Lyz Cooper of the British Academy of Sound Therapy shares her techniques and opinion of the power of working with the drum as an effective tool for helping to improve health and wellbeing as well as being fun!

1. Drum TherapyDrum Therapy
An ancient and powerful tool forAn ancient and powerful tool for
helping to improve health andhelping to improve health and
wellbeingwellbeing

2. Developed by Lyz CooperDeveloped by Lyz Cooper
The drum is thought to be one of the most ancientThe drum is thought to be one of the most ancient
instruments.instruments.
It was believed that the earliest drums were made fromIt was believed that the earliest drums were made from
fallen tree trunks and there is evidence that Australianfallen tree trunks and there is evidence that Australian
Neolithic inhabitants played porous rock which wouldNeolithic inhabitants played porous rock which would
have resonated when struck.have resonated when struck.
Hand made drums have been discovered in almost everyHand made drums have been discovered in almost every
part of the world, the oldest being from around 6000 BC.part of the world, the oldest being from around 6000 BC.

3. Lyz drumming during aceremony at StonehengeLyz drumming during aceremony at Stonehenge
Since time began we have been governed and moved bySince time began we have been governed and moved by
rhythm.rhythm.
From the sound of our mother’s heartbeat when we wereFrom the sound of our mother’s heartbeat when we were
in the womb, to the rhythm of the tide, the moon and thein the womb, to the rhythm of the tide, the moon and the
heavenly bodies, we all move to the rhythm of life.heavenly bodies, we all move to the rhythm of life.
The rhythm of the drum touches something deep withinThe rhythm of the drum touches something deep within
us, making it a powerful tool for healing andus, making it a powerful tool for healing and
transformation.transformation.

4. First cut theskin leaving enough to wrap overFirst cut theskin leaving enough to wrap over
theframetheframe
When you hear a prolonged drum beat you automaticallyWhen you hear a prolonged drum beat you automatically
entrain to its rhythm.entrain to its rhythm.
Drumming synchronizes the left and right hemispheresDrumming synchronizes the left and right hemispheres
of the brain, entrains the brainwaves and heart rate andof the brain, entrains the brainwaves and heart rate and
balances the energy system.balances the energy system.
Research has shown that drumming in a certain wayResearch has shown that drumming in a certain way
increases the amount of natural killer cells in the body,increases the amount of natural killer cells in the body,
therefore drumming boosts the immune system.therefore drumming boosts the immune system.
Drumming also reduces stress and anxiety.Drumming also reduces stress and anxiety.

5. Makeholesaround thecircumferenceof theskinMakeholesaround thecircumferenceof theskin
Making your own therapeutic drum is an empoweringMaking your own therapeutic drum is an empowering
and magical experience. Making your drum from the skinand magical experience. Making your drum from the skin
of an animal allows the spirit and energy of the animal toof an animal allows the spirit and energy of the animal to
live on through your rhythm.live on through your rhythm.
You may like to make a drum out of the skin of an animalYou may like to make a drum out of the skin of an animal
that has qualities that you would like to embody such asthat has qualities that you would like to embody such as
Deer, Elk, Goat or Buffalo.Deer, Elk, Goat or Buffalo.
It is important to honour the animal with prayers and/orIt is important to honour the animal with prayers and/or
ceremonyceremony..

6. Then moving in aclockwisedirection, criss-crossthelaces,Then moving in aclockwisedirection, criss-crossthelaces,
attaching thedrum skin to theframe.attaching thedrum skin to theframe.
Once you have a drum you can begin treating yourselfOnce you have a drum you can begin treating yourself
with rhythm or you can visit a drum therapist.with rhythm or you can visit a drum therapist.
Through the principle of entrainment, you can easilyThrough the principle of entrainment, you can easily
alter the rhythm of your energy system by playingalter the rhythm of your energy system by playing
your drum (or hearing a drum being played) for ayour drum (or hearing a drum being played) for a
minimum of five minutes.minimum of five minutes.
Over time, your system will gently re-adjust, allowingOver time, your system will gently re-adjust, allowing
you to return to your optimum way of being.you to return to your optimum way of being.

7. When finished you will havecreated something that lookslikeWhen finished you will havecreated something that lookslike
abicyclewheelabicyclewheel
Different symptoms have different rhythm signatures. IfDifferent symptoms have different rhythm signatures. If
you are stressed you will be in a faster rhythm than whenyou are stressed you will be in a faster rhythm than when
you are relaxed, for example.you are relaxed, for example.
We all have a natural rhythm. If the rhythm of your life isWe all have a natural rhythm. If the rhythm of your life is
out of alignment with your true rhythm long-termout of alignment with your true rhythm long-term
exposure could cause imbalance in the system.exposure could cause imbalance in the system.
If you are constantly in a faster rhythm, your system willIf you are constantly in a faster rhythm, your system will
become out of balance which could result in dis-ease.become out of balance which could result in dis-ease.

