joniwellness.com

(updated July 9, 2009)

Drum sound rises on the air,
Its throb, my heart.
A voice inside the beat says,
'I know you're tired,
But come. This is the way.'
...Rumi

Newark Community Drum Circle/Rhythm Jam
FREE
starting July 8 & 25
We had our first circle outdoors on Wed July 8, with perfect weather. A couple of seasoned drummers, lots of kids who got to play with all the various sounds, a good kickoff DC for the summer season. Remember, I'll be away next week, so we resume on Wed July 22, and will go every Wed and Sat after that, except for last week of Aug, until Sept 12th. Bring your friends and come early to help us set up - joni [note: No Sat July 11 DC, as originally scheduled. We've added Aug 22 instead.] Thanks to all the youth who helped with the chairs! :)
Boylan Street Recreation Center‎ - more info » (click for google map and directions)
916 S Orange Ave, Newark, NJ‎ 07106 - (973) 733-8947

SUMMER DATES, July – Sept 2009
(also see calendar and search for category drum circle – you can search by month view or by week)
Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 PM (60 min)
July 8, 22, 29 (skip 7/15)
Aug 5,12,19 (skip 8/26)
Sept 2, 9
Saturdays 12 noon – 1:30 PM (90 min)
July 25
Aug 1, 8, 15, 22 (skip 8/29)
Sept 5, 12

What is a Community Drum Circle/Rhythm Jam? It is a rhythmical event where all are welcome regardless of age, experience or musical ability. We encourage creativity and community building through listening to each other, improvising, and respecting each member's contribution. We use multi-cultural drums (you may see African djembes or djun djuns, Brazilian serdos or cuicas, Egyptian dumbeks, Irish hand drums, Indian tablas, Korean and other cultures represented), as well as shakers, wood instruments like claves, bells, tambourines, whistles, boomwhackers (what's a boomwhacker? come and find out!), and homemade instruments (see "what to bring" below). Some facilitation usually happens, to keep newcomers listening for the groove and to help people find the beat or give them simple rhythms to start playing. Much of the time, it goes on its own. There are drum circles which play only culturally specific rhythms, and although we use some traditional rhythms (and welcome and need good drummers!), we don't limit ourselves to them. Extra percussion instruments are often available (you can count on it at our circles), but please bring your own if you have them. "Any time a group of people come together and cooperate in creating an interactive, experiential musical event, they make connections beyond the music produced. In doing so, their community is strengthened and the world is a better place to live in. Share your spirit." ...Arthur Hull (Joni's DCF mentor)

BENEFITS (scientific evidence-based): releasing stress, ice breaking, improving mood and immune system response, raising morale, invigorating minds and bodies, enhancing clarity and focus, developing team-building, developing group cooperation and integrity, building individual and group confidence, stimulating creativity and risk taking, fostering self-expression, musicality and spirituality, transformation, creating community spirit and camaraderie, having fun, celebrating life!

WHAT TO BRING: whatever instruments you may have, not just drums, but "small timbre" also: bells, shakers, tambourines, kalimbas, wood blocks, claves. "found sound:" pot lids, wooden spoons, plastic or wooden bowls or plates, extra sticks for striking bells or wooden blocks, even chopsticks or knitting needles, empty plastic (water or clean) bottles of all sizes, bottles or thermoses with ridges, hair picks for playing the ridges, metal spoons, house keys or something that jingles, upside down pail or wastebasket (as drum), empty tubing; if indoors, earplugs if you're sensitive to noise levels; if indoors, be prepared with ear plugs just in case the noise level is too loud for you; if outdoors, a folding chair; also bring Joni's cell phone # (201) 207-4448 in case you need last minute directions or can't find us. If you have a large bass drum like dun dun or serdo, extra bungees or wedge to prop it or hold it in place; still and video cameras - we need updated still photos and footage for the website and newsletters.

Drum Circle Facilitator Joni Wellness is a Newark resident, has been facilitating drum circles and empowering community voices through rhythm making since 2001. She was a dancer, including jazz, modern and African, is a master yogi and Wellness Trainer. see more about her on her bio page, and throughout the site.

HDC co-founder and Co-Faciilitator Joni Yecalsik was priviledged to attend Drum Circle Facilitator Training with her mentor Arthur Hull and has been facilitating rhythm circles since 2001. Part of her training was assisting at numerous events in the Seattle area, including Bumpershoot's Rhythm Equator and the annual Seattle World Rhythm Festival. She met Arthur 1998 at the first WOMAD festival in Redmond, Washington (state), with hundreds and even thousands of attendees, and was hooked. She took the extraordinary East Coast Facilitator's Training Intensive Playshop in June, 2005 in Maryland, and the Maryland Weekend Playshop in September 2005. Her "Rhythm Pabulum" is available to facilitate corporate, adult, and family rhythm groups (contact her for rates). These are fun, empowering, team- and community-building, events -- no experience necessary.

2 separate email lists: please sign up below either for Newark DC list, Hudson list or both! (no spam, no sharing of this list, just Drum Circle related announcements!)

monthly HUDSON "COMMUNITY in RHYTHM" DRUM CIRCLE (HDC)

Add your name to our Hudson Drum Circle email list, to be notified of local Drumming and related events, last-minute changes, or to inquire about carpooling (nothing else - no list-sharing, no spam!)

