Raleigh Drum Circle

by Dan Strobel, Music Editor
Raleigh Downtowner Magazine, Vol. 6, Issue 1

Many families are tightening their belts and trying to keep activities local and walletfriendly, and luckily for them, Gregory Whitt has a fun alternative to an expensive night out at the movies. All you need is $5 ($10 for families), an open mind and a little bit of rhythm.

Whitt facilitates and organizes the Raleigh Drum Circle the area’s largest recreational music-making organization. Formed in 2002 with 12 members, the group’s Yahoo website now has over 300 participants.“It’s been awesome to watch the Raleigh Drum Circle and other groups evolve and grow in the area,” says Whitt. The group’s seventh anniversary jam last September at Lake Johnson drew over 70 people and its monthly meeting there continues to attract a large crowd.

Aside from the drum circle, Whitt also runs Drum for Change, a business that facilitates drum circles and teambuilding exercises for community, corporate and business events. The majority of his work and time is spent in the Triangle, but he gets requests nationwide for this service. He also organizes a weekly circle that meets at the Gift s with a Heart store on Jones Franklin Street and has recently started drum circle downtown at Crocker’s Gallery on Morgan St. “As long as there is a demand for it, there are lots of chances for people to get out and participate in drum circles all over Raleigh,” he said.

Whitt, a graduate of NC State and resident of Raleigh for 20 years, is a fi rm believer in the holistic and spiritual benefi ts of drumming. “People have been drumming for thousands of years for lots of reasons, be it healing, ritualistic traditions or celebration,” he states. “Groups like the Raleigh Drum Circle let people know now what indigenous cultures and tribes have known and done for thousands of years.”

Of course, the more obvious physical benefits are nice, too. “Drumming is a great aerobic exercise that has been shown to reduce stress, boost the immune system and is a great opportunity for creativity, collaboration and the chance to show your hand-eye coordination,” Whitt points out.

With a family friend atmosphere and more than 70 loaner drums available for anyone to use, Whitt is especially open to fi rst-timers and people with no musical experience. “Kids are always more open at drum circles to try new things, while adults and shy people take a little bit of coaxing to get them involved,” he says.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Raleigh Drum Circle or team-building or corporate events, you can contact Gregory Whitt at his website, www.drumforchange.com, or at www.raleighdrumcircle.org.