Photo 2
Paralounge Drum Gathering
With the best intentions for the community, Paralounge began to collect percussion ensembles from all over the region. Instructors were brought in and workshops were offered. More of the community started to take notice to the Paralounge and what is was offering the community.
Twice a year we organize educational workshops that provide technical and cultural experiences. The Paralounge believes a community that learns together, thrives together.
Each new rhythm introduced at these gatherings is brought back to the community drum circles and shared with that region. The performances entertain and educate. Most of the ensembles are playing traditional music indigenous to that culture. So the rhythms are from around the world, and so are many of the performers. This enhances the drum circle community by passing on cultural understanding and tradition.
This drum circle is made up of participants that traveled specifically to play with you! Everyone wants to drum with other communities and experience the joy of making music with others. This is not a festival drum circle! Everyone here is aware of the creative moments. We are here to enjoy our musical spirits.
We are building a Rhythm Culture!
Are you looking for an activity that will include your entire family?
We are very proud to have such an abundance of children growing up together at these gatherings. The children's workshops are essential to the Paralounge structure. We think it is important for family participation. Parent and child, together, building rhythmic expression and family relation.
Should I come if I have never been to a drum circle? YES! This is the very best way to experience your first drum circle. If you want to learn, then this is the oppertunity to take workshops and build your technique and creativity. If you want to listen, then hang out. The music created in this atmosphere is bliss and the performances will make you want to dance. If you really get interested, then you have the biggest selection of hand crafted instruments to choose from. You could be going home a musician!
During each Paralounge Drum Gathering you can look forward to participating in a dance workshop. Many of the performing ensembles include dancers. So we always offer a dance workshop represented by a performing group. The Paralounge has offered African Dance, Middle Eastern Dance, and American Tribal Bellydancing.
The Paralounge Drum Gathering provides several types of workshops.
- Technical workshops: building technique / tuning of instruments
- Ethnic Specific Workshops: teach traditional rhythms & dance
- Skill level training: instruction for advancement in skill level for playing technique.
- Community exercises: These workshops are great for any skill level. They provide rhythmic games for creativity and group experience.
- Rhythmic Expression: These workshops explore the vibrations and rhythmic values for meditation practices. Crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, and Didgeridoos are a few instruments used.
It is great to be able to see the wonderful instruments from around the world. It is a great blessing to hear them played, traditionally and with new expression. It's an inspiration to experience the performances. But the most awesome experience is to be able to touch and explore the instruments you are introduced to. Many of the workshops will give you this oppertunity.
There are many healing qualities to rhythmic expression.
The Drum Circle acts as a communication tool within the music. It teaches valuable skills, such as, when to lead or follow and how to take your place with respect to others. It gives incentive to learn and better your talents and provides self discipline exercises.
The Paralounge drum circle is not just about playing drums. It is about understanding primitive instruments and the cultures that created them. These instruments require no power outside that of your own intent to create music. They were created to mimic the sounds of nature. Some of the instruments were used for communication between tribes over long distances. They were used to celebrate harvest or prepare for war. They were used by the ancient shaman to heal the sick and cast away spirits. By understanding these instruments we begin to understand our heritage, and develop a better concept of our ancestors.
Many instruments are used to achieve musical unity. Many different instruments are used to keep rhythm. Of course, there are drums from around the world; there are wooden percussion instruments, flutes, whistles, Australian didgeridoos, rattles, shakers, and all kinds of other primitive percussion instruments. In the rhythm of the drum circle, spontaneous changes are natural and unique to the moment, affected only by the emotions of the groups and the unity achieved.