Music Therapy

“...then aha! There came that moment, that transformative time while I was standing outside of the circle listening; It became about the music. It was no longer music therapist and patients, no longer techniques, no longer about me and them, it was about the music...”

—Heather Hodorowski,
Music Therapist

Village Music Circles™ Trainings and Playshops provide Music Therapists with the techniques and the skill to utilize rhythm and Drum Circle Facilitation as a tool for assessment, treatment and evaluation of health and wellness outcomes in diverse populations where music therapy is applied.

Read about an MT’s experience using VMC facilitation below.

Village Music Circles offers an interactive experiential approach to Music Therapy using the whole person in a community context. Music Therapists trained to use the Village Music Circles techniques developed by Arthur Hull will discover a unique experience that utilizes the Music Therapy scope of practice and can be applied to all Music Therapy populations regardless of size, composition or demographics.

Village Music Circles™ Trainings and Playshops provide Music Therapists with skills in Rhythm and Facilitation techniques, program implementation and evaluation skills that includes:

  • Practice in basic rhythm and percussion skills;
  • Utilization of pitch dynamics, timbre discrimination & tempo  variations;
  • Exploration using a variety of musical styles, forms and instruments;
  • Musical and theater improvisation;
  • Body-music, vocals and group drumming activities;
  • Development of verbal and non-verbal communication skills;
  • Creative strategies for community building in your population;
  • Assessment tools for skills evaluation.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the VMC trainings Music Therapists will be able to:

  • Lead a rhythm experience integrating melody, improv and movement;
  • Provide explorations for non-competitive musical self-expression;
  • Inspire self-expression using a variety of rhythm instruments.
  • Enhance learner creativity and learning;
  • Utilize rhythm to motivate and communicate;
  • Inspire self and community awareness through playing music together.

Heather's Experience  

“I have had the opportunity to do drumming and percussion interventions multiple times in my music therapy practice but have never had the chance to do a true Arthurian circle. Having just returned from my first Hawaii Playshop I wanted to incorporate this learning into my clinical practice and see what happened.

I am like a kid in a candy store right now thinking about what I was able to offer my patients today.

I facilitated a small circle of 6-7 male patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit. I had my MT intern in the group to provide a steady beat and multiple other staff members to provide a good balance of instruments. Although small we were able to have a fair balance of drums, woods, and shakers.

It of course was very easy to see and hear what didn't work - if you don't telescope the accent beats you want them to play they don't play them - if you are too complex with the call and response beats it doesn't work, hmmmm - KISS Heather KISS!!!!  (keep it simple!)

I found myself GOOW (get out of the way) quite often just to listen to them and hear what was happening in the  music. Then aha - there came that moment, that transformative time while I was standing outside of the circle listening it became about the music. It was no longer music therapist and patients, no longer techniques, no longer about me and them, it was about the music……….”

—Heather Hodorowski, Music Therapist, Chicago, IL