Keynote Slide Show Presentation (Mar. 2009)
(Audio Removed/Slide Time 10 sec)
by
Stephen Dolle
DOLLE COMMUNICATIONS

Table of Contents
Introduction Slide 3
Biography Slide 4
Keynote Programs Slide 12
Past Drumming Clients Slide 13
What is Group Drumming Slide 14
How does Drumming Work Slide 19
What are the Rhythms of the Brain Slide 20
Health Connection to Drumming Slide 21
Evolution of Drum Communications Slide 22
Sound Integration Study (2002) Slide 23
Modern Uses of Group Drumming Slide 32
Corporate Drumming Applications Slide 33
Teamwork & Management Models Slides 34 - 38
Drumming Exercises Slides 39 - 44
Other Uses Slides 45 - 46
Videos on YouTube (March 2009) Slide 45
Dolle Keynotes 2

Introduction
To succeed in life, you must be “engaged” in what is happening around
you. You must develop strategies to help you stay focused and
engaged─ in the face of adversity, and amid increasing distractions at
work, at school, and at play.
Often referred to as our earliest survival tool, rhythm is being used today
to help people stay focused, fit, and engaged in what’s going on around
them. Widely termed “drum circles,” group drumming offers new insights
into understanding team building and communications today.
Stephen Dolle is CEO of Dolle Communications, a communications and
neurosciences consulting company based in Newport Beach, California.
His life path into drumming came after 30 years in the corporate world.
Known as “MacGyver” for his problem solving skills, and the “Professor”
for his drum rhythms, he is a drum circle facilitator and percussionist and
speaks and performs throughout the Greater Los Angeles area on the
“rhythms of the brain.” Let’s welcome Stephen Dolle.
Dolle Keynotes 3

Biography
Nuclear medicine technologist 1976-92
▪ Performed over 15,000 patient work-ups/ procedures at
over 50 centers, authored 100s of procedures
Certified Nuclear Imaging CEO 1982-92
Film & theater actor 1986-1989
Marketing Consultant 1990-1992
▪ products dev., fundraising/pro esp. sports & entertainment
Coach/Mentor: Youth baseball, soccer 1987-99
Legal Expert: Products Liability 1994+
▪ Failure to warn, health insurance
FDA Policy Advocate 1994+
Neuroscientist & Health Consult 1994-Present
CNS shunts, neurology & clinical diagnostics, assistive
technology, learning & cognition, sensory integration,
epidemiology, music & drum therapy
DiaCeph, Inc. Founder & CEO 1999-2003
▪ Inventor of DiaCeph Test, related brain research
Percussionist, Drum Facilitator 2004-Present
▪ Facilitator, researcher, keynote speaker
Dolle Communications Founder CEO 2005-Pre
▪ Marketing, communications, neuroscience initiatives,
drum circle facilitation, keynotes
Dolle Keynotes 4

STEPHEN FIRST began exploring RHYTHM to help his
recovery after this 1992 auto accident/brain injury. He had
done mind-body work dating back to the 1970s. This injury
pressed him to explore the neurosciences in new ways…
Dolle Keynotes 5

…He first had to design and patent an all new
AI level diagnostic test for CNS shunt
malfunction, which he termed the DiaCeph Test…
Dolle Keynotes 6

…Then petition the FDA, and travel to
Washington, D.C. for this conference he brought
about…
Stephen— in
Washington, D.C. for the
Jan. 1999 International
STAMP Conference in
Bethesda, Maryland, he
helped bring about. There
he pressed the Food & Drug
Administration for better
quality assurance and
oversight of CNS shunt
devices.
Dolle Keynotes 7

…He researched and applied methods in music &
art therapy for wellness, and used his DiaCeph Test
to direct this long awaited 1998 surgery…
Stephen waited for more
than 4 years to undergo
this corrective surgery in
1998— as all his shunt
tests were negative. It was
his own DiaCeph Test that
pinpointed the
problem, and paved the
way for corrective surgery
at the Children’s Hospital of
Los Angeles (1998).
Dolle Keynotes 8

