Libraries are known as places for reading, research and other placid endeavors. But there is a library unlike that pre-conceived notion. Approaching the library an unexpected sound begins to dominate. Drumming. About a dozen people--from toddlers up to senior citizens--are in a side room at the Leon Valley Library, and they are making a big noise.
Those in the 15-foot-circle slap away at congas and bongos. This gathering is called a Drum Circle, and the library does this once a month.
"Take your kid to the library and tell him to MAKE noise, not be quiet," Cooley laughed. About the library, he said, "They give us a great room and when the weather's really nice we go outside on the patio."
Kevin Cooley brings the drums, and a large personality to direct what's going on here. But what exactly is a Drum Circle?
"We use music to bring people together. We had multiple different ages. Different cultural backgrounds, religious backgrounds, socio-economic backgrounds. And we can all come together. The instruments make a kind of level playing field so we can get to know each other and have a great time."
Everyone who wants to play grabs a drum and Cooley starts playing, suggesting they mimic what he's doing--or find their own rhythm. Linda Schmidt and her husband have come today for the first time, but apparently not the last.
"We're coming back, and want to bring my grandson. We got him bongo drums for Christmas, so he'll be right into this."
Fifty-something Cooley has been a professional musician in several bands, but as for doing Drum Circles, that's something he kind of backed into.
"My goal was to be a rock star!" he laughed. And this hinted at probably the most surprising part of this story. He takes the Drum Circle concept to several retirement homes.
"Ten years ago if you'd've told me that the highlight of my day would've been to go drumming with seniors in a retirement community, I'd've thought you were crazy, you know?" he laughs. "I fell in love with it. The very first one I did I fell in love with it. And that particular group I've been going to once a week for over seven years."
Cooley thinks there's something about the Drum Circle experience that's hard to measure, yet still makes a difference, especially for those whose world has closed in.
"I've seen people with Alzheimer's, completely non-responsive. We bring them up, set 'em in a chair, give 'em a drum, and at some point in the session they start playing, they start smiling," said Colley. "Sometimes, they start talking. Sometimes, they share memories with you, things you didn't think they would be capable of. For some reason, music and drums seem to open up some doors. Not always. But when it happens it's magic."
Linda Schmidt said, "I like it for getting the mind to relax and the thoughts to still. It's interesting how relaxed you can get and still look around, and still keep the rhythm."
I also spoke to Tiffany Bryson, who brought her young son along.
"I came because I wanted to expose my son to many cultural things--he's 5 years old and I thought it would be a good experience for him."
Well, was it a good experience for him? "Yes," he said enthusiasticly. Had he ever beat a drum before?
"Yes. I did that a long time ago," he said.
He owned a set of bongos and had brought them along.
"The instructor was great. He really kept the audience engaged. Loved the way he treated the children. Let them pick their own drums. Very, very nice activity," his mom said.
Some of Cooley's favorite Drum Circle challenges are those reluctant to even try.
"When I meet someone and they say, 'Oh, I can't do that; I don't have rhythm.' Well, a lot of times they just haven't given themselves permission to try it. We get very, very comfortable with whatever we perceive our physical limitations to be. The drums are a very non-threatening opportunity to get beyond those physical limitations."
He thinks that the language of music transcends limitations, language and those things which keep us separate.
"Music goes where words cannot pass."
The Drum Circle meets the fourth Saturday of every month at 10:30AM at the Leon Valley Library. We have more on Cooley's Drum Circle work here.
