Mission

The mission of DHN is to empower members and our community

through collaborative learning and performance.

Benefits

Drumming is known to slow the effects of dementia and Parkinson’s Disease, and is proven to alleviate feelings of isolation, suicidal thoughts and depression.  

DHN has had much success with helping young autistic persons with regulation and focus.

“In particular, the potential of group drumming to enhance well-being has been well documented. Winkelman (2003) highlighted drumming as an effective complementary tool for addiction treatments as it demands a reduction of alienation through connectedness with self and others. 

Camilleri (2002) pointed to drumming as a tool for creating a sense of community in underprivileged neighbourhoods, and Burnard and Dragovic (2014) demonstrated drumming’s potential to enhance well-being in educational contexts by facilitating a sense of empowerment, and through the embodiment inherent to music learning. 

Furthermore, studies with at-risk young people, alienated from the school system (Faulkner, Wood, Ivery, & Donovan, 2012; Wood, Ivery, Donovan & Lambin, 2013) highlighted the effects of drumming on social learning outcomes, including emotional control, improved relationships and increased self-esteem, when combined with cognitive behavioural therapy. 


Within mental health settings, drumming has proven effective as a tool for psychosocial rehabilitation of psychiatric inpatients (Tague, 2012), in burnout reduction for staff (Newman, Maggott, & Alexander, 2015), and in alleviation of depression and anxiety while enhancing well-being and social resilience among mental health service users (Fancourt et al., 2016.)” 

-10th of July, 2018 National Library of Medicine

Age Restrictions/Groups

We serve all persons in our community and internationally. Our youngest student is 5 years old, our oldest in his 80s. All ages welcome.

Drum Healing Network groups have been created in church settings, in-school programs for the general population and autism specific environments, universities and in the wider community. 

Sessions/Performances

Sessions are between 1 1.5 hours, based upon discussion with client.  Drums are able to be provided upon request.

In addition to individual and group sessions, DHN is also performance-based, and are enthusiastic in having performances both in-school and in the larger community. 

Available DNH Groups perform once a month, at the Cherry Lake Cultural Series, in Altona, Melbourne, Australia.

DHN is also in collaboration with the Newport Fiddle in Folk Club (NFFC), in Newport, Melbourne, Australia under the Group name Newport Drummers.  Members from all Groups under the DHN are invited to participate in our many performances annually with the NFFC.

These opportunities combine the various groups and ages of members in a performance event.  Such a recurring event ensures consistent attendance to sessions, as members feel an obligation to their peers to guarantee a good performance.

Spirit Warrior Philosophy

Drum Healing Network also applies the “Spirit Warrior” philosophy, which employs the concepts of discipline and consistency towards a warrior’s training.  While a warrior uses various tools to engage in combat, the Spirit Warrior uses his/her tools (instruments) to heal the self and community, radiating compassion, love and light.