…And was required to know and practice law
in support of his efforts in regulatory affairs—
Stephen─ after wrapping
up a civil proceeding in
2002.
Dolle Keynotes 9

…And in 2008, 16 years of neuroscience efforts were
realized when the DiaCeph Test successfully
directed this best surgical outcome...
It took 16 years, 7 shunt
revisions, several changes in
neurosurgeons, and his
authoring a tandem paper on
the DiaCeph Test, but
Stephen succeeded in
guiding this 2008 shunt
surgery─ that produced the
most favorable outcome in 16
years, seen in the CT image
at right.
Dolle Keynotes 10

…Allowing him to focus on drumming and conceive
this “rhythms of the brain” program.
Stephen, after a
drumming appearance in
2008.
Dolle Keynotes 11

 Team Building &
Communications thru
Group Drumming
 Drum for your Brain
 The DiaCeph Story: a
story of Innovation
and Perseverance
 Mobile Phones and AI
 Managing
Hydrocephalus
 Managing your Health
Dolle Keynotes 12

Past Drumming Clients Include
 YMCA of Orange County
 High Hopes Brain Injury Center
 Endangered Planet Foundation
 Stefan Kaelin Ski & Golf
 El Salvador Comm Center/
Love2Drum
 Bowers Museum / Love2Drum
 Oasis Yoga Studios / Love2Drum
 Von Roll / Lavida Laguna
Dolle Keynotes 13

What is Group Drumming?
Group drumming is a discipline of As a Tool, it Improves:
communications and health &
1. Communications
wellness, where participants play
structured and free-form rhythms with
2. Attentiveness & Focus
the goal of reaching a common
mindset, or brain wave entrainment
3. Teamwork
(BWE)─ enabling high level group
learning and tasking. It is an age old 4. Creativity, Innovation
practice led today by trained
facilitators following set guidelines. 5. Leadership
6. Physical coordination
Drumming is in Synch w/ Study on Aging:
7. Confidence, Intimacy
Mild/moderate exercise
a)
Companionship
b)
8. Morale
Mental stimulation
c)
9. Health & Wellness
The “TOOL” within Us! Group Drumming Benefits
Dolle Keynotes 14

In our early years…
…we learned to engage others
and what was happening around us
through listening, rhythm, and
song...
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…We learned to become mentally and
physically focused (at least we thought), and
to use various tools to perform even these…
…jobs!
Dolle Keynotes 16

Then─ as things started to go wrong… we found
we were missing critical communications signals.
Do you know how to listen?
Dolle Keynotes 17

What does Group Drumming
require?
…A venue …. Percussion instruments, and
… YOU
Dolle Keynotes 18

How Does Drumming Work?
“To succeed in life, you must be “engaged” in
what is happening around you. You must
develop strategies to help your mind stay
focused and engaged in whatever you are
doing─ and rise above adversity and
distractions at work, at school, and at play.
Group drumming is the platform where you
learn how to interact with the rhythms of your
brain, to truly engage your mind and body, and
better communicate with those around you.”
Stephen Dolle
Dolle Keynotes 19

What are the “Rhythms of the Brain?”
The “rhythms of the brain” are a collage of
the many different auditory, visual, and touch
sensory patterns which have specific effects
on our brain and body. Some are
learned, while others are innate. They are
widely how our mind communicates with our
body, with others, and with the world around
us. The more you understand these patterns
and their influences─ the more prosperous
and happy you will be in life.
Dolle Keynotes 20

The Health Connection to Drumming
(incl. Dolle and Bittman research)
Confidence, mental health, intimacy

 Family communications, dispute resolution
 Cognition: hand & body communications, time &
space awareness (fitness and sports)*
 Sensory integration: focus, productivity, and
learning in noisy environments*
 Coordination, mobility, fitness*
 Stress reduction, general wellness**
 Biofeedback chronic illness & cancer**
 Group BWE: independent of age, culture
* Dolle research
** Bittman research
Dolle Keynotes 21

