Beatwell On My Birthday

I turn 28 tomorrow. I will start my day by sharing two Beatwell Playshops with the students and staff at The Baltimore Lab School—a school for students who learn differently.

I've been quoted as saying the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) educational paradigm should be changed to STEAM to include art. I've since changed my position, because each of those disciplines are art forms. It takes artists—critical thinkers—to succeed in any field.

Baltimore Lab is rooted in the arts. I think they are doing education justice.

I welcome the opportunity tomorrow to bring the students, staff and principal together as a community through drumming. I hope to help them further discover the natural artist within. I hope to leave them knowing that they are part of a school community that will most succeed when each person is free to express their unique qualities while supporting the group.

If I can succeed in these goals, it will most certainly be a happy birthday.

Hot August Blues Video Recap

No excuses. I haven't posted in awhile.

I have been sharing Beatwell with thousands of people though!

Since last posting, I begin a 9-week, Beatwell Playshop residency at a school for children with autism.

Some more firsts: I shared Beatwell with 500 elementary school students on Friday and over 200 employees at area companies. I finally brought Beatwell to a senior home, I will be featured in the upcoming issue of Baltimore STYLE magazine and much, much more!

All of this will be documented here. Weekly. At least.

This was a sure highlight of the summer. Hot August Blues welcomed Beatwell with such spirit.

The video proof is below!

Breakout Drumming! WTMD 1st Thursdays

I crashed Baltimore's premier concert series last week.

It was awesome.

Here's my recap via What Weekly.

I bring Beatwell to Hot August Blues this Saturday at Oregon Ridge Park!

Expect plenty of videos and photos to follow.

Hot August Blues 2013!

How does drumming among 6,000 of your music-loving neighbors sound? 

Yeah. Me too.

Come Beatwell with me at the Hot August Blues festival on Saturday, August 17th! 

For the second time this season, I'm making the 10 minute drive to Oregon Ridge Park—a perfect venue for an impressive festival lineup. The 3 stages of all-day music include headliners, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals and Galactic! 

The festival is family friendly (the Beatwell Kid's Circle starts at 12:30pm). 

Come Beatwell by the Main Stage at 2:30 and 4:45!

For full schedule, tickets (prices increase on August 1), and more visit: www.hotaugustblues.com and the Facebook event page.

The Power of the Egg Shaker

"I usually feel panic when I'm in basements."

A participant disclosed this towards the end of a Beatwell Workshop. Although I was hired as a facilitator and teacher, she ended up teaching me the most.

This was my first time sharing my work with adults in an outpatient mental health clinic. Many of the clients had diagnoses like schizophrenia and bipolar. I had few expectations going into this new experience, but entered with intentions to have fun and to provide an opportunity to heal.

The adults that I was lucky to drum and connect with were more engaged and appreciative than even I expected.

"Trust in the drum."

This one lady's anxiety continued to grow after our session. She was in line, waiting to sign out, proving her participation in the workshop. She expressed how anxious she was becoming, but how relaxing the ocean drum activity was.

I handed her a simple egg shaker.

She immediately said it was calming just like the ocean drum. An incredible insight.

Her persistant anxiety, which often results in panic, was calmed by a simple egg shaker. Just another powerful reminder to always trust in the drum (and the egg shaker).

"You get back what you put out."

Beatwell Workshop at Karmafest

By now this basic premise has become familiar in our culture. I decided to put it to the test four months ago. 

My girlfriend and I were on vacation and set to come home. I had just finished my last internship which had given me the opportunity each week to practice what I now call Beatwell Workshops. Aside from the work I had done at my two internships, I had shared this Beatwell work with a few different schools, group therapies and festivals. While proud of the accomplishments, I wondered what else would come.

I told her that once we got home, I would start creating quality content via this blog. 

You can see where this is going...

Almost immediately the opportunities started coming. And even more, it seems that each Beatwell Workshop leads to an even greater opportunity. 

A classroom presentation leads to a future school assembly; A graduate class training leads to a professional training; Buying a book to learn more about therapeutic drumming leads to actually finding my contact information in the book!

But it's been the past few days that I've really felt the shift. What has been a personal vision is truly becoming my reality. 

On Tuesday I shared a Beatwell Workshop with The Auburn School of Baltimore, a private elementary and middle school for bright children with various social difficulties—many on the Autism spectrum. The principal called me after reading The Jewish Times article and eagerly invited me to "Beatwell" with the 22 students.  After an hour of drumming, dancing and engaging in adult-like conversations, the principal remarked how amazing it was to see the kids remain so engaged as a group for that long. 

I always trust in the drum. 

Today was another first. I trained the therapeutic staff at a mental health clinic. Mind-blowing in that I'm sure many of the therapists have been practicing for as long as I've been alive. But they graciously welcomed me and for 90 minutes I led them through what I hope to have been an enlightening and fun training, leaving them with new tools to better serve their clients. 

The opportunities and feedback fuel my passion to continue sharing. With that, it seems that only more will come back in return.

"You get back what you put out."

Record & Tape Video Recap

Growing up, Tuesday's at 2:30 p.m. meant two things: school was out and I was headed to Record and Tape Traders.

Record and Tape was "the" local record store chain in Maryland. Unfortunately—and like most other music retailers—they began disappearing.

But one remains...and I got to do this in it:

I was invited by Sam Silverman, a Record and Tape employee and someone I would bet money on succeeding in the music business.

This would be my first time drumming in any type of business and was intrigued at the idea of creating a "break-out" musical experience while customers enter unaware.

We drummed surrounded by vinyl records; the most perfect spot in the store. I sat facing the entrance, watching as each entering face lit up in confusion and excitement.

I led the group through different rhythm activities meant to be fun, relaxing and community-building.

Mission accomplished.