Monthly "3rd Saturdays" East Bay Drummm Circle beats strong in Berkeley!

Ashkenaz Music and Dance Community Center in Berkeley, California is the home of the long-running Monthly East Bay Drummm Circle, now in it's 6th year. Facilitated by DRUMMM founder Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR, the group meets on the third Saturday of every month, from 4-5:30pm.

Open to all styles of drumming (as well as singing, dancing, and the occasional hammered dulcimer) this Drummm Circle makes the experience of drumming engaging, accessible, meaningful and FUN for participants of all ages and levels. Jeni playfully challenges participants to build musical skills as they release stress, build community, and experience joy and liberation through the rhythm. No special musical talent or prior training is necessary to participate fully.

No prior drumming experience? Show up right at 4pm for the beginner's introductory mini-lesson, and try your hand at basic drumming techniques and world grooves. Don't have a drum of your own? No problem, Jeni offers a variety of hand and stick drums to play for a nominal fee.

Come check it out and discover why folks from all over the Bay Area come back month after month. Your satisfaction is guaranteed or your next monthly Drummm Circle is FREE!

"3RD SATURDAYS" EAST BAY DRUMMM CIRCLE
Facilitated by Jeni Swerldow, MA-ATR (and special guests!)
3rd Saturday of each month
4-5:30pm

Location: Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave. (at Gilman St.), Berkeley CA.

Cost: Adults $10-15 sliding scale; Kids (13 + under) $5-10; Babies (under 2) Free! No reservation needed. Pay at the door. Cash is appreciated.

Drums: Bring your own drum or play one of Jeni's for $5. First come, first serve.

Questions? Contact Jeni Swerdlow at jeni@drummm.com or 510.316.2850.

See you in the circle!

www.DRUMMM.com

The beat goes on! DRUMMM welcomes newest drummer to the family, plus September-December 2013 Community Events

Please welcome little drummer boy Ethan Isadore Brightman to the DRUMMM family! Ethan was born on Sunday August 11th, 2013 in Berkeley, CA to DRUMMM founder Jeni Swerdlow and proud papa Peter Brightman. So far he's shown an interest in listening to legendary drummers Babtunde Olatunji, Glen Velez, Master Musicians of Jajouka, and Mamady Keita to name just a few. Glad you could join us in rhythm and in life little Ethan! We can't wait to drummm with you.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY DRUMMM EVENTS
September-December 2013

Saturday 9/21
MONTHLY EAST BAY DRUMMM CIRCLE
Featuring special guest facilitator Kathy Quain, MME, MT-BC
4:30-6pm  in the Back Studio (Special time + space!)
Ashkenaz Music + Dance Center - 1317 San Pablo Avenue (at Gilman St.), Berkeley, CA www.ashkenaz.com
Adults $10; Kids (12 + under) $5
Drum Rental $5

Sunday 10/6
DRUMMM CIRCLE @ DRUM SUNDAY KICKOFF PICNIC
Facilitated by DRUMMM Founder Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR; Hosted by Women Drummers International
1-3:30pm
Mosswood Park, Oakland CA
FREE!

Saturday 10/19
MONTHLY EAST BAY DRUMMM CIRCLE
Facilitated by DRUMMM Founder Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR
4-5:30pm  in the Main Space
Ashkenaz Music + Dance Center - 1317 San Pablo Avenue (at Gilman St.), Berkeley, CA www.ashkenaz.com
Adults $10; Kids (12 + under) $5
Drum Rental $5

Saturday 10/26
HALLOWEEN COMMUNITY + FAMILY DRUMMM PROGRAM
11am-12pm
Guerneville Regional Library
Come in costume and join us in drumming up some Halloween fun!
FREE!

Saturday 11/9
VALLEJO COMMUNITY DRUMMM CIRCLE
1-2pm 
IntegriTea Art Space - 717 Marin St, Vallejo CA
In support of Vallejo Open Studios. Open to all ages, all levels. Bring a seat and drum or percussion if you have one. Some drums available.
FREE! (Donations accepted)

Sunday 11/10

VALLEJO COMMUNITY DRUMMM CIRCLE

5:30-6:30pm
IntegriTea Art Space - 717 Marin St, Vallejo CA

In support of Vallejo Open Studios. Open to all ages, all levels. Bring a seat and drum or percussion if you have one. Some drums available.

FREE! (Donations accepted)

Saturday 11/16
MONTHLY EAST BAY DRUMMM CIRCLE + FOOD DRIVE
Please bring healthy canned or packaged foods for our annual Food Drive. All proceeds will be donated to the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
Facilitated by DRUMMM Founder Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR
4-5:30pm  in the Main Space
Ashkenaz Music + Dance Center - 1317 San Pablo Avenue (at Gilman St.), Berkeley, CA www.ashkenaz.com
Adults $10; Kids (12 + under) $5
Drum Rental $5

Thursday 12/12
DRUMMM FOR KIDS
Facilitated by Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR + the DRUMMM Team
4-4:50pm
Walnut Creek Library
FREE!

