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"Albert Louis is a trailblazer of drum circle facilitation in Singapore whose spirit and integrity are evident in his approach to this work. His blending of eastern and western percussion instruments in drum circle settings is a perfect example of how we can all benefit from learning about, and respecting, the wide range of cultures and peoples who share our world. It's been my pleasure and honor to share my experiences with him."
-Jim Greiner, of Hands-On! Drumming® Events (www.handsondrum.com)
"One of the pioneers of the worldwide community drumming movement." (-Drum! Magazine)
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First Singaporean to not only come
out with one but two bands (Culture Shock1985 and
Culture Vulture1990) that fuse a host of ethnic instruments.
"Now he is the first drum facilitator in Singapore."
He has done his various programmes
with the People's Association (PA), The Institute
of Mental Health, Pertapis Senior Citizen Fellowship
Home, Community Clubs, the American Club-Singapore,
Alexander Hospital, Grand Hyatt Singapore(Club Oasis),
Singapore Association for Mental Health (SAMH), Henderson
Senior Citizen's Home, Singapore School for the Deaf
and Private Organisations. He has also done his programme
with Pertapis Childrens Home, Hollandse Club, ST Andrew's
Autism Centre, Ministry of Community Developement,
Rainbow Centre, Singapore Boys' Home, Republic Polytechnic, Divinity Especial Needs Intervention Centrem, Canossian School, Singapore General Hospital (Presentation), Pro-Teach and
individuals.
Learn not only an instrument but
more... |
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De-stressing,, Parkinsons,
Dementia, Disabled, Autism etc. |
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Helps in Coordination |
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Energizing |
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Therapeutic for the Mind, Body and Soul |
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Has the capacity to both Stimulate and
Relax |
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Why does the drum have the power
to heal.
| When you were born, that is your second
birthday. Before your second birthday, you were in
your mother's womb, listening to your mother's heart
beat. That is why the drum is so healing because you
remember, you go back into the safety of where you came
from, you get reconnected to whom you came from. So it is
not the drums that gave us the first beat, but you were
born listening to your mother's heart beat. When you
give a child something to play, they enjoy hitting it, especially
the drums, as it offers a way to express the intensity of
his or her feelings, as well as increases creativity when
Alpha burst are generated. So when you hold up a child in
front of your face and he or she starts hitting you, remember
it does not mean that they are being naughty. |
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Drums was first used as a means of communication
in some regions. It has also been used in religious rituals.
Drums were used by foot soldiers before they charge for
hand to hand combat, it calls for attention, awakens loyalty
and to " pump up" adrenaline surge. today it is
used to provide rhythm to the music we dance to.
But now the drum is used as a therapeutic tool
for therapy and exercise.
Modern medicine recognizes the physical
part of a human body, but the mind soul and spirit is generally
neglect. Drumming is an easier approach among children and
people with mental or physical disabilities. It has been
used in many other illnesses and I have personally used
it in my work with the Mentally ill, Parkinson's, Autism,
De-stressing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and
with the Hearing impaired. While not only improving their
condition, the Mentally ill and the Hearing impaired
were able to perform in public for the first time as a percussion
group, using instruments like, Kompang, Chinese drums, Jembe
( African ) and other combinations of percussions. What
should we expect when the rhythm of the drums meets the
rhythm of the muscle, brain or heart as we have a lot of
organs that are capable of producing their own rhythms.
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How does the drums help relieve
stress? There are numerous way this occurs. When
people drum, they are generally having fun. It is difficult
to be in a playful mode and be stressed at the same time.
the drums has the capacity to release negative feelings,
of which stress is clearly one. When one hits the drums,
he or she is placed squarely in the here and now. Some
of our stress is created from past or future thoughts of
fear, worry, or regret, but it is very difficult to be stressed
and be in the present moment. When one plays a
rhythm, the chatter of the mind is reduced, thus another
one of the healing aspects of the drum becomes it's ability
to induce a greater state of inner peace. In addition, drumming
increases our Alpha brainwaves, those brainwaves associated
with feelings of well- being and euphoria. |
Drumming in the Corporate
sector, it is expected as a rejuvenation of stress and tension
reliever, opening of lines of communication between co-workers
and encourages focus and motivation towards common goals.
Drumming with the community,
it is spontaneous and personalized. It allows for creativity
and self expression with a structured and disciplined process.
My work involves groups as they build community and team
spirit, promotes integration of division and cultures, friendship
and heightens awareness of others and the best the best
of all it puts a smile and also laughter on their faces.
Drumming is also food for
the nerves because it takes co-ordination and timing to
get the beat right. These are functions directly linked
to the nervous system. Drumming helps people suffering from
Parkinson's. Percussions of various sizes are used and the
movements are exaggerated and most of the time the patients
themselves know that they are improving in the exercises
and their condition.
Drumming helps improve
the attention span, focus and eye contact of Autistic
kids. They get easily distracted and the best way to conduct
a class is, to have a small room or space with only two
chairs, the therapist and one percussion at a time
as it should be on one on one basis and keep adding
more kids to a class as they improve, as it increases social
interaction.
