Even the most informal involvement in music education can be a vehicle for school aged children to develop social and academic skills including increased motor skill development, improved academic performance, better temporal-spatial manipulation ability, increased self-esteem, greater appreciation of the value of teamwork, a sense of recognition by the community, achievement and a means of self-expression [from Global Education in Music (http://www.get-m.org/whyarts.html)].

Global Education Through Music, a San Diego based organization devoted to the promotion of the arts tells us that the youth involved in its arts programs are drawn by the excitement of:

• creative and artistic expression,
• recognition for performances, exhibitions or public art works,
• learning new job skills, and
• using the arts to communicate difficult thoughts and emotions.
  (http://www.get-m.org/whyarts.html)

Dale Marcell, master musician and director of The Marcell School of Drum, cites the following benefits of drumming:

1. stress relief: brain wave patterns change after brief drumming sessions to more relaxed states [ see Dr. Barry Quinn];
2. synchronization of brain waves in both brain hemispheres: like deep mediation, may be the neurophysiological basis of higher states of consciousness [Layne Redmond];
3. increase in confidence and self-acceptance, as peers and accept all performances;
4. teambuilding: members of the drumming circle listen to each other, find their own place in the group, assist others, and take leadership roles; and
5. increased cardiovascular performance leading to better health.

The basis of such success may be the unconditional acceptance of each individual musician. As Dale states, “There is no such thing as failure in the drumming circle.”

[http://www.investinginchildren.on.ca/Communications/articles/music.htm]