The vision of Music Heals Us was birthed in 2002 as a way for me to share the healing gifts of drumming with my community. I saw that the energy created through drum circles brought people together in such a way that at the end of the experience, people who had just met were laughing, sharing and even hugging because they had just made music together. It was also inspiring to see people who told me that they did not have natural rhythm or that they could not play a musical instrument, pick up a drum, learn a rhythm and start playing with other people. What a transformative and empowering experience! This sense of empowerment is so positive, which creates an opening that allows for connection with other people. And that is healing.

The accessibility of the drum also makes it a natural tool for communication and connection: everyone can play it or feel the vibration of the drum. Energetically, we live in a world of vibration – from the vibration of the atoms in our bodies to music to the incessant hum of machinery. Music Heals Us intends to bring people together to create positive vibrations through the drum. These positive drum vibrations are real and unleash an energy that our bodies entrain to, and that our community plugs into. This positive energy is so important! I have witnessed the power of these positive vibrations when I drum with the Rhythm Workers Union and we play our big drums with the Mother Drum Ship at marches with thousands of people. Sometimes, people at these marches are really angry. But when the Rhythm Workers are there and we drum with a positive intention, then within seconds, there is a dance party happening in the street and people are SO HAPPY. This is the transformative energy of the drum that I feel called to share with my community through Music Heals Us.

Since 2002, Music Heals Us has grown organically, as I share my time with drum circles, the fire circle community, performing in bands and working part time at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation.