"Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" Book + CD $18.

"A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles"

A free 78 minute facilitated drum circle jam CD is included with purchase from the website only.
300 pages of text, 6" x 9" paperback, Self Published. ISBN 13: 9780615274102 Also available at Amazon.com (The free CD isn't included.) And at the Amazon Kindle Book Store it's $10. As far as I know, Kindle Books can be read on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.

My book is jam packed with practical information, suggestions, and ideas for people who love hand drumming. If you're interested in starting up a drum circle, an interactive drumming program for your group, or facilitating drum circles for a living, this read will help you along your drumming path. The focus is on sharing as much information about hand drumming and drum circles as I possibly could. Introducing people to drumming is what I love to do. I include six different ways to quickly jot down, or quickly transcribe drum rhythm notations. I cover vocalizing rhythms and how to get a rhythm going quickly no matter how large your group is. There is my sample set list of various rhythms that I use for a 90 minute facilitated drum circle. It's sort of an outline I use and then improvise from as needed. It gives you an easy to follow guideline for almost any form of drum circle. I cover facilitating drum circles, working with specialty groups, hosting drum circles, rhythmic drumming events, and programs for all ages. There are two chapters on open freestyle community drum circles, which are often misunderstood or even misrepresented. They are discussed in great detail. Everything from having a rockin' drum circle - to a healing drum circle, plus the many different ways to approach them. I cover a wide variety of topics and questions I frequently get asked. For example: How do I start up a drum circle? What kind of drum(s) should I get? How should I approach working with this group, or that group? And many other hand drumming, or drum circle related topics. Drumming with special needs groups, health and wellness, with kids, teens, adults, elders, and mixed age groups. Drum circles in night clubs, cafe’s, and pubs. Team building, conventions, businesses, corporations, and events. Drum circles with at risk populations, at spiritual gatherings, and community events. Working with music directors, educational teachers, in schools, music therapists, and medical professionals. Here's the Table Of Contents: Chapter 1 - Prelude to Drum Circles Chapter 2 - Preparations for A Drum Circle Chapter 3 - My Set List & Writing Drum Rhythm Notations Chapter 4 - What Kind of Drum(s) Should I Get? Chapter 5 - Learning Drumming and Music Chapter 6 - Open Freestyle Community Drum Circles Chapter 7 - My Hosting & Facilitation Style Chapter 8 - Starting A Public Drum Circle – Clubs, Cafés, Corporate, & Publicizing it Chapter 9 - Drumming With Kids Chapter 10 - Special Needs Drum Circles & Elders Chapter 11 - At Risk Teens & Adults in Prisons Chapter 12 - Drum Circles in Churches, Spiritual Gatherings, & Weddings Chapter 13 - Drumming With Injuries & the Elements Chapter 14 - Working as a Performing Artist Chapter 15 - Those Big Name Facilitators Chapter 16 - Some History on Hand Drums Chapter 17 - The Schumann Resonance, the Golden Ratio, & Healing Drum Circles Chapter 18 - Politics - Save the wailing drum circles! Chapter 19 - Humor, Stats, Insurance, & Fees Chapter 20 - Summary Whether you only need a few musician pointers, or if you are someone who wants to get a weekly drum circle started, my book will help you along. I discuss how to go about building a drum circle or drumming program in almost every setting. I also cover the business side of drum circles. Are you wanting to start one just for fun? Or only cover your expenses? Want to earn a full time living from it? I cover all that, and lots more. I hope to help you along your drumming journey. Hand drumming and drum circles enriched my life, and I think it will for you as well. I hope you can benefit from some of the things I've done right, as well as the things I’ve done wrong. It doesn't matter if you are new to hand drumming, have been drumming for a while, or you are a professional musician, this book is filled with good information on getting more enjoyment out of hand drumming, and from drum circles. The proceeds from it help me to fund work in our community. Just trying to put some good out there in the world. You are buying direct from the author. (me) Thanks for helping out. I'm happy to answer any follow up questions you may have after you read it, or brainstorm a little bit with you. Each book sold is personally signed by me to the buyer. It is my pleasure to do so.


