Why drumming = facilitation

I’m trying to find my niche

1. At their best, drummers and facilitators provide the structure upon which everything else can flourish and everyone else in the room can be their best selves.
2. You shouldn’t notice them much if they are doing a good job. You would notice if they weren’t.
3. That said, their choices are not neutral. They have the power to change the direction and tone of the whole piece.
4. Some work best to an exact plan. Some love to jam and improvise. The best can do both.
5. They know the importance of tempo. Some occasions need a slow, meandering groove. Some need a burst of energy.
6. They play with dynamics. They recognise beauty in both a crescendo of voices and noises, and in quiet reflection or even silence.
7. They can be versatile in style but tend to have a favourite trick up their sleeve.
8. They love spotting, creating and having fun with patterns.
9. They seek a balance between simplicity and creativity.
10. A love of hats. Hi-hats and thinking hats.
11. When everyone else goes home, they have a lot to pack up.

What have I missed?

Oh yes…

12. An appreciation of easily divisible numbers.

I even wear the same thing when facilitating and drumming. Photo taken at Sunday Assembly London’s Yule Rock in 2019. Tickets available for the 2021 edition on December 17th here.

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I spoke about my relationship with drumming, from hitting pots and pans as a toddler to playing at Wilderness Festival 2021 at Sunday Assembly London on October 17th.

Sunday Assembly is a secular congregation that celebrates life. I’ve been playing drums for for over four years.

(You can also watch me play four songs with the band, including ‘Conga’ by Gloria Estefan right at the end, which was pure joy to perform.)

Meanwhile, I wrote about facilitation in this Facilitator’s Handbook for Active Gloucestershire.