Composite Effects of Group Drumming Music Therapy on Modulation of Neuroendocrine-Immune Parameters in Normal Subjects (2001) Journal of Alternative Therapy. Jan, 2001. p. 38 - 47. Bittman BB, Berk LS, Felten DL, Westengard J, Simonton OD, Pappas J, Ninehouser M
-Natural Killer NK cell activity was boosted in subjects who drummed compared to controls.
-Natural Killer cell activity stimulated by Cytokines (Interleukin II and Gamma Interferon -Helper (Th1) cells) was boosted in subjects who drummed compared to controls.
-Drumming changed cellular biology and reversed the stress response.
Christine Stevens, MSW, MT- BC, James Westengard, Paul O Umbach, MA
2. Drumming Reduces Employee Burnout
Recreational Music - Making: A Cost- Effective Group Interdisciplinary Strategy for Reducing Burnout and Improving Mood States in Long-Term Care Workers (2003) Advances in Mind- Body Medicine. Fall/Winter, 2003. p.4-15. Bittman MD, Karl T. Bruhn,
Christine Stevens, MSW, MT- BC, James Westengard, Paul O Umbach, MA
-N=112 employees in Long Term Care. Interdisciplinary teams drumming once a week for one hour for a 6-week series.
-Significantly decreased burnout on Maslac Burnout Scale.
-Improved employee mood states by 46% on POMS Profile of Mood States –sustained effect of 62% six weeks post intervention.
saved $89,000 for typical 100-bed medical facility through employee retention and reduced turnover.
-Economic Impact
saved $89,000 for typical 100-bed medical facility through employee retention and reduced turnover.
1.46 billion.
-Total annual savings to the industry based on an 18.3% decrease in turnover at every long- term care facility is therefore projected at
1.46 billion.
3. Group Drumming Improves Social-Emotional Skills for At-Risk Youth.
Creative Musical Expression as a Catalyst for Quality of life Improvement in Inner-city Adolescents Placed in a Court-referred Residential Treatment Program (Bittman, et al) ADVANCES Spring 2009,VOL. 24, NO. 1 Creative Musical Expression - Adapted HealthRHYTHMS™ program
-N = 52 ages 12 to 18. Pre/Post test matched controls.
-Improved scores in school/work role performance, total depression, anhedonia/negative affect, negative self-evaluation, and instrumental anger.
-Extended impact -improvements 6 weeks after completion of the protocol
4. Beat the Odds –Drumming Builds Social and Emotional Skills for Middle School Students. The Impact of Group Drumming on Social-Emotional Behavior in Low- Income Children, Evidence - based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM), July, 2010.
5. RAS – Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation and the Motor System Front Psychol. 2014; 5: 1185. Thaut, Neurobiological foundations of neurologic music therapy: rhythmic entrainment and the motor system
6. Trust, Kindness and Cooperation in 14 Month - Old Infants Social Effects of Movement Synchrony: Increased Infant Helpfulness only Transfers to Affiliates of Synchronously Moving Partners, Cirelli, LK, Wan, SJ, and Trainor, LJ (2016). Infancy, DOI 0.1111/infa.12140, 1-15
7. Social –Emotional Skills with R2R, Rhythm to Recovery
-Bartleet et al, 2017 -Drumming & Cognitive Therapy combination reduces psychological distress & increases resilience in prisoners. Performing arts in prisons, Griffith University Press
-Wood & Faulkner, 2014. Reach me & You can teach me -Engagement and social learning through hand drumming Journal of Relational Child & Youth Care Practice, 27,1 p18-26
-Wood et al, 2013 -To the beat of a different drum - improving the social and mental wellbeing of at risk youth with drumming. Journal of Public Mental Health, 12,2 p70-79
-Faulkner, Wood, Ivery & Donavon, 2012. It is not just music & rhythm -Evaluation of a drumming based program to improve the social wellbeing of alienated youth. Children Australia, 37,1, p31-39
-Faulkner, Ivery, Wood & Donovan, 2010. Music as a tool for social learning and improved educational outcomes. Australian journal of Indigenous education, 39 p98-108
8.. Drum Circles for Conflict Resolution and Peace- Building Music as a Global Resource: Solutions for Social and Economic Issues, Compendium– 3rd Ed, (2011), United Nations, Stevens & Witter, Drum Circle, Training for Conflict Resolution and Peace Building http://unpan1.un.org/intradoc/groups/public/documents/un-dpadm/unpan048664.pdf