7 Months of Exploring the Body of Consciousness Through Sound

January

Drumming a New Day

In January we’ll be exploring new beginnings - creating rhythms to cleanse and strengthen the First Chakra while learning how to relate to the 1 (or Downbeat). Using the downbeat, we’ll also explore how the community sets the 1 (or soloist) up for success. Topics we’ll explore will include expanded self-expression, the power of sound in intentionally removing obstacles and assisting in new creations, the numerology of 1, and also how to foster balance in mind and body through movement and sound.

Looking ahead

February

Drums of Passion!

The Second Chakra - Drumming for Two!

Where to experience it? SHINE-ON YOGA the First Fridays of Every Month at 7:30pm

Booking: mark@3rdwheel.org

Newsletter Vol. 5                                                                                                                                           11/20/08

THE CENTER OF LIFE IS IF

Life can be an unpredictable rhythm.
One minute you are crashing and burning.
The next you’ve bounced and are on your feet again.

I haven’t crashed or burned, but life
has definitely thrown me some curve balls of late which
have greatly restructured priorities, time frames, and
availability.

I’m very happy to announce a new rhythm
in the world - the heartbeat of my child. In May,
I’ll be able to share the beauty of that rhythm
with others.

“The influence of a vital person vitalizes, there’s no doubt about it.
The world without spirit is a wasteland. People have the notion of
saving the world by shifting things around, changing the rules, and
who’s on top, and so forth. No! Any world is a valid world if it’s alive!
The thing to do is to bring life to it, and the only way to do that is to find
in your own case where the life is and become
alive yourself.”

-Joseph Campbell

I drum to bring life to the world, and I’m not just doing it for me anymore. . .
and I never really was. As vital a world I want for my child, I
want for everyone. I have no other choice in the matter. If I want
it for me and my family, I have to want it for everyone.
Facilitating rhythmic journeys is vital work. I’m sure
of it.

And so I’m also very happy to announce that All-Ages rhythmic
journeys are back on my schedule at SHINE ON YOGA on the
First Fridays of every month at 7:30pm to 9pm. Shine On is
conveniently located downtown just across the street from
Dandelion Communitea Cafe.

Anyway, class will be a great recharge for the weekend (or night) ahead.
Pricing will be treated like a regular SHINE ON class — $13 at the door
Or use a class pass. There is one unique incentive, however.
If you bring your own drum, class is only $10.

SHINE ON has also generously offered to host the free African
Dance Workshop and I’ll be sitting down with Amber to find a
time to do this. We will be hard pressed to find a more amazing
floor or location for the class. Our feet and bodies will thank us.

www.shineonyoga.com - The Light Within Your Reach

My class is not listed yet, but it will be soon.

I’d also like to say that if the demand is there, we will arrange
for more than one Friday class per month.

Thanks for reading,
Mark

Newsletter Vol. 4
9/18/08

DRUMMING UP SUCCESS IN YOUTH

Following in a path of inspiration, I’m
currently facilitating drum centered
classrooms for youth in Parramore

at the
JB Callahan Center and at the Boca Club
Apartment clubhouse as a contract art
teacher with an amazing cultural arts
program called PRODIGY:

“The mission of the PRODIGY cultural arts
program is to provide an opportunity for
participants to learn to use art as a vehicle
for coping, communication, and expression.
Youth are encouraged to explore their inner
feelings and skills in a safe, nurturing
environment.” http://www.prodigyarts.org/)

To see music open up something in
children is a feeling that all of this life
has been brought me to exactly where
I’m supposed to me. The drumming becomes
a method, also, for how all of us can contribute
to a community without losing our own personal
self-expression. Teaching multi-part rhythms
and using ’solos’ as an opportunity for the
group to set that individual up for success
are part of the joy of my daily
routines.

Classes are FREE for children 7 to 17
In addition to drumming, they offer FREE
Art, Theatre, Dance, and Spoken Word
Classes.

For more information in Orlando, contact
Zahide Mukoie at orlandoprodigy@yahoo.com

FREE AFRICAN DANCE WORKSHOP

Yes, the ball is still rolling on this. I’m
currently in communication with the
City of Maitland to bring my drum classes
and other events/classes to the Maitland
Senior Center (in the cultural corridor) or at
another location nearby.I’m currently raising
funds for liability insurance and will move
on the workshop as soon as I can secure
that.

It’s looking like Mid to Late October.

I apologize for it’s being pushed back
so many times, but getting into this
workshop — I knew I had to do it right.
And doing it right, I’m learning, can’t
always be done overnight (as much
as I often want it to be).

In the meantime, feel free to share
this link with others.

http://3rdwheel.org/blog/events/27/african-dance-teaser/

In early October, expect another update.

In Community Worship for Planet Earth,
Mark

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8348680960587574819

From “The Healing Power of the Drum” by Robert Lawrence Friedman… he quotes Layne Redmond, author of “When the Drummers Were Women.”

“One of the most powerful aspects of drumming and the reason that people have done it since the beginning of being human is that is changes people’s consciousness. Through rhythmic repetition of ritual sounds, the body, brain and the nervous system are energized and transformed. When a group of people play a rhythm for an extended period of time, their brain waves become entrained to the rhythm and they have a shared brain wave state. The longer the drumming goes on, the more powerful the entrainment becomes. It’s really the oldest holy communion. All of the oldest known religious rites used drumming as part of the shared religious experience.

