Drumming for Wellbeing

At Samba4Fun we aim to use music as a vehicle to promote and enable wellbeing and foster understanding within the diverse, local communities in which we live. We facilitate safe spaces and inclusive learning environments in which people can develop new and existing skills in partnership with others increasing personal resilience and adaptability and thereby enabling positive personal growth and development for all.

The workshops are designed to get people playing (working) together towards a common goal. First and foremost the music will provide a source of enjoyment and means of expression for all who take part. The drums we play are Brazilian and the rhythms are samba-based. Each drum has its own specific role, patterns and variations and, as such, is a vital cog in the Samba4Fun ensemble and the roll-out of this infectious and harmonious sound.

The drumming sessions are run by Steve, a solution focused therapist. Solution Focused Brief Therapy counselling/psychotherapeutic modality. It places an emphasis on empowerment and works on the premise that each of us is the expert on our own life experiences and, as such, best placed to make effective use of our own strengths and resources to find SMART solutions to the challenges we face in a positive, purposeful and meaningful way. 

Feedback from our workshop participants on the various benefits they experience includes:

• Enjoyment of meeting new people and learning new skills
• You leave your ego at the door an become part of something much, much bigger
• Connecting and collaborating with others
• Fun and friendship
• Learning a skill and about culture and history
• Knowing and helping people with learning difficulties. Made a friend already
• It has helped enormously with my bereavement 
• Being part of what feels to be a strong and supportive community 
• Being able to give support as well as receive it 
• Being more physically active 
• Feeling part of the wider local community
• Improves my confidence 
• I feel like I have a place to go on Saturdays and I’m out of the house
• To improve my mind thru attending music drumming
• Really helped my husband who had dementia.
• It quietens my tinnitus
• I have learnt so much about music, listening, concentrating, trying things outside of my comfort zone and also being part of a collective and how everyone plays a part
• Made new friends; learnt a new skill; developed mindfulness as a strategy over anxiety; learning to develop confidence and resilience while learning something new.

Wellbeing

Have you noticed how the word wellbeing (well-being) is making the shift from hyphenated to single word? It’s a sure sign of its increasing importance in the nation’s psyche. 

The New Economics Foundation (NEF) https://neweconomics.org/ is a British think-tank that promotes “social, economic and environmental justice”. The NEF developed the Five Ways to Wellbeing on behalf of the UK government Foresight Commission.  They define five ways to achieve wellbeing as:

• Connect
• Be Active
• Keep Learning
• Give
• Take Notice

And they are not alone. The NHS breaks down the 5 ways in more detail: 

1. Connect with other people 

Good relationships are important for your mental wellbeing. They can: 

• help you to build a sense of belonging and self-worth 

• give you an opportunity to share positive experiences 
• provide emotional support and allow you to support others 

2. Be physically active 

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental wellbeing by: 

• raising your self-esteem 
• helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them 
• causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood 

3. Learn new skills 

Research shows that learning new skills can also improve your mental wellbeing by: 

• boosting self-confidence and raising self-esteem 
• helping you to build a sense of purpose 
• helping you to connect with others 

4. Give to others 

Research suggests that acts of giving and kindness can help improve your mental wellbeing by: 

• creating positive feelings and a sense of reward 
• giving you a feeling of purpose and self-worth 
• helping you connect with other people 

5. Pay attention to the present moment (mindfulness)

Paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. Mindfulness can help you enjoy life more and understand yourself better. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/improve-mental-wellbeing