellow facilitators Sue Malloy and Heather Holland lending a helping hand.

Having explained that drumming is an ancient communication technique for bringing people together in harmony, I demonstrated how the drums work. Participants quickly discovered how we can easily tap into our own innate sense of rhythm by simply listening and playing along, without fear of mistakes or failure.

Great grooves followed as I sculpted the music to bring out the dynamics, as in an orchestra. People took turns calling and responding, leading and following as we released stress and created big, beautiful music together in the moment.

Within minutes our drum circle grew to include not only managers and custodians, but also the parking attendant, a group of tourists, and a homeless man who introduced himself as Turtle. It didn't matter what language each of us spoke, our occupation, or lifestyle. We all shared in the rhythm and received its gifts that day.

Info: http://www.drummm.com/

Article: Jeni Swerdlow, MA, ATR

Photo: Sue Malloy

Seniors get in rhythm with DRUMMM!

Thanks to my 92-year-young grandmother, Evelyn Swerdlow, I recently had the pleasure of presenting a series of Drummm Circle programs at Southern California retirement community Laguna Woods. Presented as 90-minute "hands-on" wellness workshops for the residents, the programs began with a discussion of the goals and benefits of group drumming:

-To stimulate physical activity, circulation and coordination,

-To enhance brain functioning and creativity,

-To increase socialization and connection between participants,

-To improve immune system functioning and reduce stress.

Once we got the talking out of the way, it was time to play! We passed out drums to the 70+ participants and I did a brief introduction on the various types of sounds of the drums and how to play them. Joined by local drum circle facilitator Lee Kix on the bass drum, we started a simple pulse and people joined in. Before long the drum circle was in full force, then the magic kicked in--people were smiling, laughing, singing, soloing and dancing up a storm!

I was amazed by the spirit and energy these elders dispayed--the most rawkus being a group of ladies well into their nineties. I could barely keep up with them as they did the mambo, the cha-cha, the tango, and other dances from their hey-day. The drummers matched their tempo and steps with ease as the music and dance progressed to a great crescendo and slowly faded out.

As the circle came to a close, I asked people to share about their experiences in the drum circle. One woman said "This is the most alive I have felt in years." If that's not reason enough to continue doing what I do, I don't know what is.

Info: http://www.drummm.com/

Article: Jeni Swerdlow, MA, ATR
Photo: Richard Graling