You may have heard about various approaches to mental health – from talking therapy to medication to meditation. But there’s a powerful, ancient practice that’s gaining recognition in modern science: drumming. Research shows that drumming can profoundly impact our mental health, emotional wellbeing, and sense of connection to others.
I first discovered the therapeutic power of drumming through my own experimenting with drumming. What started as an experimental approach quickly revealed itself as a transformative tool for healing. When I started including drumming in my healing and mentoring work , within just a few sessions, I observed changes in people that sometimes months of therapy hadn’t achieved.
The Science Behind the Beat
When you drum (or participate in a drum circle), something remarkable happens in your brain and body. Studies have shown that just 20 minutes of group drumming can significantly lower stress and anxiety levels. The rhythmic percussion creates a form of brain entrainment – where our brainwaves literally sync with the drum’s rhythm, leading to deeper states of relaxation and awareness. This synchronisation helps rewire neural pathways, enhancing neuroplasticity – your brain’s ability to form new connections and adapt. It is literally changing your brain.
But it goes beyond just relaxation. Research has demonstrated that drumming can:
- Reduce depression and anxiety
- Improve overall mental wellbeing
- Boost self-esteem and motivation
- Help in addiction recovery
- Create deeper social connections
What’s particularly fascinating is how drumming helps people process emotions that are difficult to express in words. Many participants report being able to “drum out” their anger, sadness, or frustration in a safe, contained way. It’s as if the drum becomes an extension of their emotional voice.
I collected most of the evidence and wrote it for my upcoming book about drumming and women (to be published in September 2025). There is so much research about the positive effects of drumming on the mind and body, that I had to write not one but two whole chapters about it.
If you want to read a paper that explains the effects on mental health really well, read Drumming Through a Polyvagal Lens by Simon Faulkner.
The Power of Community Rhythm
While individual drumming is powerful, group drumming adds another dimension entirely. Studies have shown that when people drum together, it activates parts of the brain associated with empathy and understanding others’ emotions. This explains why after a group drumming session, participants often report feeling more connected and understanding of each other, even if they started as strangers.
In one particularly moving study, researchers found that people drumming in pairs had higher activation in the right temporoparietal junction – a brain region crucial for empathy and social connection – compared to when they were just talking to each other.
This breakthrough has become permanent for me – when I feel overwhelmed, weak or numb, especially in therapy, I take off my socks, connect to the ground and stand up, remembering the feeling of rising power. My therapist says there has been a huge change in me within the few short months that I have been drumming, which I feel too: more unity within myself, a sense of my own power, a sense of belonging with others and more capacity for joy. Anna, describing what the sense of rising power she experienced after her first drum circle session.
How to Start Your Drumming Journey
You don’t need any musical experience to benefit from drumming. Here’s how you can begin:
- Join a Drum Circle: Many communities have regular drum circles that welcome beginners. These provide a supportive environment to learn and experience group drumming.
- Individual Practice: Even a simple frame drum and 5 minutes a day can create positive changes surprisingly quickly. Start with simple, heartbeat-like rhythms and let your intuition guide you.
- Therapeutic Drumming: Look for facilitators who offer drumming for mental health and wellbeing.
Creating a Small, Regular Practice, ie Drum Microdosing
What it can be used for:
- Mental health/wellbeing
- Anxiety
- Overwhelm
- Regulate your nervous system
- Feeling stuck
- Overcome procrastination
- Navigating change/challenging time
- Increase your creativity
- Increase your ability to focus
And much more
To make the most of your drumming practice:
- Set aside dedicated time in a quiet space
- Begin with an overarching intention for a course of 4 to 6 weeks, and one for each daily session
- Allow yourself to express whatever emotions arise
- Stay present with the rhythm and your body’s response
- End with a moment of reflection, either silently, or in writing
Beyond Traditional Therapy
What makes drumming particularly valuable in mental health is its holistic nature. Unlike traditional talking therapy, drumming engages the body, mind, and spirit simultaneously. It bypasses the analytical mind and speaks directly to our emotional and physical selves.
As one participant in a drumming program shared: One of my key struggles has been a lack of self-belief, doubts about my worthiness and the value of my being. The drumming practice helps me break through self-limiting ideas, uncover challenges and find the courage to express myself more freely. Philippe.
Conclusion
In our increasingly disconnected and mentally challenging world, drumming offers a path back to ourselves and each other. It’s not just about making music – it’s about creating a space for healing, connection, and transformation. Whether you’re dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, feeling stuck, or simply seeking a deeper sense of wellbeing, drumming might be the medicine you never knew you needed.
If you’d like to explore drumming for mental health:
- Individual Sessions: One-on-one drum mentoring sessions combining rhythm work with therapeutic guidance
- Drum Microdosing Group programme : A 4 week group, meeting online weekly, to hold space and accountability to develop a regular drumming practice, exploring different aspects of drumming for emotional wellbeing. Message me to register your interest.
- Monthly Drum Circle: Join our monthly drum circle near Cambridge, UK.
- Free Drum Microdosing Masterclass: Wednesday the 26th of February at 8pm London time
Remember, the simplest rhythmic practice can create the most profound change. Your healing journey might begin with that first beat.