It is interesting to look at these ancient drumming practices from the perspective of the latest scientific research into the functioning of the brain. Using electroencephalographs, scientists can measure the number of energy waves per second pulsing through the brain. A system of classifying states of consciousness according to the frequencies of these waves was created.

Normal outwardly focused attention generates beta waves which vibrate from 14 to 40 cycles per second. When awareness shifts to an internal focus, our brain slows down into the more rhythmical waves of alpha, vibrating at 7-14 waves per second. Alpha is defined by relaxation and centering. Dropping down to 4-7 cycles per second the brain enters the theta state in which there is an interfacing of conscious and unconscious processes, producing hypnologic dream-like imagery at the threshold of sleep. Theta is the course of sudden mystical insights and creative solutions to complex situations and is marked by physical and emotional healing. People with a preponderance of theta brainwaves are also able to learn and process much more information than normal. Without some form of intensive training it is hard to stay awake in theta–one slips quickly down into delta. This is the slowest brainwave frequency, 1-5 cycles per second, the state of unconsciousness or deep sleep.

The brain is divided into two hemispheres that are basically split in their control of the thinking process. The right brain functions as the creative, visual, aural and emotional center. The left brain is the rational, logical, analytical and verbal administrator. Generally, either the right or left brain dominates in cycles lasting from 30 minutes to 3 hours. While one hemisphere is dominant, the memories, skills, and information of the other hemisphere are far less available, residing in a subconscious or unconscious realm. Not only do the right and left brain operate in different modes, they also usually operate in different brain wave rhythms. The right brain may be generating alpha waves while the left brain is in the beta state. Or both can be generating the same type of brain waves, but remain out of sync with each other. But in states of intense creativity, deep meditation or under the influence of rhythmic sound, both hemispheres may becomes entrained to the same rhythm. This state of unified whole brain functioning is called hemispheric synchronization or the awakened mind.

As the two hemispheres begin to resonate to a single rhythm, a sense of clarity and heightened awareness arises. The individual is able to draw on both the left and the right hemispheres simultaneously. The mind becomes sharper, more lucid, synthesizing much more rapidly than normal, and emotions are easier to understand and transform. The conscious and unconscious levels of the mind interface and integrate more easily. Insight quickens and creative intuition flourishes, giving one the ability to visualize and bring into manifestation ideas more easily. An expanded, more complete and integrated state of consciousness comes into existence. Scientists believe that hemispheric synchronization may be the neurological basis of transcendent states of consciousness.

Research has shown that rhythmic music is one of the most effective ways to induce brainwave synchronization. Musical comprehension is a joint function of left and right brains and rhythmic sound can drive the brain waves into alpha or theta states. Many ancient religious practices seem to have originated in attempts to induce the transcendental experiences of hemispheric synchronization. Traditional drumming rituals appear to be efficient techniques for entraining the right and left brains, leading to emotionally and physically healing experiences.”

Liz Langley’s Wiggle Room offers one-hour, beginner Egyptian cabaret-style belly-dancing classes at Misty Forest Enrichment Center in Orlando as well as at parties. Participants can experience what it’s like to shimmy and shake with decorative hip scarves to pre-recorded Middle Eastern music or live drummers.

“Belly-dancing can burn 300 calories in an hour and is sort of flirty and playful like a pinup with its sensuous slinky moves,” Langley said.

By “live drummers”, the article is referring to me. In retrospect, not sure why I was asked to spell my name. But I guess live is better than dead…and maybe she’s trying to say I play so well I sound like more than one. Anyway, I appreciate the article’s optimism and hope it does something to get people out to enjoying their life through dancing, moving, getting up off the couch. People need this kind of thing in their life. . .but well, in reality, most dance studios are struggling . .. and big time. With Gas Prices at 4 bucks a gallon and the economy in a recession, studios are dropping like flies and the instructors, musicians, and artists affiliated with them are all working their asteriks off to restructure their businesses and lives. So well, I’m very grateful for the work I have. Things are getting better and better for myself and for my good friend Liz Langley. . .but it surely isn’t TV doing it for us. We’re doing it for us.

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PURE, initially originating from New York City, is collective of dancers and drummers who take music and dance out into the streets for the purposes of healing and peace.
Movements from ancient, sacred world traditions including Middle Eastern, Chinese, Romani gypsy, Israeli folk, Flamenco, Indian dance and drumming are incorporated into the PURE experience.
Dance and ritual create community, drawing people together both emotionally and physically into a shared sense of the divine.
As the community participates, no one is a stranger any longer. Dancers and musicians travel down the sidewalks, parks and other public spaces to share their love of dance and music with the public and to pay homage to specific sites.

Here are 2 parts, in order, of our last performance at the Orlando Museum of Art:

]]> http://3rdwheel.org/blog/stuff/17/go-pure/feed/ http://3rdwheel.org/blog/stuff/1/hello-world/ http://3rdwheel.org/blog/stuff/1/hello-world/#comments Sun, 22 Jun 2008 15:56:03 +0000 Mark DeMaio http://3rdwheel.org/?p=1 This is a work in progress. Check back for more or subscribe to the RSS feed to get updates directly. Thanks. Mark@3rdwheel.org