Little Drummer Boy

by Lorenda Harder BFA BEd for Faith Arts

Reclaiming the Rhythm

Over the holidays last year, as our family gathered around the Christmas tree to enjoy a festive meal and share in conversation, my brother pulled out his collection of drums — a beautiful array of instruments he’d gathered over the years. His set included congas, bongos, a rustic, hand-carved drum with a rough animal skin stretched across it, and an authentic large djembe. With a few additional percussion instruments, we soon found ourselves immersed in the rhythm.

Drumming has captivated humans for millennia with its mesmerizing beats. While often linked to the spirit world, it's important to explore the full scope of drumming — its purpose, potential dangers, and many benefits.

The Ancient Roots of Drumming

Drums date back to ancient times, with evidence of primitive percussion instruments appearing as early as 8000 BC. Some of the earliest drums were made from hollowed logs or animal skins, and the practice spread from Mesopotamia to the East, Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Drums served as a form of communication — carrying messages between villages over great distances — as well as tools for celebrating communal events and religious rituals.

The Power of Group Drumming

One of the most striking aspects of drumming is its ability to build community. Many have described group drumming as profoundly unifying. I believe this is because God created humans to live in community, and any activity that fosters togetherness naturally nurtures unity. When a group engages in a shared activity, they generate collective, synergistic energy that can be deeply powerful. In this way, drumming reflects our God-given need for connection, regardless of the activity’s specific purpose.

The Physical Impact of Drumming

Drumming doesn’t just connect people socially; it also has a powerful effect on the body. The impact on the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is particularly striking. Research, such as the study “Drumming, Rhythm, and Regulation Through a Polyvagal Lens,” suggests that rhythmic activities like drumming can calm, regulate, and strengthen the body’s nervous system. Not only does drumming help reduce stress and enhance emotional well-being, but it also fosters positive social engagement, helping individuals connect more deeply with one another. Group drumming is undeniably beneficial, both physically and socially.

The Importance of Motive: As Worshipful Expression

There’s no inherent harm in drumming for fun, community-building, personal expression, or simply to relax. In fact, it benefits us to engage in joyful activities that draw people together, unite communities, and express our God-given creativity. Just as we are called to celebrate life and love in various ways, drumming can be an expression of that celebration — pointing to the Creator, whether or not it is a formal act of worship.

The key lies in our motive. King David used percussion instruments in worship: “Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals” (2 Samuel 6:5). Drums and other percussion instruments were regularly used in praise to God, affirming their longstanding connection to worship. When we drum for worship, we align our rhythms and our souls with hearts of praise.

The Experience of Drumming Together

Back in the living room around the Christmas tree, as the first beats echoed through the room, we picked up our percussion instruments and began to play. At first, we struggled to stay in rhythm, laughing at our mistakes and learning specific beats. Slowly, we found a natural rhythm — a guiding pulse that connected each of us. It was beautiful to see our individual rhythms blend together, each person’s beat falling into sync with the others. The sound was more than just drums; it was a sense of unity that resonated deep within us.

The connection I felt in those few short minutes of group drumming was both profound and visceral. It was the difference between praying alone and praying in a group. Drumming together — not as part of a band or performance, but as a shared experience — created something special. We each found our rhythm, our creative expression, and together, we created something greater than the sum of its parts.

Embrace Your Beat

Let us all embrace our innate creative nature and use it for good. Whether through drumming, clapping, or simply tapping our feet, we can offer our rhythm as a form of joy, connection, or even worship to the Creator — the Master Drummer whose rhythm underlies and flows through all of creation. As our hearts beat in harmony with His, we celebrate the unity He desires for us to experience — personally, in community, and in worship.

As the holiday season approaches, full of family and Advent reflections, perhaps you’ll consider pulling out your percussion instruments in between singing your carols. I know I will — I’ve been collecting drums, maracas, and the like all year!

Under my tree this year

©2024 Lorenda Harder