The Evolution of Drum
Communications
Animals and humans learned that when sound is ↑ in volume or
1.
tempo it is closing in and/or is ↑ in importance, calling
attention, where slow or melodic sound tends to be friendly.
Fast or repetitive sound tends to be forceful or threatening.
Augmented sounds are appealing, and make us curious and/or
happy.
Human sounds and drums evolved to disseminate information.
2.
Sight, sound, and body movement patterns, along with
3.
words, eventually formed human communication we know
today.
Emotional “intonations” in words is termed “prosody.”
4.
Since drum rhythms come from the “body,” they can activate the
5.
“prosody” center of the brain in Wernicke’s area, and language
centers of the pre-frontal cortex.
Possible “rhythmic patterning” correlation to a recent paper in
6.
news on “doodling” and memory when bored/poor attention.
Correlation of audible patterning to cognition; Mozart Effect
7.
Modern day sports and music keep us connected to our past.
8.
Dolle Keynotes 22

Stephen’s 2002 Metronome Study on
“Sensory (Sound) Integration”
- unsyncopated patterns impair cognition
-syncopated patterns repair cognition (Mozart Effect)*
-findings hold relevance in cognition, learning, and
productivity in noisy environments
-SEE paper on web site for more details
Dolle Keynotes 23

Executing the imaginative “rhythms of the
brain” was his forte…
“Imagination is more important than
knowledge.”
Dr. Albert Einstein
Dolle Keynotes 24

Executing our innate team building
rhythms…
…allows us to accomplish extraordinary
things with limited training.
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…Executing social/familial rhythms keeps
us strong and mentally healthy…
…like these three generations engaged
in family drumming.
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…Executing the meditative rhythms of
the brain keeps us well.
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…Perfect syncopation of mind and body
is a sight to behold...
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Executing the communicative rhythms of
the brain produces…
Well… some participants develop Crocodile
Dundee-like communication skills.
(man in center)
Dolle Keynotes 29

Executing structure and free-form
rhythms of the brain enhances learning.
Facilitation is critical.
Dolle Keynotes 30

What is the role of the facilitator?
…To help participants engage in their
rhythms, and connect with those
around them.
Dolle Keynotes 31

Modern Uses of Group Drumming
 Music and cultural arts
 Advertising and promotion
 Team-Building: corporate, sports, war
 Math, science, learning, sports training
 Health & wellness: brain, disease, stress
 Personal development, family, intimacy
 Events: entertainment, sports, spiritual
 Community outreach, gang prevention
Dolle Keynotes 32

Corporate Drumming Applications
 Sales, Work, and Office Communications: better read
intent of others, listening, and project thru body language
 Team Building BWE (brain wave entrainment): syncopate
beta, alpha, theta, and delta brain waves, improve group
tasks and leadership in structured and free form settings
 Intellectual skills: multi-tasking, creativity, abstract thinking
 Sensory: boost focus and productivity in noisy settings *
 Language: understand cross-cultural communications *
 Reduce Stress: reduce employee stress/burnout (Bittman)
 Hiring & testing: use in personality and skills assessment *
* Dolle Communications research
Dolle Keynotes 33

Teamwork (definition of):
“a joint action by 2 or more people or a group
in which each person subordinates his/her
individual interests to the whole of the group.”
Dolle added:
“the action, when each person is equally
engaged and entrained, will produce an affect
greater than the sum of the individual parts.”
Dolle Keynotes 34

Forming-Storming-Norming-
Performing
(Team-Building model, Tuckman 1965)
This model follows today’s “free form
group drumming.” It’s four (4) phases are:
Team meets and agrees on goals/tasks
1)
2) Individual ideas are put forth & discussed
3) Consensus of roles, values, etc. reached
4) Team becomes a self-sustaining unit
Dolle Keynotes 35

Margerison-McCann Describe a Team-
Work Wheel™ — of Four (4) Primary Roles
Dolle Keynotes 36

