Become a Remo endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator

[James]

Become a Remo endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator

[michi]

Bloody awesome, can't wait to sign up! Simply by attending a two-day course, I'll be able to "create and market integrated group drumming healthcare programs in my community." Even better, "No prior musical experience is necessary. You do not have to be a healthcare professional, musician or a drummer to attend this program."

Simply amazing that I can learn everything I need to know to run a "drumming healthcare program" in a single weekend, without knowing anything about either drumming or healthcare. Who would have thought it possible?

Michi.

[freefeet]

I agree Michi. Just a nasty marketing exercise for their new drums.

I don't go much on the colour scheme of their HealthRHYTHMS collection either...

http://www.remo.com/portal/pages/hr/lea ... tions.html

It's enough to make you ill!

[michi]

A bit of background information on on Barry Bittman, who developed the program. It is worth noting that his study was paid for by Remo.

I cannot find any trace of the Alternative Therapies journal mentioned in the article.

Michi.

[freefeet]

http://www.alternative-therapies.com/

From... http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-man ... ces-stress

(just click on the page somewhere to clear that annoying advert)

I like this bit...

How to Start Using Music for Stress Reduction

What’s the best way for the not-so-musically-inclined to get in the swing? Barry Bittman, MD, has some pointers:

Don’t pick up a guitar. Mastering basic finger technique takes too long, Bittman says. Your goal is to enjoy the experience here and now. It’s important to choose an instrument that doesn’t require tons of technique to sound good. He suggests digital keyboards that let you make pleasant sounds just by pressing keys. Or just bang on a can.

So why buy an expensive set of Remo's when Barry himself says you can get the same thing by just banging on a can.

[michi]

http://www.alternative-therapies.com/

Ah, thanks!

How to Start Using Music for Stress Reduction

What’s the best way for the not-so-musically-inclined to get in the swing? Barry Bittman, MD, has some pointers:

Don’t pick up a guitar. Mastering basic finger technique takes too long, Bittman says. Your goal is to enjoy the experience here and now. It’s important to choose an instrument that doesn’t require tons of technique to sound good. He suggests digital keyboards that let you make pleasant sounds just by pressing keys. Or just bang on a can.

Good advice, actually. I have no doubt that drumming is good for people and that it can help reduce stress. I also believe that reducing stress may well have other flow-on benefits on general health.

I do have a problem with a study that is financed by a company, where the main author of the study develops a program for said company that then is used to sell the company's products, with the company using the said author's study to lend credibility to the marketing of its products. This has "conflict of interest" written all over it. (BTW, this sort of thing is highly frowned upon in the scientific community. The recent Andrew Wakefield episode is a case in point. Sadly, it took far too long for Wakefield to lose his license.)

So why buy an expensive set of Remo's when Barry himself says you can get the same thing by just banging on a can.

Good question, indeed.

Cheers,

Michi.

[freefeet]

I have no doubt that drumming is good for people and that it can help reduce stress. I also believe that reducing stress may well have other flow-on benefits on general health.

Absolutely. I was still coming to terms with some really bad mental health and drug problems years ago when i started playing djembe. It made a massive difference to me, not just banging out the stresses and frustrations i used to get rapped up in as i left my drug world behind, but also the wonderful social aspect of joining together with others and simply having lots of fun while learning to function in sobriety.

Probably why i find this whole Remo thing so sickening. It's nothing but exploitation of people's health problems for their own profits.

[e2c]

http://www.remo.com/portal/pages/hr/lea ... Belli.html

While I feel ... not happy about what the Remo company is doing, they are certainly not the 1st to specialize in instruments for music therapies (and education) of various kinds.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orff_Schulwerk and http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers ... uments.asp

Orff instruments are very costly, too...

[e2c]

Bittman has actually been working with/for the Yamaha Corp. (the huge company than makes digital keyboards and pianos + regular pianos and other instruments) for quite a few years now, so the Remo deal doesn't surprise me.

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/Con ... YP=PRODUCT

See their board of directors page (Bittman is listed last): http://www.yamahainstitute.org/Page_det ... px?cmd2=94

I bet other big instrument makers (like LP and Toca) will follow suit.

[michi]

While I feel ... not happy about what the Remo company is doing, they are certainly not the 1st to specialize in instruments for music therapies (and education) of various kinds.

Sure, and there is nothing wrong with that as such. Music therapy can be hugely beneficial to some people.

My problem is not with the music therapy, but with the ridiculous claim that a two-day course can turn me into someone qualified to run a drumming health program, despite no prior experience in either music or health care.

I also have a problem with the conflict of interest. This kind of enmeshment seriously taints both the study and the company, bringing the findings of the study and the motives of the company in serious doubt. This sort of thing does a service to no-one, except profiteers.

Cheers,

Michi.

[freefeet]

This sort of thing does a service to no-one, except profiteers.

Absolutely!

[e2c]

Agreed completely on conflict of interest, 2-day courses run by a manufacturer and all of that. But... it does seem that Yamaha was the 1st in the game, not Remo.

At least 2-day courses aren't going to harm people in the same way that, say, big pharmacy corporations total funding of drug studies and trials might! (And likely has, given the inherent conflict of interest and biases contained therein.)