Thursday 12/12
DRUMMM FOR ADULTS
Facilitated by Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR + the DRUMMM Team
6:30-7:30pm
Walnut Creek Library
FREE!

Sunday 12/15
VALLEJO COMMUNITY DRUMMM CIRCLE + HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE
3-5pm
IntegriTea Art + Event Space, 717 Marin St, Vallejo CA
Please donate to our local Holiday Food Drive! We are accepting healthy canned or packaged foods for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties.
3-3:30pm Beginner Lesson: Intro to Hand Drumming/World Grooves
3:30-5pm All levels Facilitated Drum Circle/Community Celebration.
Open to all ages, levels, cultures, and styles of drumming. No prior musical experience is necessary to participate. Jeni will get your hands moving and grooving on the drum in no time!
Adults: $10; Kids 12 and under: $5; Babies under 2: Free
Bring a drum or percussion if you have one. There will be plenty of extras on hand.

Saturday 12/21
MONTHLY EAST BAY DRUMMM CIRCLE, SOLSTICE CELEBRATION + HOLIDAY FOOD DRIVE
Facilitated by DRUMMM Founder Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR
Eat! Beat! And Be Merry! Please bring a dish or beverage to share at our Community Potluck, plus healthy canned or packaged foods for our annual Holiday Food Drive. All proceeds will be donated to the Alameda County Community Food Bank.
4-6pm  in the Main Space
Ashkenaz Music + Dance Center - 1317 San Pablo Avenue (at Gilman St.), Berkeley, CA www.ashkenaz.com
Adults $10; Kids (12 + under) $5
Drum Rental $5

Check back here often - events are being added all the time!
For more info visit www.DRUMMM.com.
For bookings or questions please contact Jeni Swerdlow - jeni@drummm.com - 510.316.2850

Summer of Rhythm! DRUMMM Community Events Calendar, Jun-Aug 2013

Join DRUMMM Rhythmic Events founder and facilitator Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR and friends in a joyful celebration of rhythm! It's a magical, music-making experience that everyone can participate in together. Come play!

Sat 6/15 Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA

4-5:30pm

Wed 6/19 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ San Lorenzo Library - Free + family-friendly!
2:30-3:15pm

Sat 6/22 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ Union City Library - Free + family-friendly!
2:00-2:45pm

Wed 6/26 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ Los Gatos Library - Free + family-friendly!
10:30-11:15am

Wed 7/10 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ Menlo Park Library - Free + family-friendly!
10:30-11:15am

Wed 7/10 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ Belle Haven Branch Library, Menlo Park - Free + family-friendly!
1:30-2:15pm

Sat 7/20 Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle with Special Guest Rhythm Facilitator Susan Jette, MT-BC @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA
4-5:30pm

Mon 8/12 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ El Sobrante Library - Free + family-friendly!
7-7:45pm

Sat 8/17 Please note that there will be NO Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle in August. See you in September on 9/21!

For more info, visit www.DRUMMM.com. Check back often - events are being added all the time!

Community Drummm Events Calendar (Feb-May 2013)

Join us in these "hands-on" drumming events - engaging, accessible, meaningful and fun for ALL skill levels!

Sat 2/1 Closing Drum Circle Ceremony with Arthur Hull @ MacWorld/iWorld 2013, Moscone Center, S.F.
3:30-4:30pm

Sat 2/16 Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA
4-5:30pm

Fri 2/22-Sun 2/24 8th Annual Drum Circle Facilitators Conference (with presentation by DRUMMM founder Jeni Swerdlow) @ Pasaro Dunes Resort, Watsonville CA

Sat 3/16 Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA

4-5:30pm

Fri 4/5-Sun 4/7 Embodying Perspehone: Women's Spring Renewal Retreat with Drum, Yoga, + Song @ Black Mountain Retreat Center, Cazadero CA. Facilitated by Jeni Swerdlow + Francesca Genco

Fri 4/19 Imagining Nonviolence: Healing from Violence @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA
Non-Violence Workshops @ 6:30pm; Kids' Drum Circle @ 7:30pm; Healing Drummm Circle with Jeni Swerdlow @ 8:30pm; Followed by live music with SambaDa + Cosmos Percussion Orchestra.