Drum Circle roles/instruments then
match the MCCANN team building model
Slide 30: free-form + structured learning
Bass Drums: develop, produce
Congas: innovate, promote
Djembes: produce, maintain, innovate, promote
Shakers: maintain, innovate, inspect, advise
Bells: organize, maintain
Clave: maintain, innovate
Dolle Keynotes 37

In a drum circle, and in business,…
First─ you create. Then─ you syncopate.
Tambour
Lead /
Solo
Bass
Dolle Keynotes 38

A Communications Exercise
1. Click the bell.. to play this 2 ½ min audio. This exercise
reminds us how language mirrors sounds around us, esp. the
beat of a drum. Many believe our language came from beats
and vocal grunts. See if you recognize the rhythms as:
a) coming toward you?
b) calling to you?
c) trying to frighten you?
d) trying to appease you?
2. Our bodies communicate messages too. In the above
example, specific body movements could also elicit those
messages. Find a co-worker, or perhaps a pet at home, and
communicate the messages above with your body
movements. SEE the TV program, the “Dog Whisperer.”
Dolle Keynotes 39

A Sales Presentation Exercise
Assemble 4 to 5 co-workers into a team
1.
and ask them to give a 5 min presentation
on a made up product. Instead of
speaking, have each choose a percussive
tool or instrument, and have the group give
the presentation using their
instruments, body language, gestures, and
product (can use prop). Improves
improvisation and free form team
execution. Grade how well the audience
understood each presentation.
Dolle Keynotes 40

A Team-Building Exercise
FIND one or more co-workers and ask them
1.
to clap their hands or tap desks with you as
you play this 1 ½ min audio.
2. When ready, CLICK on the bell to play the
audio. Each person should try to clap or tap
a “different” part of the beat pattern. Trust
your insights. Allow time for your parts to
evolve and your body to move to the groove.
Ask your co-workers what your pattern was
expressing. Did your group create a new
sound? If so, what did it express?
Dolle Keynotes 41

A Multi-Tasking Patterning Exercise
At times, when you are tired or feel
1.
overwhelmed by too many tasks, try this
exercise:
Right at the point of when you are loosing
your focus, start tapping your hands on your
legs, lap, or a stationary surface.
Pick any rhythm pattern that comes to
mind, and climb onto the rhythm. The more
you strike your rhythm, the better your focus
will be on your tasks─ approx 5 sec to 1 min.
Dolle Keynotes 42

A Memory Recall Patterning Exercise
Our brains have a unique ability to identify and
1.
remember information in patterns. Say and
recall these random letters/numbers:
“XEZAEI34SSC.”
Now say as a pattern, with letters/numbers in
bold on the downbeat or emphasis:
“X E Z (pause) A E I (pause) 3 4 S S C”
Sound familiar…?
Dolle Keynotes 43

A Pattern of Movement Exercise
Casual walk and movement mirror our heart
1.
beat. The beat 1-2, 1-2, is the energy of
casual pushing off from one foot, with the stop
and more forceful land/turn of another.
2. Military marching and running is more 1-2, 1-2
(down-up) and 1-2-3-4, more energy given to
the foot you’re pushing push off of.
3. Walk briefly around home or office. Which
pattern do you walk? Do you run? Try to walk
with emphasis in #1 above. Which method are
you more stable with your balance?
Dolle Keynotes 44

Drums are also played telemetrically
(Graduate Engineering Project, UCI)
Dolle Keynotes 45

Sometimes— drumming is even used to
influence the weather…
Stephen, facilitating a
Drum and Dance to
Snow event at Stefan
Kaelin Ski & Golf, in
Dec. 2007.
And it snowed!
Dolle Keynotes 46

Drumming Videos on YouTube
 Full Moon Drum Circle 2007 (Laguna)
 Bowers Museum 2008 (Santa Ana)
Related General Interest Videos:
 2008 Drummers Beijing Olympics
Dolle Keynotes 47

Property of: DOLLE COMMUNICATIONS
Unauthorized Use or Reproduction is Strictly Prohibited
Presentation by:
Stephen Dolle
DOLLE COMMUNICATIONS
March 2009
Thank you…
www.DolleCommunications.com
Newport Beach, CA
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