"Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" Book + CD $18.
A free 78 minute facilitated drum circle jam CD is included with purchase.
The book is also available on Amazon.com (The free CD isn't included.)
ISBN 10: 0615274102 or ISBN 13: 9780615274102
My late father wrote over a dozen books. I guess I got some of that ink on me. My favorite is "Great Lakes Shipwrecks
& Survivals". It's a great read, and still in print. He inspired me to write my first book. I hope I made him proud.
Mine was published February 2009. My wife painted the drum circle watercolor artwork on the book cover.
This 6" x 9" paperback book is 300 pages of text, jammed with practical information, including suggestions, and ideas
for people who love hand drumming, are interested in starting up a drum circle, or a drumming program for their group.
The focus is on sharing as much information about hand drumming as possible. Like six different ways to quickly jot down
drum rhythm notations. I include a few dozen written drum rhythm notations, and lots more that are written vocalizations.
There is also my sample set list of various rhythms I use for a 90 minute facilitated drum circle. It's sort of an outline
that I use and then improvise from as needed. It gives you an easy to follow guideline for almost any form of drum circle.
I cover facilitated, specialty, hosted drum circles, rhythmic drumming events & programs for all ages. I also include two
chapters on open freestyle community drum circles, which are often misunderstood or even misrepresented. They are
discussed in great detail. Everything from having a rockin' drum circle - to a healing drum circle, plus the many
different ways to approach them. I cover a wide variety of topics & questions I frequently get asked. For example:
How do I start up a drum circle? What kind of drum(s) should I get? How should I approach working with this group,
or that group? And many other hand drumming, or drum circle related topics. Here's the Table Of Contents:
Chapter 1 - Prelude to Drum Circles
Chapter 2 - Preparations for A Drum Circle
Chapter 3 - My Set List & Writing Drum Rhythm Notations
Chapter 4 - What Kind of Drum(s) Should I Get?
Chapter 5 - Learning Drumming and Music
Chapter 6 - Open Freestyle Community Drum Circles
Chapter 7 - My Hosting & Facilitation Style
Chapter 8 - Starting A Public Drum Circle – Clubs, Cafés, Corporate, & Publicizing it
Chapter 9 - Drumming With Kids
Chapter 10 - Special Needs Drum Circles & Elders
Chapter 11 - At Risk Teens & Adults in Prisons
Chapter 12 - Drum Circles in Churches, Spiritual Gatherings, & Weddings
Chapter 13 - Drumming With Injuries & the Elements
Chapter 14 - Working as a Performing Artist
Chapter 15 - Those Big Name Facilitators
Chapter 16 - Some History on Hand Drums
Chapter 17 - The Schumann Resonance, the Golden Ratio, & Healing Drum Circles
Chapter 18 - Politics - Save the wailing drum circles!
Chapter 19 - Humor, Stats, Insurance, & Fees
Chapter 20 - Summary
Whether you can only use a few musician pointers, or if you are someone who wants to get a weekly drum circle started,
this read will help you along. I discuss how to go about building a drumming program in many specialty areas such as:
Drumming with special needs groups, health and wellness. Drumming with children, teens, adults, elders, and mixed
age groups. Drum circles in night clubs, cafe’s, at businesses, corporations, and events. Drum circles with at risk
populations, spiritual gatherings, churches, and community events. Practical ideas for music directors, educational
teachers, music therapists, medical professionals, children's groups, and lots more.
Even if you are just someone who just wants to get a drum circle going at the beach or at a public park, this read
will give you plenty of ideas how to get it started up, or improve the one you currently have going. I talk about
building drum circles in various places, how to promote them, and keep them going strong.
I also cover the business side of drum circles. Are you wanting to start one just for fun? Or only cover your expenses?
Want to earn a full time living from it? I cover all that, and lots more. I hope to help you along your drumming journey.
Hand drumming and drum circles enriched my life, and I think it will for you as well. I hope you can benefit from some
of the things I've done right, as well as the things I’ve done wrong. It doesn't matter if you are new to hand drumming,
have been drumming for a while, or you are a professional musician, this book is jammed with good information on getting
more enjoyment out of hand drumming, and from drum circles. The proceeds from it help me to fund work in our community.
Just trying to put some good out there in the world. You are buying direct from the author. (me) Thanks for helping out.
I'm happy to answer any follow up questions you may have after you read it, or brainstorm a little with you.
Call it a sort of a hand drumming, drum circle tech support. LoL
Please let me know if you would like your copy personally autographed to you, or someone else. It's my pleasure to do so.
