Founder and Facilitator: Patricia Hatfield, CMT, CCHMP
Patricia Hatfield lives in Santa Rosa, California, and works in Sonoma County and the greater Bay Area, living her passion to bring people together in harmony and full self-expression through music. She is committed to people’s well-being and health, and to building our connections to ourselves, each other and to Nature through drumming, rhythm and musical expression. Her programs and workshops are powerful gateways to experiencing the Nature of Rhythm and the Rhythm of Nature. Patricia has been drumming for the last 25 years, with African and Afro-Cuban teachers, as well as Indian Tabla with Swapan Chaudhuri at the Ali Akbar College. She is a drum circle facilitator, providing community drum circles and drum classes to a wide variety of populations. She has studied with Arthur Hull of Village Drum Circles, as well as with Christine Stevens and Barry Bittman, MD, in the HealthRhythms Group Empowerment Training, and with Mary Knysh of Rhythmic Connections.. She has studied music performance and composition at UC Berkeley and is certified as a cross-cultural healing music practitioner with Pat Moffitt Cook, Ph.D. in Seattle.
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COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLES
Third Sunday of the Month: September 15, October 20, November 17, December 15 (2024)
Time: 12:00 – 1:30
Patricia Hatfield and Cheryl Ulrich will facilitate a community drum circle – drums and percussion and melodic instruments will be provided, and of course please bring your own. We will create a rhythmic musical journey together. It is always a joy to discover the mystery of our creations as we play freely together!
WHERE: Monroe Hall, 1400 W. College Avenue, Santa Rosa.
If you have any questions, please contact Patricia at 707-328-9651.
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WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE OFFER?
HARMONY DRUM CIRCLES PROVIDES DRUM CIRCLE AND MUSIC PROGRAMS FOR GROUP ENRICHMENT AND EMPOWERMENT:
- Ensign Corporation: Trained Activity Directors in 6 Facilities to facilitate drum circles for their residents; engaged in research project on benefits of drum circles for dementia
- Earle Baum Center of the Blind and Visually Impaired: Drumming and music performance group using rhythms from different cultures.
- Athleta: Celebratory drum circle for corporate retreat
- Community Support Network: Provide drum circles for Hope House through sound and music for health and well being.
- Avance: Opening drum circle for 3-day conference for staff – teambuilding and community experience.
- Kaiser Petaluma Staff Retreat: Closing drum circle for Kaiser Staff retreat in Petaluma.
Team Building and Drum Circles for Corporations and Educational Institutions
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Senior Programs
Harmony Drum Circle programs invite self-expression while having fun making rhythmic sound and music. The drum circle becomes a safe space for each participant to be confident and comfortable as a contributing member of the group. Activity Directors repeatedly report that the drum circle is the most effective and engaging activity in their facility. Senior programs that Patricia works with include:
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Alzheimer’s and Memory Care Facilities
• Well Elderly
• Staff and Caregivers
COMMUNITY CLIENTS OF HARMONY DRUM CIRCLES:
Santa Rosa: Spring Lake Village, Solstice Senior Living, Oakmont Gardens, Santa Rosa Post Acute, Parkview Gardens, Vineyard Commons, Terraces Fountaingrove Lodge, Earle Baum Center of the Blind, Community Support Network, Friends House
PEP Housing, Santa Rosa and Petaluma
Apple Valley Rehab Center, Sebastopol
Bookdale/Emeritus, Rohnert Park, Santa Rosa, Napa
Healdsburg Senior Living, Healdsburg
Woodland Star Charter School, Sonoma, CA
EIGHT KEY BENEFITS OF THE PROGRAMS INCLUDE:
1. Exercise
2. Self-expression
3. Pain Reduction
4. Mood Improvement
5. Enhanced brain function
6. Socialization
7. Participation
8. Fun and Laughter
IN ADDITION TO THESE GROUPS, PATRICIA ALSO FACILITATES:
- Community Drum Circles
- Family Drum Circles
- Drum Circles For Weddings, Birthdays and other events
- Drum Circles for Corporations and Educational Institutions
Why Drum Circles?
Drum Circles bring us together in rhythm. Connections are formed, community is expressed, we begin to play in harmony. Rhythm is a source of human expression that has been present for human beings from the moment we are conceived – and before that, from the moment our ancestors were conceived, one generation after another, over thousands of years. All animals exist in rhythm — the heartbeats, the hoofbeats, the wingbeats – all rhythms of life. The rhythms that we open to, that touch us, bring us into alignment with the ancient rhythms of our ancestors. We can find that place of harmony and deep connection when we are in a circle drumming and making music together.
Looking forward to joining together with you in a community drum circle, exploring the rhythms of life!
COSTA RICA RETREAT: THE NATURE OF RHYTHM – THE RHYTHM OF NATURE:
We brought our deep play and exploration into the nature of sound and rhythm along with rich discoveries of the cultural nature of rhythm back to beautiful Costa Rica from October 4 to October 18, 2023. This timeexploring the beaches of the southern Caribbean coast. The less developed and charming Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica is home to intriguing beach destinations such as Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and Punta Uva. While the rest of the country is experiencing the rainy season, the Caribbean side of the country experiences its sunniest days of the year.
Culturally rich in Afro-Caribbean influences, the Caribbean Coast is unlike any other region of Costa Rica. The laid-back communities are less crowded than the Pacific Coast, alive with reggae beats, Afro-Caribbean music and food. There are beautiful beaches, abundant wildlife, rain forest jungle and some of the best snorkeling in the country. (Snorkeling gear can be rented easily). There are many activities available, such as horseback riding, kayaking, chocolate tours by indigenous communities, ziplining, wildlife reserves.and more.
The trip started (and ended) in Alajuela at a lovely garden bed and breakfast with casitas that is only 15 minutes from the San Jose (SJO) airport. We then headed southeast to the Tree House Ecolodge south of Puerto Viejo for 4 days where we had three unique and creative lodges nestled in a 10 acre jungle garden with short paths to Playa Chiquita. Each lodge had a kitchen and a fire fueled hot tub, among other interesting features. While immersed in the jungle, there still were markets and restaurants nearby.
Then we headed a tiny bit south for 4 days at a delightful vacation rental with pool and deck overlooking the river. A 2 minute walk to Punta Uva beach (one of the most lovely beaches on the Caribbean coast) this home is nestled in the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge. A small market and beach restaurant are in walking distance.
The next leg of our adventure we traveled north to the little town of Cahuita, (the birthplace of Walter Ferguson, Costa Rica’s “King of Calypso”) and the black sand beach of Playa Negra for an adventure into the culture of the charming town and the local Cahuita National Park. We took over the entire Playa Negra Guesthouse, with spacious, comfortable rooms and cottages where we could spread out, relax by the pool listening to the sounds of nature, and walk across the lane to the beach or out to explore the town and Cahuita National Park.
The cost of the trip was $2500 for shared occupancy accommodations, with all transport and food included. (with the exception of restaurant meals and airfare which are not included).
A new Costa Rica trip is in the works for February 2025. Stay Tuned!
Contact Patricia for more information.
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