You may have heard that drumming is good for you, but read on to find out about the specific research demonstrates that group drumming helps the brain and body... (thanks to Remo Inc and other great resources sited below for their continued work in bringing this information to the public)!

Drumming Boosts the Immune System and Helps Destroy Cancer Cells
A recent medical research study indicates that drumming circles boost the immune system. The study demonstrates that group drumming* actually increases cancer-killing cells, which help the body combat cancer as well as other viruses, including AIDS. According to Dr. Bittman, “Group drumming tunes our biology, orchestrates our immunity, and enables healing to begin.” (Bittman, Medical Science Monitor, 2005) *study used Health Rhythms® protocol which is also used by Global Drum Circles

Drumming Makes You Smarter
According to the study by E. Glenn Shallenberg at the University of Toronto, IQ test scores of 6-year-old children significantly improved after receiving drum lessons. Shallenberg recruited a group of 144 six year olds and separated them into 4 groups: those receiving drum lessons, voice lessons, drama lessons and no lessons. Children receiving the drum lessons showed significant improvement in their IQ tests, gaining an average of 7 IQ points.

Drumming Accesses the Entire Brain
Vision for example is in one part of the brain, speech another, but drumming accesses the whole brain. The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain even where there is significant damage or impairment such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). According to Michael Thaut, director of Colorado State University's Center for Biomedical Research in Music, “Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson's patients...” 

Drumming Reduces Stress
This protocol also reversed multiple components of the human stress response on the genomic level, not just reducing but reversing 19 genetic switches that turn on the stress response believed responsible in the development of common diseases. (Bittman, Medical Science Monitor, 2005)

Drumming Exercises your Brain Cells
“Music making offers extensive exercise for brain cells and their synapses (connections). It would be difficult to find another activity that engages so many of the brain’s systems.”(Weinberger, N., 1998)

Drumming Helps Control Chronic Pain
Drumming promotes the production of endorphins and endogenous opiates, the bodies own morphine-like painkillers, and can thereby help in the control of pain. (Winkelman, Michael, Shamanism: The Neural Ecology of Consciousness and Healing. Westport, Conn: Bergin & Garvey; 2000.)

Drumming Improves Mood and Fights Disease
Drumming is an accessible exercise, which burns calories and improves mood and may reduce the risk of disease. A Norwegian study of 25,000 women age 20-54 that performed leisure time exercises at least 4 hours/week experienced a 37% reduction in the risk of breast cancer. (Thune, Brenn, Lund, Gaard, 1997)

Drumming Combats Depression
Stanford University School of Medicine conducted a study with 30 depressed people over 80 years of age and found that participants in a weekly music therapy group were less anxious, less distressed and had higher self-esteem (Friedman, Healing Power of the Drum, 1994).

Drumming Helps the Brain Recover from Stroke and other Conditions
Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, according to Michael Thaurt, director of Colorado State University’s Center of Biomedical Research in Music. Researchers have also discovered that hearing slow, steady rhythms, such as drumbeats, helps Parkinson patients move more steadily (Friedman, Healing Power of the Drum, 1994).