(A few buyer comments:)
Thanks for your most honest and enlightening drum circle book. I could not put it down. Your opinions on hosting
drum circles were so wonderful and refreshing. Your book promises to become a classic, reading it has been
gratifying, and it confirms opinions we have all felt here. The things our group is doing are exactly in
line with your book, which gives us confidence we are on the right track. It was the best thing I could
have done to get ready for this kind-of-scarey journey into doing something new. -- Marshall H.
When you think about it, it comes as no surprise that the drum is mankind's oldest musical instrument. You can
readily see from S.L. Ratigan's Practical Guide to Hand Drumming that we're actually not that far removed from
ancestors who sat around rapping out sounds eons ago. This is just some of the information in this very well
crafted book, which covers the spectrum of drumming, ranging from technical notation to how to tailor a drum
circle to meet the needs of differing groups. It contains a wealth of information, told in a relaxed,
entertaining manner. No baloney. Should be the definitive work on the subject.
-- Larry Smith - Parade Magazine Managing Editor (Ret.)
I started your book by the "Analyze This" approach from front to back, and back to front. I couldn't read it fast
enough, it really turned me on. I found it to be so inclusive and helpful. I highlighted at least half the text!
-- Music teacher, Regina R.
Your practical guide is a treasure. Experience Wisdom and Love are given in a very simple way...
making Drum Circles approachable to all. Thank You. -- Nikolas P.
I read your wonderful book, not because I want to facilitate a drum circle, but because I wanted to know if it was
true that there are no protocols to be aware of in a drum circle as everyone has told me. I suspected that there were
some basic "band rules" which might be the difference between making a real contribution or actually detracting
from the music making, even in what appears to be a spontaneous setting. Your book revealed and confirmed some
basic protocols which are simple to follow and good to know. Thank you for that, it was very helpful, & thanks
for moving the drum circle movement forward in a thoughtful and sensitive way. -- Rich and Natalie R.
I was looking for a book on drum circles that was not all psycho-babble. I want to be able to create my own
unique style and not follow someone else's formula. This book was the answer for me. It provided a ton of
information without ever hinting that one way was the only way. Just gave me the tools I needed, plus lots
of suggestions on things I hadn't even thought of. Plus, the writing style is so upbeat that it was actually
fun to read. I can't wait to start implementing some of his ideas. -- Marti F.
Just a brief note to thank you for the wonderful book you have written. I am very new to drumming and will
probably never host or facilitate a drum circle, but all the knowledge and personal experiences you share
in the book are outstanding, informative and entertaining. Thank you! -- George S.
I recommended your book to my friend Deborah G. She praised it so much, I want one for myself. I've been doing
drum circles for a while now. I'm always hungry for someone else's ideas. It's so easy for me to get so into
what I'm doing that I forget to learn. Thanks for writing a wonderful resource, and for all of the hard work
that went into it! You rock! -- Martin R.
The Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles price is $17.95 + USPS Priority Mail Shipping.
It is wrapped with kindness and sent with a tracking number anywhere in the USA. The total is $23.75 to your door.
I also ship to Canada for the same price, via USPS 1st Class Mail. (No tracking numbers to Canada.) Please use the
Paypal button below to order.(For shipping to all other countries, please use the Paypal button below this one.)
I confirm via email that I recieved your payment, and I ship orders out in 3 working days, with tracking.
If you'd prefer to purchase the book by money order or cashiers check, please email me for the address.
I can also ship via USPS Media Mail (USA Only) for $2 less. (It's slower, 7 - 10 days. Scroll down for that.)
For shipping the book to all other countries, please use this Paypal button. It is $6 more.
FaceBook page with a bit more information & some reader comments. You can scroll through them.
Drum Circle Lover's Package Deal - $40 Including Shipping:
1. The drum circle book, "A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles"
2. The two hour rhythms DVD, "101 Drum Circle Rhythms For The Hand Drum"
3. The live drum circle CD, "Clearwater Drum Circle" (70 minutes)
4. The facilitated drum circle CD by drumcircles.net, (78 minutes)
The total for all 4 items is $40. Shipping, and a tracking number are included in the price.
This package will keep you in the groove for a long time. Please use the below button for this.
Please use this Paypal link for shipping the package to all other countries, it is $6 extra.
To Order The "Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" Book - Via Media mail:
Anywhere in the USA via USPS Media Mail, (Slower) The price is $17.95 + $3.55 Shipping.
It is sent with a tracking number also. (USA Only) The total to your door is: $21.50
If there is another combination of my drum circle items that you would like, please email me.
For orders by check, (USA only) or to email me with any questions:
For more info on the $15 "101 Drum Circle Rhythms" 2 hour DVD, Or the rhythms on 2 CD's for $10:
101 Drum Circle Rhythms DVD - Full Description Page
This FaceBook page of mine has a variety of notated drum circle rhythms on it. You can scroll through them,
and check a few out without having to go to the site, or join as a fan. (But I would appreciate it!)
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