Professionally, I have continued to develop my skills as a hand drum facilitator, moving beyond technique into a more intentional, care-focused approach. Incorporating Music Care strategies into drumming has transformed how sessions feel and function, allowing rhythm to become a tool for connection, engagement, and emotional expression.

One of the most impactful strategies I’ve used is picking songs for care contexts during drumming facilitation. Choosing familiar and meaningful music creates instant buy-in and excitement. Some of the most joyful moments have come from drumming along to ABBA and AC/DC, songs selected by both team members and residents. These shared musical choices encouraged participation, helped everyone catch the rhythm more easily, and created an atmosphere of laughter, movement, and shared energy. The familiarity of the music allowed participants to feel confident and included, regardless of their musical experience.

To support inclusive and adaptable sessions, I intentionally assembled a Music Care Kit tailored specifically for drumming facilitation. My kit includes a variety of drums, some smaller, some larger, and others with handles to support different hand grips. I also include drumsticks of varying weights to ensure adaptability for different strengths and abilities. A speaker is essential for song-based drumming, along with facilitator notes that help guide session flow. Additional instruments, such as chimes, allow me to introduce moments of calm during drum washes, while a jam drum block supports call-and-response interactions. Even my portable tote has become an essential part of the kit, allowing me to easily transport everything from one community to another. This flexibility ensures music care can meet people where they are.

Music Care has also become a vital part of my personal self-care. I intentionally use music while driving to work as a way to decompress from the previous day or to prepare myself emotionally for a compassionate and grounded workday. This simple practice has helped me manage stress and transition more mindfully between personal life and professional responsibilities.

Beyond daily routines, music now shapes how I experience the world. As part of my personal Music Care Plan, every vacation I take includes music as a way of learning about culture, history, and identity. In Norway, I attended a midnight concert in a local church in Tromsø and sang along with an Indigenous Sámi man who shared a song about his grandmother. In Poland, I experienced a Jewish Kazimierz performance featuring violin, singer, and accordion. In Ireland, I listened to harp and flute music at the base of the Rock of Cashel and played the drums at the Ireland Rock and Roll Museum. My travels also included attending Mozart, Strauss, and Beethoven concerts in Vienna, visiting Mozart’s birthplace in Salzburg, and participating in the Silent Night Chapel service on December 24. Each experience reinforced how music transcends language and creates a sense of belonging across cultures.

Looking ahead, my journey with music continues to evolve. During my hand drum facilitation course, I unexpectedly fell in love with the didgeridoo. The low tones and full-body vibration felt deeply soothing and grounding. Quietly, I’ve signed up to learn how to play. This instrument requires internal and circular breathing, something I find challenging due to ongoing lung issues, but I see this as an opportunity rather than a limitation. Learning the didgeridoo may support Motor and Respiratory Exercises (OMREX)®, a core Neurologic Music Therapy technique that uses singing and wind instruments to build respiratory strength and control. Through diaphragmatic breathing, increased expiratory pressure, and improved breath control, this practice has the potential to benefit both my personal health and my future work in care settings.

Music Care has reshaped how I drum, how I travel, how I breathe, and how I care for others and for myself. What began as skill development has become a way of moving through the world with greater intention, curiosity, and connection.