First Name
Email
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NEWARK DRUM CIRCLE

Also see: See joni's drum circle blog , and join facebook group NJ/NY Drum Circle Assoc

DRUM CIRCLE ETIQUETTE:

Sit in the circle so you can see everyone, and so that you are not blocking anyone's view.
Ask permission before playing someone else's drum. Generally, instruments in the middle of the circle are for sharing, but ask if you're not sure. When you want to switch instruments, put your first one back in the center of the circle to offer to someone else. If you're not sure HOW to play something, ask.
Wear no rings, watches or bracelets while playing hand drums, especially someone else's. This protects the head of the drums from the metal.
Leave rhythmical space for other people in the circle to express themselves. Listen as much as you play. In other words, don't hog solos, or just try to play as loudly as you can.
Don't smoke in or near the circle, even it's outdoors.

RECOMMENDED LINKS:

- NY - NJ Drum Circles - lists other local groups (if you lead a group - submit it to this site)
- www.drumcircle.com - my DCF mentor Arthur Hull's site.
- http://www.drumcentral.net - 12th Annual Catskill Mountain Womyn's World Drum & Percussion Happen'n in the summer. Joni attended for first time in 2005 - big thumbs up! end of Auguest this year, 2009
- Jamtown - Wordly Rhythm Instruments and Kits from my friend John in Seattle (fair trade)
- International Art & Sound - Worldly Rhythm Instruments from my friend Kerry "Shakerman" in Oregon

more links with cool learning products and where to buy instruments and CDs, coming soon!

ABOUT HUDSON COMMUNITY in RHYTHM DRUM CIRCLE, here to support the growing drum circle community/movement. We formed at the end of 2004 from a merger of Hoboken Drum Circle and Weehawken Community in Rhythm Circle. We are open to other local groups joining us and rotating locations in the Hudson region. In the Summer of 2004, the Hoboken Drumming Circle began meeting weekly outdoors at Pier A with a spectacular view on the Hudson River (see pics below). The Weehawken group had been meeting steadily for 2 years at the current location of Good Shepard Lutheran Church. We always have extra small timbre percussion available to play, but if you have your own drum, please bring it. If you prefer to play a larger drum, we may be able to arrange a rental for you if you contact us ahead.

HDC Schedule 2009 Usually the 1st Saturday of each month, usually 5:30-7:30 PM. We were alternating between Weehawken (winter months) and Hoboken (warm outdoor months), however the Hoboken outdoor location has been discontinued. We will post the locations and any date changes once they are confirmed. (more dates may be added for special events) Founded, organized, and facilitated by Joni Wellness (formerly of Hoboken, now in Newark) and Dana McCurdy (Weehawken) and guest facilitators. Joni has moved to Newark location, and Dana will continue in Weehawken. contact him directly for dates and times.

ABOUT JONI: HDC co-founder and Co-Faciilitator Joni Yecalsik continues Drum Circle Facilitator Training with her mentor Arthur Hull and is now leading rhythm circles on her own after assisting at numerous events in the Seattle area, including Bumpershoot's Rhythm Equator and the annual Seattle World Rhythm Festival. She met Arthur 1998 at the first WOMAD festival in Redmond, Washington (state), and was hooked. She took the extraordinary East Coast Facilitator's Training Intensive Playshop in June, 2005 in Maryland, and the Maryland Weekend Playshop in September 2005. Her "Rhythm Pabulum" is available to facilitate corporate, adult, and family rhythm groups (contact her for rates). These are fun, empowering, team- and community-building, events -- no experience necessary. She has just relocated to Newark, NJ and is facilitating DCs there.

ABOUT DANA: HDC co-founder and Co-Facilitator Dana McCurdy teaches electronic music at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, and at the New School University in New York City. He is also a technical consultant for New York/New Jersey area musicians. Dana has become an avid hand drum player in the last five years, and is currently addicted to attending drum circles. He has been leading drum circles in the Weehawken/Union City area since 2002, and has merged his group to form HDC.

PICTURES: Please send your pics and footage to add to the soon to be updated website here. Meanwhile join and upload photos and videos to the facebook group Drum Circle Assoc of NJ/NY.

DIRECTIONS

Weehawken location: Good Shepard Lutheran Church, corner of Park Ave. & Columbia Terrace, Weehawken, NJ 07086. Map We'll be playing in the sanctuary (come experience it!). Light refreshments will be available. E-mail: Dana McCurdy Directions: From NJ, take New Jersey Turnpike or Route 3 to 495 (approach to Lincoln Tunnel); get in the right lane, take the last exit before tunnel ("Hoboken/Weehawken"); at second traffic light, take a left onto Boulevard East (you'll be heading north); continue on Boulevard East for about 3/4 mile, then turn left onto Columbia Terrace; church is at the end of the second block, on the near right corner. Park on the street (try Columbia Terrace or Park Ave.), enter church through the main doors on the corner. Contact joni@joniwellness.com for carpool info. From Port Authoritiy, NYC, take bus # 166 (check!), descend at Columbia (9 minute ride w/o traffic), and walk two blocks away from River.

OTHER LOCAL DRUM CIRCLES (see NJ-NY link above)

Women's Drum Practice/Circle in Park Slope, Brooklyn- West African Djembe and Djun Djun rhythms with experienced players, although beginners welcomed - many are regular attendee's of Catskill Womyn's Happenin' (see recommended links, above) Usually on a Sat or Sun from 1pm - 3pm. For more details, future dates, directions, or to be included directly on their email list, contact host Jessica.