...the beat tells the inner feeling...

The joy of producing the peacefulness and sacredness sound of the drums.

Drumming with the elderly individuals

Drum circles for the elderly

Adapted from an item in New Age Journal (USA), monitored for the Institute by Roger Knights.

'Forming drum circles among the elderly would bring an immediate reduction in feelings of loneliness and isolation'

Mickey Hart, a percussionist for the Grateful Dead, told the United States Special Committee on Ageing that forming drum circles among the elderly would bring 'an immediate reduction in feelings of loneliness and isolation'. Organisers of his Rhythm for Life project plan to send teams of music therapists and professional drummers into nursing homes, hospital, senior centres and elsewhere.

Rhythm for Life

The development of drum circles for the elderly is only one of the ways in which Rhythm for Life is seeking to develop rhythm's potential as both alternative therapy and a means of forging social solidarity.

Using both musicians and music therapists, the organisation plans to work with a range of different groups. As well as the groups for isolated old folks, they intend to explore the benefits of drumming for people with severe neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Eminent neurologist Oliver Sacks, who is on the group's advisory council, writes that, "there is, in health, an implicit music which keeps all parts of the brain together - an implicit music rooted foremost in the rhythmicity of all nervous system activity... If, because of damage, disease or age, the nervous system is impaired, then this internal natural music is interfered with, and the need for an external music is overwhelming. Rhythm for Life meets that need by offering percussion-based music therapy to those whose lives can be greatly improved by it."

The organisation also seeks to foster rhythm's capacity for producing a sense of togetherness, by organising "community-based drum circles with the well-elderly, children and other groups to foster communication, social action and a sense of belonging".

They also plan to fund research into these and other aspects of rhythm as "a healing tool".


hythm for Life, 2051 S. Dobson Road, #17-383, Mesa, AZ 85202, USA (tel 00 1 707 874 1051).

...spend little bit of time to read this...

An 80 year old man was sitting on the sofa in his house along with his 45 years old highly educated son. Suddenly a crow perched on their window.

The Father asked his Son, "What is this?"

The Son replied "It is a crow".

After a few minutes, the Father asked his Son the 2nd time, "What is this?"

The Son said "Father, I have just now told you "It's a crow".

After a little while, the old Father again asked his Son the 3rd time,

What is this?"

At this time some expression of irritation was felt in the Son's tone when he said to his Father with a rebuff. "It's a crow, a crow".

A little after, the Father again asked his Son t he 4th time, "What is this?"

This time the Son shouted at his Father, "Why do you keep asking me the same question again and again, although I have told you so many times 'IT IS A CROW'. Are you not able to understand this?"

A little later the Father went to his room and came back with an old tattered diary, which he had maintained since his Son was born. On opening a page, he asked his Son to read that page. When the son read it, the following words were written in the diary :-

"Today my little son aged three was sitting with me on the sofa, when a crow was sitting on the window. My Son asked me 23 times what it was, and I replied to him all 23 times that it was a Crow. I hugged him lovingly each time h e asked me the same question again and again for 23 times. I did not at all feel irritated I rather felt affection for my innocent child".

While the little child asked him 23 times "What is this", the Father had felt no irritation in replying to the same question all 23 times and when today the Father asked his Son the same question just 4 times, the Son felt irritated and annoyed.

So..

If your parents attain old age, do not repulse them or look at them as a burden, but speak to them a gracious word, be cool, obedient, humble and kind to them. Be considerate to your parents.From today say this aloud, "I want to see my parents happy forever. They have cared for me ever since I was a little child. They have always showered their selfless love on me.

They crossed all mountains and valleys without seeing the storm and heat to make me a person presentable in the society today".

Say a prayer to God, "I will serve my old parents in the BEST way. I will say all good and kind words to my dear parents, no matter how they behave.

CYRUS A.B.

Program Designed

Programs Designed: Rev.Dr. Abas

Intergenerational Peaceful Hand Drumming
1. To understand the use of hand drumming to enhance communication, concentration, listening skills, intimacy, and understanding of the self.
2. To gain some skills and techniques to work with elderly in how to encourage expression of feelings and increase socialization in the group process.
3. To give guidelines of specific approaches and strategies for maximizing participation, motivation and learning for older adults.

Reminiscence Group with Elderly 65 and above)

(Reminiscence has a way of bringing people together,
and this can be particularly useful in a group setting)

1. Promoting self understanding
2. Preserving personal and collective history
3. Transcending the material world and physical limitations
4. Allowing for identification of universal themes of humanity
5. Reinforcing coping mechanisms

Healing Journeys for older adults (65 and above)

(An opportunity to express emotion in a safe
and supportive environments)

1. Enhances sense of community among elders.

2. Created engaging and positive experiences for elders.

3. Communicate your deep seated commitment to the spiritual being of elderly people.

Vision of Hope – Partner in Healing (65 and above)

(An opportunity to identify and experience your personal
“Vision of Hope” while journeying with others)

1. Emphasizing their strengths, not weaknesses.

2. Developing independence while diminishing dependence.

3. Encouraging decision making and action taking.

...intergenerational peaceful drumming...

Young or old stay united together. They filled the room with peacefulness and tranquility with the sound of the sacred drums.

...using your gift to produce peaceful music...

The heart beats can bring that peaceful rhythm as the hands touched the drums.

















You are never too old to drum. Fr. Bradler started the beat and harmonized by the others.

......we harmonized the beats....

What a surprise to walk into the room where we were meeting Father Abas and his "Wisdom of the Drums" and see a huge pile of drums and sticks in the middle of the floor. This was not going to be a one-drum recital by Father, we were all going to play drums! It was an exciting moment when, at Father's direction, with smiles on everyone's face we picked up our stick and flailed away at our drums. (by Virginia Fleche, 2009)

...peaceful beats...

Sacred hands & sacred drum!

Each person is unique!

Sacred Drumming was held at St. Margaret Mary Church, Irondequoit.
"Diversity + Unity = Harmony in Christ."

Sacred sound of the drums!

The women sacred drum group. they produced a wonderful inspiring beats from their hearts.

...an artist drew it...

As I was drumming, an artist drew this picture.

...inspiring words..

"I am having a good time today. How are you today?" This is always the common inspiring words of Sr. Margaret.

..sacred drumming,.expressive arts & Reflective Discussion.....

"Life is a journey and this painting more or less is mapquest of my life."
Sr. Concepta












"I need to add little bit of ble color here" said one of the participants in the session of Group Therapeutic Integration: Sacred Drumming, Creative arts and Reflective Discussion.












"Where am I going to put myself in this painting."

...the bird sings...

Shamrock is the name of her bird. Sr. Andre takes care of shamrock each day.
It is a joy to see her feeding and talking to her bird. She said, "the bird sings."

...great and talented elderly woman...

Talented elderly woman spending time doing her art work.

Creative Arts

My life is expressed in the canvas.

Wisdom of the Drums"

Father Peter and his "Wisdom of the Drums" has brought a special gift to our Irondequoit community and especially our seniors.