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McKinney: Drums Not Guns works to steer youths from violence
The members of Drums Not Guns start with simple combinations of tone and bass hand slaps. Leading a group of beginners in a drum circle, they slowly work toward greater complexity. Soon, the rhythm takes off.
Photos by BRIAN HARKIN/DMN
Melody McDonald, 7, of McKinney caught a glimpse of participants practicing with Drums Not Guns.
The air thrums with energy. Windows buzz. Heads begin to sway. Expressions of concentration break into grins and laughter. And when the drumming suddenly stops, a palpable silence lingers.
"There's a pretty tremendous impact when a group gets a rhythm going," Drums Not Guns member Randy Harp said, wiping sweat from his face. "People that thought they had no ability to play the drums suddenly find themselves doing it."
The lesson, held Saturday at McKinney's Old Settlers' Park Recreation Center, was the second in a series of workshops sponsored by the Dallas-based nonprofit group and the McKinney Arts Commission.
"We've been very active in Dallas, but not so much in the surrounding counties," Mr. Harp said. "We saw an opportunity to move our mission into the northern suburbs."
Founded in 1994 by Dallas resident Happy Shel, Drums Not Guns has worked with at-risk teenagers across the area to spread "the power of percussion" as an alternative to violence. Mr. Shel found his inspiration on a bus painted with the message "Food Not Bombs."
"Suddenly – shazam! – the earth moved," he said. "Why not Drums Not Guns? We could give kids a positive alternative to all the bad things they face."
The group hosts drum circles and workshops, marketing drumming as an avenue of expression and a way to work off tension. Members have brought drums with names like djembe, doumbek and dununs to orphanages, festivals and after-school programs.
"Drumming is a language we can all speak, and we can hear each individual part," Mr. Shel said. "I want kids to come and join the 'drum gang.' "
McKinney resident Seamus McKenna understands the physical release drumming can provide. The 49-year-old started drumming with the group in September and was thrilled to learn about the program near his home.
"You would imagine that drumming is very energetic," he said. "But actually, my breathing slows down once we get into a rhythm. I get very calm and enter an almost meditative state."
For 13-year-old Christopher Dunlap, the chance to bang on a drum just sounded like fun.
"I thought it was something that looked interesting," he said. "I'm learning a lot."
The group plans to cap off the McKinney workshops May 20 with the Soli Drum Festival, featuring drummers from across the Southwest and students from the classes.
"It's just a really easy way to earn a sense of accomplishment," Mr. Harp said. "The effect is almost spiritual. It seems to open up people to the possibilities of life."
Jeremy Roebuck is a Dallas-based freelance writer.
E-mail jeremy.roebuck@gmail.com