Metaphor of the Drum Circle: Balance, Equity, Connection, Wholeness

The purpose of this mindfulness themed column is to promote the use of focused breathing and drumming as access points to improved student and teacher wellness in the general music classroom. Drumming can be a holistic activity with the healing potential to improve and transform many traumatic life experiences endured by students and teachers. Similarly, mindfulness breathwork is a holistic approach used to enhance self-awareness in the moment and can reduce participant anxiety. Both pursuits have the potential to help students and teachers overcome difficulties of fear, stress, and anxiety. Both practices expose participants to new ways of understanding themselves and the world around them while creating important access points to mindfulness and self-awareness.