Hearing a Different Drummer

November 8, 2023

Over the years, I have joyfully participated in drum circles and drumming.  A drum circle is any group of people playing (usually) hand-drums and percussive instruments in a circle.  Rather than being performers, the participants play for fun, exercise and healing.  

Yesterday, I went to the Huntington Beach Senior Center for an hour-long drum circle.  It was led by Lee Kix, who in his younger years performed with Stevie Nicks and toured with Bob Welch and who has drummed on soundtracks for “Flashdance”, “The Karate Kid” and the “Main Event.”  Now, Kix is a a trained HealthRHYTHMS facilitator and leads drum circles for health and wellness at the HB Senior Center once a month and at the  Oasis Senior Center in Corona del Mar. He still retains a bit of the rocker look and vibe.  Yesterday's experience involved some 80 or so of us "older adults" playing all manner of drums with our hands, fingers or drum sticks; shaking a few-tablespoons-full of  raw beans or rice in empty water bottles; playing tambourines, shakers and the like; and repeating Kix's occasional verbal cues. 

Meanwhile, I wanted to slip in one other story.  As a journalist, I was covering an annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association many years ago.  I was walking in the convention center and heard drumming sounds.  Curious,  I followed the sounds to one room, opened the door and found many psychiatrists and other mental health professionals playing drums.

For more information, go to: http://www.leekix.com/