8. Makeahandleby gathering thespokesof thewheelMakeahandleby gathering thespokesof thewheel
together and binding them with lacesmadefrom skin.together and binding them with lacesmadefrom skin.
Try it for yourself. March around like a soldier and feelTry it for yourself. March around like a soldier and feel
the two-time rhythm in your body.the two-time rhythm in your body.
Really get into the one-two-one-two pacing of this rhythmReally get into the one-two-one-two pacing of this rhythm
and feel it on all levels of being as your energy interactsand feel it on all levels of being as your energy interacts
with the feeling of this rhythm. How does it feel?with the feeling of this rhythm. How does it feel?
People often use words likePeople often use words like “masculine”, “logical”,“masculine”, “logical”,
“dynamic”, “strong”, “matter of fact”, “faster”“dynamic”, “strong”, “matter of fact”, “faster” and evenand even
“aggressive”“aggressive” to describe this rhythm.to describe this rhythm.

9. You arethen ready to work with rhythm to help improvehealthYou arethen ready to work with rhythm to help improvehealth
and wellbeing.and wellbeing.
Now try a waltzing, one-two-three rhythm.Now try a waltzing, one-two-three rhythm.
Really feel this in the body as you move around theReally feel this in the body as you move around the
room.room.
Some say that this rhythm isSome say that this rhythm is “feminine”, “softer”,“feminine”, “softer”,
“musical”, “peaceful”, “joyful”“musical”, “peaceful”, “joyful” andand “flowing”“flowing”..
As with everything in life we require a balance of bothAs with everything in life we require a balance of both
rhythm states to be in optimum health but you may findrhythm states to be in optimum health but you may find
you have a tendency towards one rhythm over another.you have a tendency towards one rhythm over another.

10. BAST drum therapy studentsproudly displaying their drumsBAST drum therapy studentsproudly displaying their drums
Ask yourself which rhythm you felt most comfortableAsk yourself which rhythm you felt most comfortable
with.with.
Did you resonate with one rhythm more than the other?Did you resonate with one rhythm more than the other?
Which rhythm are you “in” most of the day? Is thisWhich rhythm are you “in” most of the day? Is this
rhythm the same as the one you resonated mostly with,rhythm the same as the one you resonated mostly with,
or is it different?or is it different?
If it is different do you feel that this is having an adverseIf it is different do you feel that this is having an adverse
effect on you?effect on you?

11. Thereisnothing quitelikeexperiencing adrum therapyThereisnothing quitelikeexperiencing adrum therapy
treatment.treatment.
The drum is a very important part of my sound therapy kitThe drum is a very important part of my sound therapy kit
and it has produced some amazing results with myand it has produced some amazing results with my
clients, some of whom have been suffering from long-clients, some of whom have been suffering from long-
term and even chronic dis-ease.term and even chronic dis-ease.
The sound-waves of the drum gently massage the body,The sound-waves of the drum gently massage the body,
making drum therapy one of the more physical ofmaking drum therapy one of the more physical of
treatments, making it excellent for pain, stress andtreatments, making it excellent for pain, stress and
tension.tension.
The repetitive beats gradually relax the body, soothingThe repetitive beats gradually relax the body, soothing
the physical level and calming the mind.the physical level and calming the mind.

12. A drum journey isapowerful experienceA drum journey isapowerful experience
The repetition of the rhythm entrains the brainwaves.The repetition of the rhythm entrains the brainwaves.
During a drum journey the therapist plays a rhythmDuring a drum journey the therapist plays a rhythm
which is approximately four beats per second.which is approximately four beats per second.
This allows you to slip into Alpha. This tempo induces aThis allows you to slip into Alpha. This tempo induces a
relaxed state of being.relaxed state of being.
A typical drum journey lasts a minimum of twentyA typical drum journey lasts a minimum of twenty
minutes, during which time you may have journeyed tominutes, during which time you may have journeyed to
other realms.other realms.

13. Participantsof a‘Moondrummers’ workshopParticipantsof a‘Moondrummers’ workshop
If you are drawn to working with rhythm, thereIf you are drawn to working with rhythm, there
are many things you can do.are many things you can do.
You can make your own drumYou can make your own drum
You can join a drum circleYou can join a drum circle
You can take part in a workshop such asYou can take part in a workshop such as
‘Moondrummers’, ‘The Spirit of the Drum’ or‘Moondrummers’, ‘The Spirit of the Drum’ or
‘Sonic Alignment’‘Sonic Alignment’
You can train to be a drum therapist with TheYou can train to be a drum therapist with The
British Academy of Sound Therapy.British Academy of Sound Therapy.

14. I hope you enjoyed this presentation.I hope you enjoyed this presentation.
If you have any questions about drum therapy,If you have any questions about drum therapy,
sound therapy, drum making or anysound therapy, drum making or any
other aspect of working with the drum you canother aspect of working with the drum you can
email me at mail@healthysound.comemail me at mail@healthysound.com
or visit www.healthysound.comor visit www.healthysound.com
share your rhythm!share your rhythm!
Lyz CooperLyz Cooper