Pokagon Area Folk Music Collective: Drum Circles: the BIG Lesson

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The Pokagon Area Folk Music Collective is an abstract idea rather than a concrete, defined entity. Anyone who wishes or imagines himself to be a member, or who participates in a Collective activity, is a member, by that virtue alone. My role is simply to facilitate and catalyze connections and ideas that bring people and music together. More specifically, I neither have nor will I accept operational or financial responsibilities beyond promoting this vision. Whatever happens in the course of Collective get-togethers is entirely the responsibility of individual parties enjoying themselves on equal footing.

What a huge success! First Day of Spring DRUM CIRCLE (2016) at Pokagon State Park – someone counted 43 at one point, and a great majority PARTICIPATED, thanks to those who brought extra shakers, tambourines, etc for others to use.

For me, the best memory will always be the ENCHANTED MOOD! About half the participants were park guests, including youngsters, who had no idea they would encounter, let alone participate in this event. As we set up, they milled about and observed, obviously uncertain, but gathered around as we began to introduce the event, and so many HUGE SMILES and BRIGHT WIDE-OPEN EYES! It really was a MAGICAL time I will never forget.

And finally, the BIG LESSON might be: Anyone wanting to round up a few friends with drums and some shakers, tambourines, cowbells, etc for others might have a lot of fun parking their lawn chairs where people will pass by and inviting them to join the PEOPLE'S BAND for 10 minutes or so, maybe longer... And make sure they know the PEOPLE'S BAND is called the POKAGON AREA FOLK MUSIC COLLECTIVE, and that they are authentic members by virtue of their participation.

That is the purest expression of the COLLECTIVE vision I can articulate, and YOU can make it happen, whoever you are and wherever you go!

Special thanks to Doug Laughlin, Island Vibe drummer and Sweetwater Academy of Music instructor, who even brought extra drums for people to use, and who facilitated the drumming.

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