Drumming is a wonderful
exercise, as you beat away on your drums, you let your body
relax and energize according to the beat. It is also
good to let your lower limbs dance with the rhythm. When
playing in a group, you have to listen to each other's playing
and timing, and this instills discipline and bonding, in
addition it also helps to connect with each other. |
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Drumming is the only form of therapy or
exercise one can say that they really enjoy doing it and
this is one of the ingredients that helps improve one's
condition. It only takes two minutes or less to play one
and you go for therapy and go home learning an instrument
without you knowing it. Drumming is gone on a big way especially
in Hospitals in the United States of America and one pioneer
in this field is Author and Psychotherapist, Robert Lawrence
Friedman. I am a Drum Facilitator and when you talk about
drums it is physical and different from Music
Therapy. I facilitate on the existing programs already available
in the Health Industry. |
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"Most of my
programmes are centered around people who are mentally ill, dementia,
destressing and parkinson's disease, with the use of 10 to 15
eastern and western insturments is fun, theraputic and a form
of excercise. My latest work with the deaf is probably the most
encouraging. They are able to play the drums because sound waves
hit the eardrum and cause vibrations which are transmitted via
3 small bones in the middle ear to the inner ear . I have formed
a percussion group for Singapore School For The Deaf and another
for Singapore Association for mental health."
"I am grateful to be born
in a region where there is an access to both Eastern and Western
instruments. Having played a variety of rhythmic instruments as
a professional musician, I can offer options to those who prefer
one over the other, a cultural preference, perhaps."
"There is a fun element
to my programme and for the resorts, destressing with the use
of drums and hands on experience on exotic percussions will be
the next big thing, and in case if you don't know, it just takes
2 minutes to play a percussion instrument."
"when you give a child something
to play, they enjoy hitting it,especially the drums, as it offers
a way to express the intensity of his/her feelings, as well as
increases creativity when big alpha bursts are generated."
"An invitation to Alexandra
Hospital compelled me to come up with a fun program (Excercise)
for people suffering from Parkinson using percussions, drumming
is a must for occupational therapist."
"It is nice to know that
students from Temasek & National Junior College asking for
interviews, it is a turn around from the days when i wanted to
inform schools of my work and was turned down"
"I took up a challenge within
6 days that one will see an improvement in teenages who are autistic.
I spent 15 mins on an idividual basis and by the fourth day they
could play the African and Chinese drums, the best part is they
could focus for 15 mins which is unusual. It proves the theory
that drumming increases their attention span."
"I am very impressed with
the students from Madrasah Aljunied Al Islamiah in their attitude
towards learning. My job was to introduce the use of percussions
for fun, therapy, exercise and music and to appreciate the ethnic
instruments used by all races in Singapore."
"My work with Stroke and Dementia
patients (Alexander Hospital, 2009) and an invitation to present
my work to the occupational therapist of Singapore General Hospital
was the highlight of 2008, as the OTs would not have had the chance
to learn my methods in any institution and allow me to share my
ideas."
"It will be nice, if the regulators
of the health industry ease up a bit. My work involves the use
of Percussion instruments for therapy and exercises and musical
instruments hurt nobody. What i am doing is adding fun to it and
enjoying the routines and i like to see new therapies challenged
instead of being skeptical."
"Anne Koh's (Head Therapist, Alexander
Hospital 2005) recommendation of me and my work to CEO Teng Lit
Liak is an endorsment of my ideas, for which I am honoured coming
from a very qualified person and establishment."
Louis Francis Albert
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"Mr Louis has
continuously demostrated patience and understanding when dealing
with the residents of the home. The music programme is very much
so their theraputic programme that aid the residents in their
rehabilitation process."
Firuz Khan, Pertapis Children
Home, 18 December 2002
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"Albert is an
excellent teacher, to me the best teacher has the following 1)
Patience, 2) Wealth of knowledge in their craft 3) Enthusiastic
and passionate about their craft 4) motivates and has the capacity
to inspire and 5) most important of all has a love of teaching
and sharing their knowledge with others. He is an excellent person
to guide others in their journey of drumming and rhythm. "
Christine Wong, Psychologist (NUH),
8 October 2002 |
"I would strongly
recommend Albert to your programme of music therapy, Albert is
a rare person in that he is devoted both to his art and helping
others. His consistent enthusiasm and vibrant energy is at all
times present. "
Katherine McLeod, Drum Facilitator
(Canada), 29 October 2002 |
"Thank you very
much for your interest in my work. My column in Drum Magazine
has the latest information on drumming and health. I look forward
to hear more about your work."
Robert Lawrence Friedman, Psycotherapist
and Author 'The Healing Power of the Drum', 13 February 2003 |
"For his invaluable
contribution and continuous support as a volunteer since April
2001 and in cheering up the lives of the residents of the home
with his music theraputic programme."
Haji Sapinge Bin Hj Taris,
Pertapis Senior Citizen Fellowship Home, 30 October 2003
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"It was indeed
a great learning experience for our children. Thank you for sharing
and enlightening our children with your expertise in playing the
drums as well as letting them have first hand experience on them."
Ms Dawn De Foe, Ascension Kindercare,
13 October 2003 |
"They've become
more diciplined,more aware of the present and happier after the
drumming sessions."
Ms Liew Shiang Hui, Singapre Association
For Mental Health, 6 March 2005 |
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"Your
efforts with the boys make a difference, keep up the great work, Albert."
Kum Wah Chong (Rehabilitation
Officer (CP) Singapore Boy's Home (MCYS), 15 November 08
"Albert Louis is a trailblazer
of drum circle facilitation in Singapore whose spirit and integrity
evident in his approach to this work."
Jim Greiner, of Hands-On
Drumming Events, one of the pioneers of the worldwide community drumming
movements.
(Drum magazine), 21 Febuary
2009
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