We Need Innovative Afterschool Programming!

“How do we make sure that our programs are really teaching the skills young people need for success, health, and happiness in the complex and fast-changing 21st century?”

Michael Brandwein, internationally recognized expert on teaching and leading young people.

The Drumming for Success (DfS) model specifically addresses the need to engage students and teach the skills that young people need for success, health and happiness in our complex society.

Cost Effective and Sustainable

Where drumming programming for after school students is available, it is typically short term and/or expensive as it is dependent on an “experienced” drummer to supply the drums and facilitate the drumming group.

Sustainable and Independent-Drumming for Success is sustainable at your site based on the DfS staff training/drum acquisition model:

Your staff can be trained to facilitate a group Drumming for Success program on a sustainable basis with a music/life skills curriculum that utilizes outcome measures to assess students progress in self-esteem, relationship skills and improvements in school behaviors.

The Drumming for Success (DfS) program uses outcome measures to document the positive results of this innovative method. I have had success training afterschool staff to implement and facilitate all aspects of this fun, engaging and transforming activity. I have trained and implemented DfS in Miami, New Hampshire, Vermont and in Italy over the past two years.

Why Drumming?

Children love drums and music. As a result they respond immediately and learn meaningful, lasting life skills. Drumming for Success also enhances the culture of any afterschool program with a culminating performance at the end of each program session. These performances are a source of great pride to the children, staff and community.

The Drumming for Success program is invaluable to young people as it teaches essential skills for life in a musical context that is distinctively memorable and impactful. These musical/Life Skills lessons will make a big difference in the lives of your students.

I am looking to collaborate with afterschool and community based organizations to further disseminate this powerful, results oriented, group drumming method. Go to the website and try the djembe drums yourself. Just mouse over the drum and you’ll understand the intrigue. Contact me to discuss possible collaboration and implementation of DfS in your school and community.

www.rootdrummingsystems.com
Steve Ferraris
Director- Root Drumming Systems

The Evolution of Drumming for Success

In 1989 I started presenting African drumming programs in schools as an artist in residence, mainly in New Hampshire. The joy and enthusiasm of the students during these drumming residencies was evident to teachers, parents and administrators.

In the early 1990s, as my experience and reputation grew I was hired regularly by Very Special Arts New Hampshire to present drumming to physically and emotionally disabled populations. Once again the drumming produced joy and enthusiasm amongst the students.

As I packed up my drums at the conclusion of each of these residencies I was both fulfilled and disappointed. Fulfilled by the obvious benefit that everyone derived from the experience and disappointed that the students wouldn’t have the drums or this type of drumming program going forward to maintain the benefits over time.

I was also intrigued by the idea of actually measuring the benefits that were so obvious anecdotally. 

Why is Mary smiling and interacting with peers for the first time in months?

Why does Peter stay focused for 45 minutes when he is normally hyperactive?

I began to have conversations with Janice Hastings, the director of Very Special Arts NH about how I might accomplish these goals of developing outcome measures and a way to implement a sustainable drumming program for any interested organization or site.

I never stopped thinking about these ideas and years later, after a great deal of research and experimentation, I’ve been able to develop a model that accomplishes the goals of a sustainable drumming program with outcome measures.

I am now able to deliver a set of 10-15 African drums, facilitate a 10 session residency with outcome measures for the students and train staff members to carry on the Drumming/Life skills protocol that I’ve developed called Drumming for Success.

Persistence has always been my best asset!

-Steve Ferraris
Founder, Root Drumming Systems
www.rootdrummingsystems.com

Drumming for Success Implemented in New Hampshire Schools

Drumming for Success™

The Root Drumming Systems “Drumming for Success™ for At-Risk Youth” program is making great progress in New Hampshire after the successful implementation at the Newport Out of School Time (NOST) after school program in Newport, NH in the fall of 2011. Several New Hampshire school districts have since committed to including the sustainable Drumming for Success™program in upcoming grant proposals for implementation in 2012.

Sustainability

The Drumming for Success™program model includes staff training protocols and facilitator manuals to ensure a sustainable on site program that will continue to have positive impacts on many students over time.

Music/Life Skills Curriculum

This evidence-based program is both a drumming/music education curriculum and a life skills curriculum. The djembe drums and the drumming quickly engages and focuses the students on learning new things in a fun environment. The subsequent use of musical/relationship analogies introduces important life skills training.

Measurable Results

A series of outcome measures allow program coordinators to document the results of students’ participation in the group drumming protocol. The results from pilot studies have shown increases in self-esteem, improvements school attendance and school behavioral patterns and improved communication skills.