We’re excited to announce that Drum 4UR Life will host Ayrshire’s first ever ‘Village Music Circles 1-Day Introduction to Drum Circle Facilitation’ workshop – right here in North Ayrshire!
Join us for a full day of rhythm, learning, and connection with Dr Jane Bentley and Ray Watters – internationally renowned trainers in drum circle facilitation. This rare opportunity offers an inspiring, hands-on introduction in a fun and welcoming setting.
Whether you’re a regular with Drum 4UR Life or simply curious, this introduction workshop is perfect for anyone interested in exploring facilitation, with the option to progress towards attending the UK Playshop 3-Day Training in future.
ABOUT THE FACILITATORS
Dr. Jane Bentley: Jane is a drummer, facilitator, consultant and trainer, specialising in music in communication, health and wellbeing settings. She believes that everyone can make music – piloting musical social innovation projects as diverse as: exploring musical communication skills with corporate trainers through the medium of paper; making music with prisoners and their children to encourage family bonding; sharing the delights of improvisation with orchestral musicians who want to play in hospitals; creating a spontaneous bicycle orchestra for the 2014 Commonwealth Games and 2018 European Championships; investigating the potential for rhythm in aiding language learning, and articulating the potential of music in the lives of people with dementia. She has been a student of Arthur Hull’s Village Music Circles since 1999 and is now recognized as an international trainer in drum circle facilitation. She deepened her studies by completing a PhD based on drum circles and improvisation, highlighting the effects of group music making on human wellbeing – the first time that the practice of drum circle facilitation has been studied at this level. Her work as a facilitator has broken new ground in the field of health and wellbeing, through her long-term collaborations with mental health occupational therapy staff in the UK National Health Service. In 2007, she established ‘The Buddy Beat’ drumming group, which won the Epic award for the best voluntary arts project in Scotland and inspired the formation of several other drumming groups for mental wellbeing. In 2016, she was named a BBC Music ‘Unsung Hero’ for her work in the community. She presents at both national and international conferences on the subject of drum circle facilitation, and the potential of music making for social development. As a trainer, she has worked with musicians, orchestras, music therapists, educators, trainers, arts practitioners, and health professionals from Brighton to Bangalore. In 2015, she was awarded a Winston Churchill travelling Fellowship, researching the role of music in the wellbeing of older adults in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore. She is also a Senior Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Global Brain Health, with the Global Brain Health Institute, focusing on music as a resource for a healthy brain!
Ray Watters: Ray has a passion for drumming, working with people and building communities. He is a drummer, drum circle facilitator, humanistic counsellor, trainer and the founder of Drum with Us. Ray presents and teaches workshops throughout Europe, UK and the rest of the world to a wide spectrum of audiences, from the NHS, teachers and businessman to schools, mental health charities, Nuero-Diverse audiences, at risk populations and exceptional people with additional needs. He is a firm believer in the power of rhythm to build community and connection, to address the diverse issues we face as individuals and as a people. The power of rhythm to cross divides, build bridges and encourage communication in communities around the world. Since 2017 he has been a Rhythm2Recovery trainer (A programme developed to use drums to explore mental health) leading training events in Australia, Tasmania, Spain, Italy, Ireland and the UK. He also leads programmes in schools, clubs and with specific populations to address emotional and social development, bullying, violence prevention, healthy relationships and addiction earlyintervention. Ray also runs regular community circles in the Surrey area. He first attended a VMC facilitators training in 2008, which was a life changing experience and the rest is history. It brought about a complete change in direction. He has attended trainings every year since, here in the UK, but also in Spain, Malaysia and Germany. Now along with the fabulous Dr. Jane Bentley he will leading fabulous UK Playshop training events.
DAY EVENT COSTING - Registration £40 (Details for payment will be provided following the registration process. Non-refundable deposit of £10 required.)
The event will also be open to anyone 16 + including local drumming groups and friends of Drum 4UR Life, at a cost of £40 per person.
When do the sessions start?
Registration 9am / 9.30am Session 1
Will there be food?
Lunch will be provided and refreshments throughout the day.
Evening Event
We’re thrilled to announce the return of Ayrshire’s Big Drum Circle—one of the most anticipated highlights of our year at Drum 4UR Life. As part of our Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) programme, this vibrant and joyful event brings together communities through rhythm. Participants on the VMC 1 Day Introduction Workshop are invited to stay on for our big event.
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