An Education in Beatwell with Baltimore Lab

Thinking back on your childhood, which communities had the biggest impact on you? 

Your family of course, and maybe a group of friends or a sports team. 

I can also bet that your school community had a profound influence on your life.

Beatwell Playshop at Baltimore Lab School // October 9, 2013

When I share a Beatwell Playshop with an entire school, my focus is on the community.

To drum with just the students would be incomplete.

At Baltimore Lab, a school for children who learn differently, I made music with the students and faculty in unison. During the last 15 minutes of each assembly, their principal joined us on the largest drum. A fitting metaphor for the school's "leader."

My main message: Every community is made up of individuals with a unique voice and personal strengths (like the different instruments in the drum circle). When each person contributes towards the betterment of the group (the song being created), the school community will be most successful.

Baltimore Lab is an exceptional school community. 

I felt it in the music. 

The New American Dream

A hallmark of my message to others is to discover the artist within yourself. An infinite potential of creativity lies dormant within you and I. 

This is the foundation of all problem-solving skills.

Original Photo by Theresa Keil

The New American Dream
First Published January 12, 2012
 
“…But out of limitations comes creativity.” – Debbie Allen

“Mr. Jordan! Over the weekend I filled up a cup with beads, taped the top, and made a shaker!”
This has been the most potent affirmation that I’m doing my job well at the Baltimore City school where I work as a mental health counselor and resident drum circle facilitator.

The student, we’ll call him Justin, had an “A-ha!” moment; an experience of his own creative identity- and he didn’t do it by sitting in a stale classroom.

Our 20th century society fed us a road map towards the American Dream.

Go to school for seven hours a day, sit at your desk, keep quiet and follow the rules. Get a good-enough job, work eight hours a day, keep quiet and follow the rules. Do this for a half-century and you will be rewarded with a retirement plan and the gold watch.

Although devoid of individuality and creativity, this worked well enough for a short time.

This model is currently failing and though it’s painfully obvious, students like Justin are still being taught under this outdated and limiting model of how their future should unfold.

The 21st century reality is quite different.

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