(A few reader comments:) "I am reading your book with laughs and tears in my eyes. I'm almost 50, but have only been loving, playing, teaching and sharing the drum for 6 years. It is my whole being right now. Reading your book is like visiting with a friend." -- Carolyn F. "I started your book by the "Analyze This" approach from front to back, and back to front. I couldn't read it fast enough, it really turned me on. I found it to be so inclusive and helpful. I highlighted at least half the text!" -- Music teacher, Regina R. "Your practical guide is a treasure. Experience Wisdom and Love are given in a very simple way... making Drum Circles approachable to all. Thank You." -- Nikolas P. "This book is really just the thing I've been looking for. I have practically the full collection by now, yet find Ratigan's approach quite easygoing and fun to get behind." -- Peter V. "Thanks for your most honest and enlightening drum circle book. I could not put it down. Your opinions on hosting drum circles were so wonderful and refreshing. Your book promises to become a classic, reading it has been gratifying, and it confirms opinions we have all felt here. The things our group is doing are exactly in line with your book, which gives us confidence we are on the right track. It was the best thing I could have done to get ready for this kind-of-scarey journey into doing something new." -- Marshall H. "When you think about it, it comes as no surprise that the drum is mankind's oldest musical instrument. You can readily see from S.L. Ratigan's Practical Guide to Hand Drumming that we're actually not that far removed from ancestors who sat around rapping out sounds eons ago. This is just some of the information in this very well crafted book, which covers the spectrum of drumming, ranging from technical notation to how to tailor a drum circle to meet the needs of differing groups. It contains a wealth of information, told in a relaxed, entertaining manner. No baloney. Should be the definitive work on the subject." -- Larry Smith - Parade Magazine Managing Editor (Ret.) "I read your wonderful book, not because I want to facilitate a drum circle, but because I wanted to know if it was true that there are no protocols to be aware of in a drum circle as everyone has told me. I suspected that there were some basic "band rules" which might be the difference between making a real contribution or actually detracting from the music making, even in what appears to be a spontaneous setting. Your book revealed and confirmed some basic protocols which are simple to follow and good to know. Thank you for that, it was very helpful, & thanks for moving the drum circle movement forward in a thoughtful and sensitive way." -- Rich and Natalie R. "I was looking for a book on drum circles that was not all psycho-babble. I want to be able to create my own unique style and not follow someone else's formula. This book was the answer for me. It provided a ton of information without ever hinting that one way was the only way. Just gave me the tools I needed, plus lots of suggestions on things I hadn't even thought of. Plus, the writing style is so upbeat that it was actually fun to read. I can't wait to start implementing some of his ideas." -- Marti F. "Just a brief note to thank you for the wonderful book you have written. I am very new to drumming and will probably never host or facilitate a drum circle, but all the knowledge and personal experiences you share in the book are outstanding, informative and entertaining. Thank you!" -- George S. "I recommended your book to my friend Deborah G. She praised it so much, I want one for myself. I've been doing drum circles for a while now. I'm always hungry for someone else's ideas. It's so easy for me to get so into what I'm doing that I forget to learn. Thanks for writing a wonderful resource, and for all of the hard work that went into it! You rock!" -- Martin R.


The Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles price is $17.95 + USPS Priority Mail Shipping.

It is wrapped with kindness and sent with a tracking number anywhere in the USA. The total is $23.75 to your door. I also ship to Canada for the same price, via USPS 1st Class Mail. (No tracking numbers to Canada.) Please use the Paypal button below to order.(For shipping to all other countries, please use the Paypal button below this one.)

I confirm via email that I recieved your payment, and I ship orders out in 3 working days, with tracking. If you'd prefer to purchase the book by money order or cashiers check, please email me for the address. I can also ship via USPS Media Mail (USA Only) for $2 less. (It's slower, 7 - 10 days. Scroll down for that.)


For shipping the book to all other countries, please use this Paypal button. It is $9 more. International shipping rates have gone up, and I only charge the actual shipping cost. It weighs 1.3 pounds.


If you're on FaceBook, this page has a few blurbs from the book, a bit more information, and some reader comments.

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Drum Circle Lover's Package Deal - $40 Including Shipping:

1. The drum circle book, "A Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" 2. The two hour rhythms DVD, "101 Drum Circle Rhythms For The Hand Drum" 3. The live drum circle CD, "Clearwater Drum Circle" (70 minutes) 4. The facilitated drum circle CD by drumcircles.net, (78 minutes) The total for all 4 items is $40. Shipping, and a tracking number are included in the price. It's a pretty good deal. This package will keep you in the groove for a long time. Please use the below button to order this.


Please use this Paypal link for shipping the package to all other countries, it is $9 extra.



The "Everything I Have Package". 300 Page Book, and 6 drumming Disks - $55 Shipped (USA Only)

This is all the drumming materials I have to offer for one low price. Included is my drum circle book, 101 rhythms DVD, and the 5 other drumming CDs. Shipping with a tracking number is also included to anywhere in the USA. For orders to all other countries please use the link below, marked international shipping. Thanks.


Please use this Paypal link for shipping The "Everything I Have" Package to all other countries, it's $9 extra.

The hand drumming book, and 6 drumming disks weigh about 4 pounds. Shipping to Australia, The United Kingdom, and most other countries is $14 and change (USD). The international shipping cost is posted on the package by the post office.



To Order The "Practical Guide To Hand Drumming And Drum Circles" Book - Via Media mail:

Anywhere in the USA via USPS Media Mail, (Slower) The price is $17.95 + $3.55 Shipping. Tracking number included, it saves you a couple bucks. (USA Only) The total to your door is: $21.50


If there is another combination of my drum circle items that you would like, please email me.


For orders by check, (USA only) or to email me with any questions, I respect your privacy & never share emails.

Email Me


For more info on the $15 "101 Drum Circle Rhythms" 2 hour DVD, Or get all the rhythms on 2 CD's for $10. A great way to keep a drum circle fresh and interesting, is to have a large body of rhythms at the ready.

101 Drum Circle Rhythms DVD, Full Description Page & Video Sample


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