Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A M A G A Z I N E • S P R I N G 2 0 2 0 34 "There's a common thread of deep loss," said Marsolek of the campers. "But they come to feel acceptance in the community formed at the camp." Seniors, especially those suffering from Alzheimer's and demen- tia, also benefit from taking part in drum circles. Marsolek regularly facilitates circles at places like the Missoula Senior Center and Mem- ory Café at the Missoula Public Library. "I was almost moved to tears," said Marsolek in recalling a recent circle with seniors. "Some people could barely touch the drums because of arthritis, but they all ended up playing the same pattern by the end." Drum circles are also increasingly being used as an engaging team-building activity for corporations and organizations. Marsolek was once asked to lead a drum circle for some 200 employees from Providence Health Care in Spokane. The idea was to give the gift of rhythm and fellowship to the employees. All variety of staff partici- pated, from janitors all the way up to the CEO. "There's an equality that happens since no one knows how to drum in the beginning," said Marsolek. "There's an egalitarian nature of the circle. Everyone is equal in the circle. Everyone feels equally vulnerable." In addition to circles, Marsolek and the Drum Brothers also facilitate drum building workshops. During one especially memorable workshop in 2001, Marsolek was brought to a four-room schoolhouse in Bynum, Montana near Choteau to build drums with the students. Before assem- bling, local ranchers branded the shell of the drums with their family brands, leaving a true Montana mark on the drum circle tradition. For McDaniel, drumming became the cure he didn't realize he was looking for. McDaniel shared that he has long struggled with depression and anxiety. He took up drumming as a kid, and through playing music in different bands over the years, started realizing that music was the one thing that always made him feel better. "I knew I had a release…I knew I had a cure," said McDaniel. Wanting to help others work through their negative emotions and make room for positive change in their lives, he started teaching a drum guided meditation class at The Yoga Center in Butte. He first called the class "Drumming through Depression," but it later evolved into "Drumming with Intention." The class concept was an innova- tive creation of McDaniel's and has had powerful results for participants. Using mostly goblet-shaped djembe drums, McDaniel's class com- bines breathing, drumming, visualizations, and positive affirmations to "clean out the negative stuff you've been carrying around and don't know how to get rid of," he said. McDaniel opens the class with a simple rhythm while simulta- neously encouraging deep breathing to usher in feelings of peace. Once everyone is synchronized, he moves to the West African Kuku rhythm, which was traditionally performed by women to celebrate their return from fishing. He uses the rhythm to encourage students to gather positive changes to their lives. The West African rhythm called Fanga comes next as drummers welcome the new changes. As an army veteran who served as a radioman, McDaniel shared that he also incorporates Morse code phrases into the class. Largely attended by women, McDaniel describes his class as "drumming from the inside out." Participants work through and emp- ty themselves of whatever issues they walked through the door with so they can better make room for solutions. "It [drumming] won't give you all the answers," explained McDan- iel. "But questions will come up and then you will be on your quest." Marsolek and McDaniel are just two drum circle facilitators among many in Montana who are, beat by beat, rhythm by rhythm, introducing and spreading the transformative and connective power found in community drum circles. After two decades of being involved with drum circles, Marsolek says that it is still his "passion." "The more you study this, the more you find that you can't think of anything else," said Marsolek. "It's so interesting that the acceptance and interest in drumming continues to grow. It's so gratifying." Even if he wasn't teaching his drum-guided meditation class, McDaniel admits that he'd still be drumming. "Drumming helps me get back to default mode," said McDaniel. "It enables me to gather my strength and start again."

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