UTILIZING DRUM CIRCLES FOR IMPROVISATION IN GENERAL MUSIC CLASS

Abstract

This study explores the effects of integrating drum circles, frequently utilized in music therapy contexts, on improvisational skills within an elementary general music education class. A pretest and posttest were used to assess student growth and findings were favorable. The results of the study found that students engaged in a weekly drum circle with exposure to creative rhythm making, increased their ability to improvise and keep a steady beat. Through a continued self-survey, most students described feeling excited and confident by week 8 of the study when tasked with improvising by themselves in front of their peers.