Sat 4/20 Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA

4-5:30pm - Dinner nearby immediately afterwards, followed by Baba Olatunji Birthday Celebration @ Ashkenaz

Sat 5/18 drumSTRONG "drumming to BEAT cancer" Annual Drummm Circle at Monthly East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz, Berkeley CA. $10-25 Suggested donation. Proceeds to benefit S.F. Bay Area Cancer Support Community.
4-5:30pm

Fri 5/24 Full Moon Drummm Circle Celebration @ UCSF Saunders Court, Parnassus Campus, San Francisco CA. FREE!
12-1pm

Tue 5/28 DRUMMM OneBEAT @ Sebastopol Library, Sebastopool CA (Free + All ages!)
4-4:45pm

For more info, visit www.DRUMMM.com. Check back often - events are being added all the time!

DRUMMM is Back in the Bay and Ready to Play!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY DRUMMM EVENTS
September-December 2012

DRUMMM provides hands-on, facilitated drumming experiences for all kinds of groups and events. Programs are open to all ages, all levels, all styles of drumming. We're connecting the world in rhythm, one beat at a time...join us!

9/15 The Return of the East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, Berkeley

4:00-5:30PM

9/23 Drummm OneBEAT @ Art in Nature: The Nature of Art Festival, Steam Trail of Redwood Regional Park, Oakland
12:00-1:00PM on the Shuttle; 4:00-5:00PM Parade + Closing Ceremony

9/29 Drummm OneBEAT @ YES Family Camp, Pescadero
All Day

9/30 Drummm OneBEAT @ OMCA Family/Oakland Pride Celebration, Oakland Museum of California
2:15-3:00PM

10/13 Drummm OneBEAT @ YES Family Camp, Pescadero
All Day

10/20 East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, Berkeley

4:00-5:30PM

11/10 Drummm OneBEAT @ International Drum Month Celebration, Lafayette Library
1:00-1:45PM

11/17 East Bay Community Drummm Circle @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, Berkeley

4:00-5:30PM

12/2 "Universal Grooves - Rhythm for All" with Jeni Swerdlow @ Drum Sundays, Oakland
1:00-3:00PM (Rescheduled from 11/4/12)

12/15 DRUMMM Holiday + Solstice Celebration @ Ashkenaz Music & Dance Center, Berkeley

4:00-6:00PM

More Info: www.DRUMMM.com

Contact: Jeni Swerdlow, MA-ATR - jeni@drummm.com or 510.316.2850

Check back again soon - new events are being added all the time!

Analog Bits becomes Analog BEATS with DRUMMM!

Mountain View tech company Analog Bits got a taste of teambuilding fun with DRUMMM Rhythmic Events last week. The team of computer engineers and designers celebrated their hard work and company growth with Jeni Swerdlow and Patricio Angulo from DRUMMM on a warm sunny day outside their office.

The group focussed on developing unity through rhythm, releasing stress, and using teamwork to create original compositions based on successful strategies in their company's approach.

Well done, Analog BEATS!

Jeni Swerdlow DRUMMM's Up Teamwork at Chamber Ambassadors Rally

Earlier this month, The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce brought in some "heavy hitters" to cap off its Northern California Chamber Ambassadors Rally. An annual event that brings together Ambassadors from dozens of Northern California Chambers of Commerce, this year's theme was "Teamwork."

The Rally began its day with a high energy performance by the Cal Marching Band (U.C. Berkeley), then the attendees got down to work. Followed by a day of sitting for talks on such business topics as "Marketing Strategies" and "The Importance of Being Green," DRUMMM's Jeni Swerdlow was called in facilitate the "hands-on" grand finale to unsuspecting Ambassadors.

Moments after the emcee's final announcements, Swerdlow had the auditorium's chairs up against the walls and the 60 or so sleepy-looking participants in a circle. Dumping a huge pile of "Boomwhackers" in the middle (colorful, tuned percussion tubes that can be struck together, on the floor, or on the body), Swerdlow immediately had people clamoring for their choice of colors and sizes.

What ensued was a 20-minute team building session of epic proportions. The room instantly erupted into a cacophony of sound, then with Swerdlow's expert facilitation transformed seamlessly into an ensemble of rhythm, teamwork and celebration. Grouping teams by color, Swerdlow effortlessly sculpted the music as groups created their own distinct patterns, then wove them together into an orchestra. It was a grand example of teamwork in a most unique way.

By the end, each and every Ambassador was laughing and yelling with glee at how much fun they had and how good they were able to sound, despite most having never touched a drum before. People ran up to thank Swerdlow for ending the day on on such a positive note, noting how much more bearable their Friday rush-hour commute was going to be, thanks to her and DRUMMM.

For more info on Jeni Swerdlow and DRUMMM, visit www.drummm.com. For more info on the Ambassador's Rally, visit http://www.berkeleychamber.com/