Last year, I started leading drum circles, learning about music therapy, and experiencing the contentment and happiness in students. It made me think about how so many more students would benefit from drum circles - if they had access to drum circles.
And so, I started RhythmRise.org.
A simple mission, with simple solutions that are scalable and sustainable.
RhythmRise helps make drum circles accessible. We support under-resourced public schools whose students may face socio-economic adversity and related trauma.
We provide the tools so teachers can establish & maintain their own drum circles. This includes authoring a curriculum supplement educational guide, donating homemade and purchased drums, and making onsite visits to lead drum circles.
We make our own drums, using inexpensively resourced, every day items. We can make five drums for the cost of purchasing one drum - so we can provide drums for 5x the students!
We partner with (& often visit) public schools in the largest districts in their states. As our resources allow, these relationships will expand to also providing drums for their sibling schools!
We've created and offer a free curriculum supplement to assist educators in leading drum circles and enhance the experience for their students!
We're created and offer a free how-to guide so that anyone, anywhere, can help us made and donate drums!
We host community service drum-making events, which help us with inventory and brings together neighbors in fun and meaningful ways!
We're partnering with School of Rock franchisees, whose students are learning how to be RhythmRise ambassadors in their regions!
We started by partnering with Newark Public Schools, the largest school district in my home state of NJ, and where 70% of students are economically disadvantaged.
A year in, our drums are in use by approximately 5,000 students across 9 states & DC!
Our next goal is to reach 10,000 students within districts by 2026.
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